Company/Web Site

Space Tourism Plan

Current Status 

Chance of Success & Availability

Aera released drawings for its Altairis passenger spaceship and company executives say it will be similar to their X-Prize design. What we don't understand  is who is running the show because Sprague Astronautics, who is building the Altairis spaceship, would have you believe that they are calling the shots. Now there is an entity called AeraSpaceTours - so what does that mean?

Aera said it intends to beat the X-Prize winning team (i.e. Virgin Galactic) to market with a low-cost sub-orbital Space Tourism operation launching from Florida in 2007 (changed from their original projection of 2006).

Aera announced that it has signed a five-year launch support agreement with the U.S. Air Force, governing its access to Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida.

Aera hasn't launched a single test vehicle and most of the testing that's been done has been computer-based modeling. They have done very little in the way of testing actual physical components for the spacecraft.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/19/07.

NOT Flight Ready

This company is so far removed from reality that it will be moving to the Tier I group.  Aera won't live up to its claim to be the first to the market place considering what it hasn't accomplished. 

Aera couldn't do anything of note last year and we expect nothing of them this year. They haven't flown any test sub-orbital spaceship yet and they are going to be operational in 2007? Yeah, right!

Aera's Web site hasn't been updated in two (2) years! Sprague Astronautics at least has a Web site, even though it is totally useless. Aera is a prime example of why we are in business to protect you...

An X-Prize participant under the American Astronautics name.

There is some confusion in our mind as to what their prime objective is seeing as how they have their fingers in a lot of different pies. There is a direct management connection between AirLaunch LLC and t/Space, a leading contender for orbital Space Tourism which adds to the confusion. It is also worth noting that their launch concept is the driving force behind t/Space and that the t/Space CEO once worked for AirLaunch LLC.  

In the past couple of years, the company and it's team members have successfully demonstrated the air launch concept and engine tests of their space systems hardware.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/19/07.

NOT Flight Ready

We don't believe that AirLaunch LLC will stand alone as a Space Tourism company. The best opportunity for them in Space Tourism will be to provide their expertise to the t/Space group. 

We will follow this closely to see if that is how the story unfolds.

Some of Andrews Space work includes engine development of the Alchemist™ Air Collection and Enrichment System (ACES) as well as the Gryphon™ Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) architecture. The Gryphon vehicle uses the Horizontal Takeoff / Horizontal Landing (HTHL) design concept (i.e. like an airplane).

Even though no formal announcement has been made by the company, because of these efforts, Andrews Space is in a unique position to translate it's NASA work to other commercial ventures including orbital Space Tourism.

Andrews currently supports Alliant Techsystems (ATK) on the Ares I First Stage, which is part of NASA’s Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). Andrews is also working with Rocketplane Kistler to develop the K-1, a fully reusable launch vehicle for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/19/07.

Like AirLaunch LLC above, we don't believe that Andrews Space will go it alone as a Space Tourism company if they elect to pursue that option. Their best opportunity will be to get involved with other aerospace companies that bring a different skill set to the table. 

We will follow this closely to see what path Andrews Space chooses.

John Carmack, leader of Team Armadillo, was last seen at the 2006 X-Prize Cup. He is a widely recognized figure in the video game industry where he made his fortune as co-founder of id Software, a computer game development company.

Team Armadillo, has made a great deal of progress with their concept vehicle. They have been the only serious contender from the start in competitions to win the NASA backed Vertical Rocket Challenge and the Lunar Lander Challenge.

Updated: 11/10/08

In the past few months Armadillo has made major progress for its sub-orbital space vehicle.

The money has always been there to make things happen and now the commitment is fully in place.

Their vehicle is based on the vertical takeoff/landing techniques it used to win the $350,000 Level One prize in the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. The spacecraft will also draw on engine and other flight data from work Armadillo has done for the Rocket Racing League.

Armadillo Aerospace will eventually have a piece of the Space Tourism pie and because of their expertise in VT/VL technology they have the opportunity to get involved in other future NASA work.

An X-Prize participant.

Benson Space was the result of the former CEO of SpaceDev, Jim Benson, branching out to start a separate Space Tourism company.

