Federal Aviation

Administration

2010 U.S. Commercial

Space Transportation

Developments and Concepts:

Vehicles, Technologies,

and Spaceports

January 2010

HQ-101068.INDD

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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • About FAA/AST

About the Office of Commercial Space Transportation

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial 

Space Transportation (FAA/AST) licenses and regulates U.S. commercial space 

launch and reentry activity, as well as the operation of non-federal launch and 

reentry sites, as authorized by Executive Order 12465 and Title 49 United States 

Code, Subtitle IX, Chapter 701 (formerly the Commercial Space Launch Act). 

FAA/AST’s mission is to ensure public health and safety and the safety of property 

while protecting the national security and foreign policy interests of the United 

States during commercial launch and reentry operations. In addition, 

FAA/AST is directed to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space 

launches and reentries. Additional information concerning commercial 

space transportation can be found on FAA/AST’s web site at 

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/. 

NOTICE

Use of trade names or names of manufacturers in this document does not 

constitute an official endorsement of such products or manufacturers, either 

expressed or implied, by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Space Competitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Expendable Launch Vehicle Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Reusable Launch Vehicle Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Reentry Vehicles and In-Space Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Enabling Technologies.......................................... 3

Commercial Human Spaceflight Training........................ 4

Spaceports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Regulatory and Legislative Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Significant 2009 Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Space Competitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Google Lunar X PRIZE............................................ 9

America’s Space Prize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Centennial Challenges......................................... 10

Expendable Launch Vehicles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Current Expendable Launch Vehicle Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

AtlasV – United Launch Alliance.................................... 13

Delta II – United Launch Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Delta IV – United Launch Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Falcon 1 – Space Exploration Technologies Corporation................. 16

Minotaur I – Orbital Sciences Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Pegasus XL – Orbital Sciences Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Taurus – Orbital Sciences Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Zenit-3SL and -3SLB – Sea Launch Company, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

ELV Development Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Athena III – PlanetSpace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Eagle S-series – E’Prime Aerospace Corporation....................... 19

Falcon 9 – Space Exploration Technologies Corporation................. 20

Nanosat Launch Vehicle – Garvey Spacecraft Corporation............... 22

NEPTUNE – Interorbital Systems................................... 22

Minotaur IV and V – Orbital Sciences Corporation..................... 24

QuickReach – AirLaunch LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Shadow III – Lunar Rocket and Rover Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Taurus II – Orbital Sciences Corporation............................. 26

NASA Exploration Launch Vehicles............................. 27

Ares I......................................................... 27

Ares V......................................................... 28

Sounding Rockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Black Brant – Bristol Aerospace Limited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Orion and Oriole – DTI Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
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SpaceLoft XL – UP Aerospace, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Shadow I and II – Lunar Rocket and Rover Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Terrier-Orion – DTI Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Reusable Launch Vehicles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Commercial RLV Development Efforts........................... 33

QUAD & MOD-1 – Armadillo Aerospace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

New Shepard – Blue Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

XA-1.0 – Masten Space Systems.................................... 35

Silver Dart – PlanetSpace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Rocketplane XP – Rocketplane Global............................... 36

SpaceShipTwo – The SpaceShip Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Dream Chaser – Sierra Nevada Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Laramie Rose – SpeedUp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

MICHELLE-B – TGV Rockets, Inc.................................... 39

Burning Splinter – Unreasonable Rocket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Lynx – XCOR Aerospace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Government RLV Development Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Space Shuttle................................................... 41

Reentry Vehicles and In-Space Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

International Space Station Crew and Cargo Transport ..... 45

SpaceX Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Orbital Sciences Taurus II/Cygnus................................... 47

Other Commercial Crew and Cargo Transport Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle........................................ 48

Commercial Orbital Habitat Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Enabling Technologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Future Responsive Access to Space Technology Program....... 51

Improved Heat Shield Material – SpaceX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Composite Tanks – Microcosm, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

High Performance Pressurization System (HPPS) – Microcosm, 

Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

VASIMR® Engine – Ad Astra Rocket Company..................... 53

Rocket Upper Stage – SpeedUp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Solid Rocket Motors – Alliant Techsystems, Inc................. 54

NOFB Monopropellant and Rocket Engines – Firestar 

Technologies, LLC............................................... 54

Liquid Rocket Engines and Associated Technologies – Garvey 

Spacecraft Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Liquid Rocket Engines – Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. . . . . . 56

Liquid Rocket Engines – Space Exploration Technologies

Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Liquid Rocket Engines – Microcosm, Inc......................... 57

Launch Abort System – Orbital Sciences Corporation . . . . . . . . . 57
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Contents

Scramjet Propulsion – Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc........ 58

