XCor Receives Sub-Orbital Launch Permit

Marc Newman writes "MSNBC is reporting that XCor has received the second FAA suborbital launch permit. Xcor Aerospace is not competing in the X-Prize but rather is 'in it to make money'. They are still awaiting a launch permit for their Mojave desert launch site. It'd be interesting if XCor beat Scaled Composites with the first sub-orbital flight but couldn't claim the $10 million prize."

Comments

Oh, the SECOND one

[Anonymous Coward]

Everyone knows only the first one is important. I mean, we all know who walked on the moon first... Louis Armstrong... but who cares about that second guy Buzz Lightyear?

Re:Oh, the SECOND one

[fucksl4shd0t]

Actually, it was Neil Armstrong.

IN the 70s, though, after that great feat was accomplished, Evil Knievel managed to jump from Pike's Peak and land on the moon. Nobody cares, of course, because he wasn't the first man on the moon.

Hmm...

[weiyuent]

It'd be interesting if XCor beat Scaled Composites with the first sub-orbital flight but couldn't claim the $10 million prize."

Yeah...I'll bet that if that happened, Burt Rutan would eXCORiate everyone who worked for him ;-)

Re:Hmm...

[Fiz Ocelot]

The Rules read: " 3. The flight vehicle must be flown twice within a 14-day period. Each flight must carry at least one person, to minimum altitude of 100 km (62 miles). The flight vehicle must be built with the capacity (weight and volume) to carry a minimum of 3 adults of height 188 cm (6 feet 2 inches) and weight 90 kg (198 pounds) each. Three people of this size or larger must be able to enter, occupy, and be fastened into the flight vehicle on Earth's surface prior to take-off, and equivalent ballast must be carried in-flight if the number of persons on-board during flight is less than 3 persons."

It didn't look like their vehicle has the capacity required, but I could be wrong. Sure didn't look like it to me.

excellent

[the arbiter]

We, the public, will benefit greatly in the long run with the increased competition. The more companies doing this, the better.

And when the time comes, I'll be ready to take a flight.

Re:excellent

[ruprechtjones]

kudos to the FAA for allowing (non-government) companies to persue their dreams. I may be naive, but god damn I have some respect for this governing body right now. Fly, little man, fly!

Mojave Desert....

[L0stb0Y]

"They are still awaiting a launch permit for their Mojave desert launch site"

Soon the 'kingdom of nye' will have new sightings to report...

Sounds like they are well on their way

[Fiz Ocelot]

Quote off the site:"The EZ-Rocket has flown 15 times to date. The first 13 flights were conducted at our base of operations at the Mojave Civilian Flight Test Center in Mojave, CA. Flights 14 and 15 were performed in front of a very large crowd of airshow attendees at the EAA AirVenture fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin."

Why exactly are they not in the x-prize competition? Looks like they may be some real competition.

Money, not money

[Dorf on Perl]

Xcor Aerospace is not competing in the X-Prize but rather is 'in it to make money'.

Oh I see, they want to make money, not win the prize... which is... money...

Uh..

Obligatory Question

[platypibri]

I guess I am risking my karma that this might be modded of topic, but doesn't the requirement for a permit to engage in a sub-orbital flight set a bad precedent as far as the politicalization of space goes. I mean, who owns earth orbit? How far up does the United States go before you enter "International Space"? We have a flag on the moon, does that mean a private company couldn't fund and develop a moon base? Are we going to have to have another "Age of Conquest" to divy up the moon, or is globalization a necessity for space colinization? I just find the whole thing so facinating.

Re:Obligatory Question

[Monty845]

It would seem the FAA has a legitimate interest in regulating whats flying in US airspace. If something represents a danger to public safety the FAA needs to be able to stop it from flying. It is true on the other hand that at some point (altitude) the FAA's jurisdiction must end, I would say that as long as it is being launched from the US they get a say... There are also probably some international treaties that would provide guidence.

Family Affair

[levram2]

What is interesting is that XCOR's last rocket propelled plane was flown by Dick Rutan, Burt Rutan's brother.

Burt Rutan's company Scaled Composites has the first license for their SpaceShipOne.

http://www.dickrutan.com/rocket.html

Re:Requirements?