Initially he was heavily involved in development of the SpaceDev orbital spaceship called the Dream Chaser. At Benson Space he was to lead a team with an un-named, sub-orbital, design based on a melding of the NASA and Air Force X-2, X-15, and T-38 vehicles.

According to Benson, the design was deemed safer and more aerodynamic. In addition,  it would be easier and faster to construct, allowing BSC to remain on-schedule, to make its initial commercial spaceflights in 2009 and hopefully in direct competition with the sub-orbital leaders.

Updated: 11/10/08

R.I.P. NOT Flight Ready and never will be.

With the death of Jim Benson this concept has essentially run it's course and we are very sad to see it come to an end like this. Godspeed Jim Benson.

Orbital

The company's long-range goal is to bring human space flight into the arena of commercial business. This would be accomplished by providing a ground based infrastructure that the commercial sector can utilize for developing low cost, space based missions.

The first test of the one-third-scale model of the inflatable space hotel/resort, Genesis I, was successfully launched into orbit in July 2006. A second model, Genesis II, was launched atop a Russian rocket in late June 2007.

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has a contract to launch a prototype inflatable space habitation module for Bigelow Aerospace on its Falcon 9 booster, a derivative of the Falcon 1, in the first quarter of 2008.

Updated: 11/10/08

The company to watch for creating the world's 1st non-government space station (i.e. inflatable space hotel/resort - the CSS Skywalker).

Created the $50 million (USD) America's Space Prize for private orbiting spacecraft. Similar to the X-Prize.

Bigelow Aerospace is now working with the big aerospace firm Lockheed Martin to develop a human-rated launch vehicle to provide transportation services to their future space station. Because of this connection and a orbital destination, Bigelow Aerospace has to have a significant edge over other orbital competitors. 

Blue Origin is developing launch operations facilities located near Van Horn, Texas and is currently building a spaceship complex set to open early next year in Kent, Arizona. The aerospace company will use the Arizona facility to design and build spacecraft and engines.

Company CEO Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com fame has stated that he also wants to build spaceships powerful enough to orbit the Earth.

Blue Origin passed a significant milestone when the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation issued its finding of no significant impact along with a final environmental assessment for the proposed Blue Origin launch site. Limited prototype test flights are now underway and Blue Origin remains as secretive as ever! 

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/20/07.

The company has released little information about their progress and is very secretive about what they are doing and how they are doing it. However, given the talent, commitment and finances of Jeff Bezos, we know the company is in it to make things happen and not simply a "flash-in-the-pan" aerospace company trying to make a buck.

Orbital

Since its founding, CSI is checking into areas of the Space Tourism business including investigating with potential partners to develop space systems for an initial week-long stay at the ISS and then a week-long trip around the Moon.

Recently CSI was by-passed to be part of the group of finalist in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

Download a copy of CSI's Lunar Express^SM Space Transportation System presentation.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/20/07.

NOT Flight Ready

To soon to tell; not enough information to make a call. 

They are in a similar situation like Universal Space Lines  in terms of what their primary business focus is but we don't think they are as far along in executing their business plan. At this point in time, we are not sure if they will attempt to crossover into the Space Tourism.

It is interesting to note that CSI is also partnered with t/Space in a manner similar to AirLaunch LLC.

Sub-Orbital

The da Vinci Project (now promoted by DreamSpace) was the first Canadian entry in the Ansari X-Prize competition.

The da Vinci Project has completely revamped their sub-orbital concept. Out - reusable helium balloon to lift the spacecraft, "Wild Fire MK Vl", to an altitude of 70,000 to 80,000 feet before being released. In - the XF1, the first of a planned line of multiple passenger spacecraft.

The new XF1 prototype spacecraft design, presented at the 2006 X-Prize Cup, is a one person spaceflight test bed for the nine person commercial Space Tourism spacecraft. The XF1 is a winged space aircraft that is able to operate out of an airport style spaceport because it will employ a combination of a jet aircraft turbine engine and a new liquid rocket propulsion system.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/20/07.

NOT Flight Ready

To soon to tell; not enough information to make a call.

In 2004, Dr. Peter Diamandis, of the Ansari X-Prize Foundation wanted everyone to believe that there really was a competition between this mostly volunteer company and the eventual winner but we just didn't see any.

We haven't seen them make any substantial headway towards getting a vehicle into space other than putting new ideas on paper! We do like the designs...