Stage Recovery System – Alliant Techsystems, Inc. & United 

Space Alliance, LLC............................................... 58

Spacecraft Navigation LIDAR – SpaceX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Spaceports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Non-Federal Spaceports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Blue Origin Launch Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

California Spaceport ............................................. 63

Cecil Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.................................... 65

Mojave Air and Space Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Oklahoma Spaceport............................................. 67

Spaceport America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Federal Spaceports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station................................... 69

Edwards Air Force Base........................................... 70

Kennedy Space Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Reagan Test Site................................................. 72

Vandenberg Air Force Base........................................ 73

Wallops Flight Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

White Sands Missile Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Proposed Spaceports............................................ 75

Space Florida Spaceport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Spaceport Hawaii................................................ 77

Space Port Indiana............................................... 78

Spaceport Sheboygan............................................. 78

Inactive Spaceports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Commercial Human Spaceflight Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Aurora Aerospace............................................... 81

Barrios Technology............................................ 82

Civilian Aero and Space Training Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Executive Aerospace Physiology Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

National Aerospace Training and Research (NASTARTM) Center . . 86

Orbital Commerce Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Project Odyssey – Space Florida and Andrews Institute........ 87

Space Medicine Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Starfighters Aerospace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

United Space Alliance LLC and USA Space Operations LLC . . . . . . . 89

Wyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Zero Gravity Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
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Regulatory and Legislative Developments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation... 93

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Research Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Commercial Space Grant Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

A Grant Program................................................ 95

Endnotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Photo Credits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

List of Acronyms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
• 1 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Introduction

Introduction

Against a backdrop of economic challenge, the year 2009 marked continued 

progress in the commercial space transportation industry. United States vehicles 

performed more launches in 2009 than in any year since 2000. Established 

providers of commercial launch services delivered satellites to orbit, while 

entrepreneurial ventures continued to develop new expendable and reusable launch 

vehicles. Firms based around personal spaceflight and other emerging markets 

continued to sign up customers, with some on track to begin commercial operation 

within the next two years. Meanwhile, companies pursued innovative technologies 

to enable new vehicles and enterprises, while spaceports planned infrastructure 

improvements to support the industry.

In commercial space, as in other fields, technological progress often represents 

the culmination of steady and deliberate experimentation, refinement, and 

enhancement. The incremental nature of such advances, however, belies the 

revolutionary improvements they offer commercial space transportation: increased 

reliability and safety, lower costs, and new capabilities. Existing and new launch 

vehicles, the key technologies needed for those vehicles to operate successfully, and 

the spaceports those vehicles can operate from, are essential to the future of the U.S. 

commercial space transportation industry. This combination of factors can enable 

the industry to effectively serve existing customers while fostering new markets, 

such as personal spaceflight and commercial resupply of the International Space 

Station (ISS).

This report reviews developments and concepts that defined U.S. commercial space 

transportation in 2009. It showcases current and planned U.S. commercial space 

activities. It also examines space competitions, reusable launch vehicles (RLVs), 

expendable launch vehicles (ELVs), reentry vehicles and in-space technologies, 

enabling technologies such as propulsion and launch configurations, the evolving 

array of U.S. spaceports, and new developments in commercial human spaceflight 

training.

Whether new developments are highly publicized events or gradual changes, 

commercial space transportation remains a dynamic industry. Providing a broad 

understanding of today’s commercial launch sector requires examining a wide range 

of topics. Information presented in this report was compiled from open sources 

and through direct communication with academic, federal, civil, and corporate 

organizations. Because many of the statements herein are forward-looking, the most 

current information should be obtained by directly contacting the organizations 

mentioned in this report.

Space Competitions

In 2009, companies continued to pursue prizes in the three currently active 

space competitions: Google Lunar X PRIZE, America’s Space Prize, and NASA’s 

Centennial Challenges. The Google Lunar X PRIZE, an international competition 
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active since 2007, challenges teams to land on and explore the surface of the Moon, 

and offers a variety of missions that result in a total prize purse of $30 million. As of 

November 2009, 21 teams were registered for the Google Lunar X PRIZE. NASA 

awarded substantial prize money in 2009 with the Power Beam, Astronaut Glove, 

and Regolith Excavation challenges. The most significant space competition in 

2009, however, was the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge (NGLLC), 

whose total prize purse of $2 million was claimed with various teams completing 

Level 1 and Level 2. Masten Space Systems won $1 million for winning Level 2 

and $150,000 for second place in Level 1, while Armadillo Aerospace was awarded 

$500,000 for second place in Level 2.