[twenty-exty-six]

Privately finances, builds & launches a spaceship, able to carry three people to 100 kilometers (62.5 miles)

Returns safely to Earth

Repeats the launch with the same ship within 2 weeks

Financial Motive

[Fortress]

Not very suprising that it doesn't matter to Xcor whether they win the prize or not. I don't think $10M will cover the development costs of most of the entries, so I think most of them are "in it for the money." They must be hoping for some sort of commercial success/government contract using their techniques. Think of it as a long term investment.

The X-Prize itself serves more of a publicity role, keeping the developing entries in the media (including /.) and greasing the wheels of the FAA to give permits. The permits are interesting-They are a milestone showing which of the entries are serious and which are vaporware.

Exciting stuff nonetheless.

$10 Mil? Peanuts

[MrNonchalant]

Unless I miss my guess there is a heck of a lot more than $10 million for whoever wins this race. If the Bush space plan works, and it may, we could well see the commercialization of space in our lifetimes. And whoever has the best and cheapest commercial transport system at that point stands to make billions and billions.

Of course it is money, but think for a moment.

[efuseekay]

The Xprize has conditions (like no government funding etc etc) that Xcor probably does not want to follow.

Also, to win the Xprize, one has to do it with a reusable LV, with 3 passengers and a 2 week (?) turnaround between flights etc etc.

So it's not so surprising. Of course all the Xprize people are in for the money. One can ask why subscribe to so many constraints, well the Xprize Consortium is backed by a lot of influential people. By subscribting to it, you can free publicity, and A LOT OF connections to people who probably will be your future customers (or your future customers' friends.)

Text of Permit

[k4_pacific]

This certifies that (name here) is hearby entitled to launch one (1) spacecraft into suborbital flight. Bearer assumes all responsibility for accidents. This permit is provided AS IS without warranty, including the implied warranties of airworthiness or suborbital flight capability. The liability of the FAA is limited to the cost of the permit fees. Some states do not allow limitations of liability, so the above may not apply to you. Void where prohibited. If you do not agree to the terms of this permit, please pack your spacecraft in the original carton and return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund. You should have received a copy of the FAA's Suborobital Flight Guidelines along with this permit. If not, please write to: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Suborbital Flight, Box 5050, Washington, DC 31416

good link (xprize), X Prize Cup?

[aggiefalcon01]

Since people keep asking about the requirements ... here ya go

The site shows something else interesting ... that while Xcor isn't participating in the X Prize, they do plan on participating in the X Prize Cup (which will happen later).

Re:Requirements?

[BiggerBoat]

Not quite. It need not be a "spaceplane"... a simple rocket will do. And it needs to fly to 62 miles, or 100 kilometers. It needs to be able to carry three 198lb, 6'2" people to that height, but two of the three people can be represented by ballast - only one live body needs fly. That person needs to return in good health. And the vehicle needs to do it twice in two weeks, not three, between which no more than 10% of the mass mass of the vehicle (not including propellant) can be replaced.

Oh, and one other thing... the ten million dollars is only funded through the end of this year.

Bulk reply from XCOR employee

[Anonymous Coward]

I cannot seem to retrieve my /. password using the email method, so I am going to post as AC and hope that somebody's moderating at 0 to bump this up. I am coming to you live from the Space Access Society Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.

I just want to clear up some confusion generated by inaccuracies both in the MSNBC story and the slashdot post:

The vehicle we have received a licence for, as stated in our press release is not a full suborbital vehicle and is not an X-Prize competitor. It is an intermediate technology research platform to continue development of engines and related systems that began flight testing on the EZ-Rocket, our currently flying manned rocket powered airplane. It is also noted that this new vehicle, the Sphinx, has not yet been built. Quoth the press release: "It is helpful that RLV companies can obtain their launch licenses during vehicle design, prior to committing capital to build a vehicle."

A stated before, we are not an X-Prize competitor, due to among other things, a conflict in the time scale of the X-Prize and our business development plan, as well as the planned configuration of our current suborbital vehicle design. XCOR is focused on revenue generation. However, we fully support the X-Prize and offer technology and services to X-Prize entrants, as well as moral and legislative support.

Mike Massee XCOR Aerospace www.xcor.com