An X-Prize participant.

Sub-Orbital

This very recent entry into Space Tourism has absolutely everything going for it to be successful due to its space heritage. EADS Astrium is THE European space company equivalent to the American companies of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Their as yet un-named vehicle is a business jet sized spaceship designed to carry four passengers into sub-orbital space minutes of "zero G" or weightlessness. If development begins in 2008, a first commercial flight would be possible by 2012.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/26/07.

NOT Flight Ready

To soon to tell; not enough information to make a call.

Look for them on the horizon to be a leader in the field. We are not sure at this early point in time how different the final product might be but current pictures of the vehicle they have under consideration look like a wingless Rocketplane XP. 

Orbital

Interorbital Systems plans to begin regularly scheduled orbital Space Tourism flights in late 2009. Special advanced "promotional fare" tickets for the initial orbital flights are now on sale. Only 9 of them are left at a cost of $250,000 (USD) - regularly priced at $2 million (USD).

Recently they made public the design of its manned orbital launch vehicle, Neptune, and passed a major milestone by completing the propellant tank construction of its Sea Star MSLV (microsatellite launch vehicle). Sea Star is a subscale version of, and testbed for, the Neptune six-passenger orbital tourism ship.

The Neptune SAAHTO (which stands for stage-and-a-half-to-orbit) Spaceliner launches from an ocean based launch platform. The unique concept of IOS is their intent to use the empty booster liquid oxygen (LOx) tanks of the Neptune as a mini-space station once on orbit!

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 2/23/08.

NOT Flight Ready.

It is not surprising to us that the targeted launch date for the Neptune has moved from late 2007 to late 2009. 

For the amount of work involved to get a human rated, private, non-government space vehicle developed and certified for Space Tourism orbital flights, we don't see it happening by this or any other commercial space company by 2009.

The company's plans are on such a grand scale that, in our opinion, if it does happen it won't be in 2009 either. We certainly do want this company to succeed, however, because it brings a unique concept to orbital Space Tourism.

An X-Prize participant.

Orbital

JP Aerospace is developing the technology to fly an airship (a high altitude balloon derivative), directly to orbit. The resulting configuration is a three-part architecture for using lighter-than-air vehicles to reach space. The project is over two decades in development (80+ flight hardware test flights and other development tests) using existing technology. They estimate to be only 7 years from completion which would make their vision for space travel available around the 2010-2011 timeframe.

Download a copy of their ATO (Airship To Orbit) program here.

Download an animation of the ATO program here. (4 MB)

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/21/07.

NOT Flight Ready

To soon to tell; not enough information about the status of the program to make a call. 

If they can pull this off, more power to them and more opportunities for future "space tourists" down the road, but they have a L-O-N-G road ahead of them.

We may end up moving this company down a notch (Tier I) next evaluation if we see little progress being made.

Sub-Orbital & Orbital

KST’s initial focus was on the development of a reusable launch system for sub-orbital spaceflights but as the market and investment income changed, KST has sought and obtained revenue from other related space activities, including supporting NASA’s Space Transportation Architecture Studies (STAS) and Space Launch Initiative (SLI).

KST is developing a wide array of space vehicles utilizing KST's patented  technology (Eclipse-class towed launchers) for both unmanned and manned space missions. In addition, KST is working on different configurations of a crew and cargo Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) and another vehicle called the Astroliner.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/21/07.

NOT Flight Ready

To soon to tell; not enough information to make a call.

Kelly Space & Technology is moving into a lot of different directions. We are taking a "wait and see" attitude to determine if they are simply going to be a space support company, a  company intent on winning NASA work or a company with a plan to enter the Space Tourism market.

They could surprise us and move ahead in all three directions but we don't think that a company of this size can support all three without compromise as to what they can actually deliver.

An X-Prize participant.

Sub-Orbital & Orbital

Masten Space Systems is developing a line of Vertical Takeoff and  Vertical Landing (VTVL) launch vehicles at reduced costs. An incremental approach will be taken that uses components and systems from earlier products as the basis for future launch capability.

The first production vehicle that they have planned is the XA-1.0. The nomenclature XA stands for eXtreme Altitude. The XA-1.0 will take a 100kg payload to over a 100km altitude on a suborbital trajectory. From this basic vehicle they progress upward in capability with the XA-1.5 to the XA-2.0 which is targeted for the sub-orbital Space Tourism market. Supposedly the XA-1.0 will begin launches in the first half of 2008.

Eventually a line of booster rockets, designated as the B.x.x series, will be mated to the XA-2.0 to provide orbital capability to the new orbital upper stage space vehicles called the O.x.x series. In addition, Masten Space Systems is developing a series of 
eXtraterrestrial Landers (XL x.x) and Transfer vehicles (xT x.x).

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/21/07.

NOT Flight Ready

To soon to tell; not enough information about the status of the program to make a call.

We don't know if Masten Space Systems will be able to go it alone as a Space Tourism company. They seem to be in a situation similar to other companies mentioned above. 

Orbital

Orbital Sciences Corporation is developing a new space transportation system with NASA in a three-year cooperative program to support the International Space Station (ISS). The COTS program will involve full-scale development and flight demonstration of a commercial cargo delivery system. The COTS system will consist of:

• Taurus II, a new medium-class launch vehicle being developed by Orbital
• Cygnus, an advanced maneuvering spacecraft, and
• Several interchangeable modules for pressurized and unpressurized cargo.

We fully expect that if Orbital is successful in this venture then they will go the next step to provide a human-rated orbital spacecraft.

Updated: 11/10/08

This company came out of nowhere from a support role with Rocketplane Kistler to actually knocking them out of the competition by winning their COTS contract when it went out for a re-bid after Rocketplane Kistler couldn't meet their financial obligation.

The COTS competition is now in full swing between Orbital and SpaceX.

Sub-Orbital & Orbital

The PlanetSpace/Canadian Arrow team has successfully tested the rocket engine which confirms that they have reengineered a World War II rocket design (German V-2) into modern technology. The Canadian Arrow is a two-stage, three person sub-orbital rocket with the second stage doubling as an escape system. 

PlanetSpace, which has been testing the engine for its sub-orbital rocket Canadian Arrow, recently announced plans to build a hypersonic glider called the Silver Dart capable of carrying eight people into orbit. The design is based on the FDL-7 first developed in the 1960s by Air Force researchers.

At one point in time this group was considered to be competition for Scaled Composites, LLC, the eventual winner of the $10 million (USD) Ansari X-Prize.

Even without any major aerospace contracts from NASA or others, the company is moving on with its space vehicles program and construction of a space launch facility in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. The company has, however, signed an information exchange agreement with NASA which will help them develop their vehicles to meet NASA's requirements.

Updated: 11/10/08

We believe that PlanetSpace has all the right ingredients to be THE major player due to their recent agreements with Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Alliant Techsystems to compete for a contract to ship cargo to the International Space Station. PlanetSpace will now compete against Orbital Sciences and SpaceX for the COTS contract as well as working on their commercial "space tourism" spaceships.

We fully expect for this team to give everyone a run for the money to have the first operational, private, commercial sub-orbital and orbital spaceship but we're not sure what those vehicles will be.

An X-Prize participant.

Sub-Orbital & Orbital

Rocketplane Global is developing the four-seater XP sub-orbital "spaceplane". The 42ft (12.8m) long XP is a heavily modified Learjet 25 that will take off and land from a conventional runway. It has a maximum take-off weight of 19,200lb (8,720kg) and a thrust requirement of 36,000lb (160kN).

Of interest is the fact that NASA signed a Space Act Agreement with Rocketplane for use of a NASA RS-88 engine for three years in tests of the Rocketplane XP.

The Rocketplane Kistler team will provide unique orbital commercial space transportation services for passengers and cargo through its fleet of highly reliable, cost effective, and re-useable aerospace vehicles. This space transportation system is based off the former Kistler Aerospace K-1 launch platform. 

Also, Rocketplane Kistler entered "a strategic partnership" with Orbital Sciences who will support all programs and applications of the company's innovative space transportation system.

The Rocketplane Kistler team was one of only two companies to initially receive a contract for the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

Updated: 11/10/08

Moving in the reverse direction! Since they lost a COTS contract and funding is dried up, they are now on the Fast Track To Nowhere. Hopefully they will prove us wrong.

With the first NASA COTS announcements and relationship with the Kistler Aerospace Corporation and Orbital Sciences, it seemed that Rocketplane was well on their way in their development effort.

When we first started this matrix we had them flagged as . Little did we know that this company would go full circle in a few short years and be back in the red again!

An X-Prize participant.

Orbital

The company to build a new-generation spacecraft will be one of three Russian companies - the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, the Khrunichev Space Center and the Molniya Research and Production Association. All have submitted bids to build the re-usable spaceship.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/22/07.

The first government space agency looking to formally enter the commercial Space Tourism business using their new Kliper space vehicle targeted to be in service in the 2010-2011 timeframe.

Would probably work with Space Adventures, Ltd as the "travel agency" or may go it alone.

Sub-Orbital & Orbital

Going price for an orbital trip to the International Space Station in a Russian Soyuz capsule is $20 million (USD).

The company intends to start commercial sub-orbital flights in 2008 or 2009 although the timeline is contingent on a lot of things including development of a vehicle. Almost 200 people have already signed up for sub-orbital trips.

The company that Space Adventures, Ltd. was banking on to deliver their own sub-orbital vehicle is the Suborbital Corporation (see ST Scorecard - Tier I).  Recently Space Adventures, Ltd. agreed to buy Space Launch, a small jet engineering company, in a move to develop proprietary commercial rockets in the United States and announced plans to build their own suborbital "Explorer" spacecraft backed by a venture capital company, Prodea, whose CEO is none other than Amir Ansari, member of the X-Prize Board of Trustees. How this all comes together remains to be seen.

Space Adventures says its  Explorer vehicle will be flight-tested over 100 times, could require emergency water-landing practice and is to operate initially from Russia's Zhukovsky air base. Zhukovsky, near Moscow, is likely to be the development centre for Explorer, which will be air-launched from a Myasishchev M-55X aircraft.

Space Adventures, Ltd. is now looking at developing spaceport locations in Florida, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore for their future sub-orbital trips.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/22/07.

GO for Orbital flights.

Moving ahead for Sub-orbital flights.

Became the world's 1st Space Tourism company when they successfully  negotiated a paying passenger with the Russian space agency for the world's 1st "Space Tourist", Dennis Tito.

Space Adventures also provides other "space activities" including: Zero gravity airplane flights, high speed Russian jet flights and Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuit simulations inside a neutrally buoyant environment.

Space Adventures Chief Executive Eric Anderson has a lot of "irons in the fire" and wants to be the do all for everyone. (Did you know that Dr. Peter Diamandis, Chairman of the X Prize Foundation, co-founded Space Adventures, Ltd.?)

SpaceDev Inc. received notification that they were not selected for the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

SpaceDev is now going it alone with there own version of an orbital spaceship. Jim Benson (former CEO) elected to leave the company to form his own company focused on winning the sub-orbital space "race".

SpaceDev is also actively pursuing use of an Atlas V rocket built by Lockheed Martin to launch their spaceship into orbit.

Updated: 11/10/08

To soon to tell; not enough information to make a call.

This company now has a defined business plan and should be a major player in the orbital private-sector Space Tourism market. Having proved their engine technology on SpaceShipOne they have no where to go but up.

SpaceDev announced that it has signed a multi-year contract with Scaled Composites to assist Scaled in the development of a production rocket motor for their sub-orbital vehicle,  SpaceShipTwo.

Soon after the death of founder Jim Benson, SpaceDev agreed to be acquired for about $38 million by Sierra Nevada Corp., a closely held maker of small satellites and a supplier of parts for various space projects.

Spacehab Inc.'s Astrotech Space Operations unit received a $1.2 million (USD) contract to perform a feasibility study and preliminary design for government payload-processing facilities. However, they  received notification that they were not selected for the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

We thought about not including this company in our list but decided to track their progress because we think there is potential here.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/22/07.

To soon to tell; not enough information to make a call but positive major change is causing this company to have the capability to become a player in the Space Tourism market if they pursue a human-rated version of their spaceships.

We hope that Spacehab presses on and does not restrict themselves to only going after the space cargo market.

SpaceX is privately developing a family of launch vehicles intended to reduce the cost and increase the reliability of access to space. The design and manufacturing facilities are located in Southern California, near LAX, while the propulsion development and structural test facilities are located in Central Texas.

Falcon 1 and 1e have a reusable first stage and expendable upper stage. The heavy lift vehicle,  Falcon 9, will be the only US launch vehicles with true engine out reliability. Falcon 9 is also designed such that both stages are reusable, making them the world’s first fully reusable launch vehicles.

The medium lift vehicle, Falcon 5, appears to no longer be on the drawing board. We also believe that sub-orbital spaceflight is not in their business plan either.

In late March 2006, SpaceX suffered a setback when the maiden launch of its Falcon 1 rocket was lost over the Pacific Ocean about a minute after liftoff. The second launch of Falcon 1 met almost all of it's mission objectives and was declared successful.

SpaceX's COTS proposal (a capsule named Dragon developed in secret with its own funding), won a COTS contract. Dragon is a mix between an Apollo and Soyuz capsule, and is being designed to ferry cargo and crew to and from the International Space Station.

Updated: 11/10/08

SpaceX will commercialize a version of a free-flying reusable spacecraft it is making for NASA as part of the COTS program. They also have invited government and commercial representatives to review their DragonLab spacecraft concept.

DragonLab is based off the Dragon vehicle which is being designed to transport cargo to the International Space station.

With the successful launch of Falcon 1 under their belt, SpaceX is on a fast track for orbital launch capability. We certainly hope that is the case because we see a lot of potential with this company if it goes after the Space Tourism market.

The first Falcon 9 is well under way. SpaceX could become the orbital commercial Space Tourism spaceflight leader. We continue to  watch this one closely!

Sub-Orbital & Orbital

A joint adventure by Scaled Composites, LLC and Virgin Galactic designed to be the first company to manufacture spaceships both for Virgin Galactic and other interested parties!

The first group of vehicles to be produced will be the sub-orbital SS2 (Space Ship Two) and it's carrier aircraft WK2 (White Knight 2). Next will come the orbital versions of these vehicles.

This is another company that we thought about not including in our list but decided to track their progress because of the potential impact they could have in assisting some of the other companies here to meet their objective.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/22/07.

What can we say other than Burt Rutan and Sir Richard Branson are teamed up to make spacelines a reality.

We wonder if the major airlines of the world are watching this...

Starchaser is also developing an eight seat sub-orbital spaceplane that can be upgraded to an orbital version. All spaceships will be launched atop the Starchaser 5 launch vehicle.

Starchaser Industries has had much success in flight and ground tests of their propulsion and recovery systems,  piloted drop tests of the crew capsule parafoil recovery system and their Environmental Control Life Support System. More recently they have been doing work with the European Space Agency (ESA) who is working hard to enter the Space Tourism marketplace.

They opened an office in Las Cruces, New Mexico near the new Spaceport America facility (under construction). Plans are to manufacture and test rockets and other space vehicles at this spaceport.

Starchaser, based in the United Kingdom, bought 120 acres of Chihuahuan desert along Interstate 10 west of Las Cruces, envisioning a "Rocket City" that will include manufacturing buildings, astronaut training facilities, hotels and restaurants, spinoff industries and a space-age theme park.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/22/07.

NOT Flight Ready but moving ahead in a very positive direction.

Not enough information to make a call although they appear to be making serious progress.

The connection with ESA can only enhance their position. We will closely follow how this relationship works for both parties. 

Orbital

The t/Space CEV concept is known as the Crew Transfer Vehicle or CXV. The CXV is designed to do only one thing and do it well and at a low cost - take people and cargo to and from low Earth orbit. The CXV system uses proven technology, such as the Discoverer / Corona capsule design and the Burt Rutan White Knight launch platform concept of  his company, Scaled Composites, LLC.

Preliminary design of the CXV and launch system is under way. An uncrewed demonstration flight is planned for summer 2008, with a crewed flight in December, 2008. We are not sure if they are on schedule to meet that objective.

t/Space  was not selected as a contract winner for the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. However, they will benefit from a recent technology transfer agreement with NASA. 

Download a copy of the t/Space CXV concept  here.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/22/07.

Because of the number and quality of specialty companies involvement with t/Space, we are confident to say that t/Space is one of the companies to watch for making a private, non-government  space vehicle for orbital Space Tourism to happen.

t/Space states that their core mission requirement is "to enable prompt, affordable, safe and sustainable lunar exploration and development by the largest possible number of Americans, both in person and via telepresence". We guess what this means is that if you can't afford a ticket then you can watch it on pay TV!

USL now appears to be solely focused on providing space support services having formed additional companies to address specific aerospace business segments. These companies are Their core products and services are Flight Management Systems (Guidance, Navigation & Control (GN&C), Avionics Systems) and Mission Operations.

USL developed the preliminary Flight Management and Flight Operations Systems for the CXV of t/Space.

Reviewed: 11/01/08
No change since our last report on 6/22/07.

NOT Flight Ready

Just like AirLaunch LLC., USL is also partnered with t/Space!

This looks like another company that now will not go it alone as a Space Tourism company. If this holds true, and they become a space support company only, then we will remove them from our watch list along with the other companies that also fit that category.

Virgin Galactic is a company established by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group to develop Space Tourism for everybody.

Flights of Virgin Galactic's spaceship, SpaceShipTwo were planned to begin testing in late 2007 or early 2008 but that didn't happen. They are now starting to take reservations and deposit commitments for the first year of operations. The ticket price has been set at $200,000 (USD). The minimum, fully refundable deposit to secure your spaceship seat is $20,000 (USD).

Virgin Galactic chose New Mexico's new Spaceport America facility (under construction) for the launch pad of their planned Space Tourism flights. French designer Phillipe Starck has drawn up plans for this, the world's first commercial spaceport, which some people are referring to as the Virgin Galactic facility. Sir Richard Branson is also looking at spaceport locations in Florida, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Scotland and Sweden.

Virgin Galactic aims to have 30 astronaut pilots, recruited from NASA and the airline industry, by the launch of its space program. They also are continuing to move ahead with determining additional spaceport locations for their vehicles.

Updated: 11/10/08

SpaceShipOne, the technology being licensed by Virgin Galactic from Burt Rutan's company Scaled Composites, LLC, was successful in winning the $10 million (USD) Ansari X Prize.

Recently, Virgin Galactic's prototype WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) mothership was rolled out for public viewing. Flight tests are expected to occur in November-December 2008.

Meanwhile, things are already accelerating for Spaceport America, future home for Virgin Galactic. A space hub in Europe located in Scotland is also in work.

They remain in the driver's seat to be the 1st company to begin sub-orbital space flights although the competition is starting to heat up!

An X-Prize participant via Scaled Composites.

Before there were Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company, XCOR was developing, testing, building and flying rocket engines and rocket aircraft. The prime vehicle in use is called the EZ-Rocket.

The EZ-Rocket is really a technology demonstrator and test bed for rocket 
engines, flight designs and configurations leading up to XCOR's plans to build their sub-orbital vehicle, Xerus. Plans have recently changed and XCOR is now building a two person sub-orbital vehicle called the Lynx. 

The EZ-Rocket is actually a modified Long-EZ homebuilt aircraft designed by none other than Burt Rutan of Scaled Composites, LLC! Now get this - Dick Rutan, brother of Burt, is under contract to fly the EZ-Rocket for XCOR. Now it's not hard to imagine how SpaceShipOne came into being.

After the Rocket Racing League™ (RRL) was established, XCOR was awarded a contract to design and build the first generation of X-Racers based on the design of XCOR's EZ-Rocket. This vehicle will be called the Mark 1 X-Racer.

It was announced in May 2006, that XCOR Aerospace, teamed with Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, will help develop a rocket engine for NASA's next generation manned spacecraft, the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV).

Recently XCOR won a US Air Force contract to design and analyze a rocket-powered vehicle, which will reach 200,000 feet altitude and supersonic speeds. Sounds like the Xerus doesn't it?

Updated: 11/10/08

For now it seems as though Virgin Galactic has the upper hand thanks to Burt Rutan. However, don't count XCOR out of the sub-orbital picture.

XCOR is starting to build the Lynx vehicle and have also done significant amounts of software modeling. Their intent is to be ready for first steps of runway hops and test flights in early-to mid-2010 and serve the first commercial paying customers in early 2011.

New contracts won by XCOR also put them in a good position to be a player in sub-orbital space travel. Seems like everything is going their way now.