Expendable Launch Vehicle Industry

Although several established ELV companies experienced setbacks in 2009, the 

year also witnessed 18 successful ELV launches. Sea Launch entered bankruptcy 

in 2009, but was able to continue launch operations and is restructuring internally 

through new financing from a private venture, Space Launch Services. While the 

Orbital Sciences Corporation Taurus vehicle experienced a failure in which the 

NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) was lost, the company conducted 

other successful launches in 2009, and proceeded with development of its new 

Minotaur IV and Taurus II vehicles. Space Exploration Technologies Corporation 

(SpaceX) continued development of its Falcon 9 heavy-lift vehicle, as well as its 

Falcon 1e enhanced small launcher; the first launch of both vehicles is expected 

in 2010. Meanwhile, as the White House reviewed the long-term launch options 

presented by the U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee (the “Augustine 

Commission”), NASA successfully completed a suborbital Ares-1X test flight. This 

test flight demonstrated technology and operations concepts and collected data to 

inform the continued development of the Ares 1 vehicle, the first of two new ELVs 

to be developed under the Constellation program.

Reusable Launch Vehicle Industry

Development of RLVs in 2009 remained focused largely on addressing the 

emerging personal spaceflight market. On December 7, Virgin Galactic and 

Scaled Composites unveiled the first SpaceShipTwo vehicle, christened the 

VirginSpaceShip (VSS) Enterprise. Once a vehicle testing program is completed, 

commercial suborbital space tourism flights are expected to begin—potentially 

by 2011. Meanwhile, Masten Space System’s Xoie and Xombie vehicles, as well 

as Armadillo’s MOD vehicle, completed successful qualification flights for first 

and second place finishes in the 2009 NGLLC competition. As these vehicle 

development activities progressed, the best known RLV—the Space Shuttle—

completed five flights in 2009, with five more expected before the Shuttle’s 

scheduled retirement at the end of 2010.
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Introduction

Reentry Vehicles and In-Space Technology

The planned retirement of the Shuttle has prompted the need for new government 

and commercial vehicles designed to carry cargo and crews to the ISS and other 

low Earth orbit (LEO) destinations. In 2009, NASA and its industry partners 

continued developing the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), successfully 

demonstrating the capsule’s parachute deployment as well as a system that 

maintains stable engine thrust for precise maneuvering and landing. SpaceX, 

supported by a Space Act Agreement under NASA’s Commercial Orbital 

Transportation Services (COTS) program, worked on its Dragon capsule, 

testing its heat shield and a laser-based guidance system designed to assist in ISS 

maneuvering. SpaceX plans to conduct a series of three COTS demo flights of the 

Falcon 9 and Dragon system in 2010. Meanwhile, Orbital Sciences Corporation, 

also supported by COTS, continued development of its Taurus II launch vehicle 

and Cygnus advanced maneuvering spacecraft. The first Taurus II demonstration 

flight is planned in 2011.

Beyond the ISS, Bigelow Aerospace continued developing a scaled-up version 

of the Genesis inflatable habitat modules the company launched in 2006 and 

2007. Sundancer, slated for launch in 2010 or 2011, will be capable of supporting 

crews, and will serve as the basis for a larger orbital habitat with added modules 

in the future. In May 2009, Bigelow successfully obtained government approval 

to conduct passenger-related activities without having to file Technical Assistance 

Agreements, Technology Transfer Control Plans, or certain other export controlrelated paperwork—paving the way for faster development of the company’s 

marketing plans.

Enabling Technologies

Successful RLV and ELV development efforts depend on new technologies that 

offer improved operability, reliability, and performance while lowering costs. The 

year 2009 saw several advances in these key enabling technologies, most notably 

enhanced propulsion, navigation, and reentry components. Liquid fuel engines 

such as Garvey Aerospace’s new P-13 system continued development, while 

ATK’s enhanced five-segment solid rocket booster successfully conducted its 

first full-scale test. Ad Astra’s VASAMIR plasma engine continued development, 

successfully conducting its first full-power test in September. In preparation for 

future international Space Station resupply missions, SpaceX successfully tested 

its DragonEye laser range-finding equipment in July. SpaceX also demonstrated 

its Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) heat shield material, which will 

be used aboard its Dragon capsule as well as a proposed re-usable second stage of 

SpaceX’s Dragon 9 rocket. Other companies continued work on a diverse portfolio 

of technologies from composite propellant tanks to stage recovery systems
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Commercial Human Spaceflight Training

As a new generation of suborbital RLVs and spacecraft become operational, 

they will require specialized training for pilots and in some cases passengers. A 

number of training providers, some of whom are focused exclusively on space, 

offer a wide range of services to prepare people for the rigors of spaceflight. The 

FAA published a listing of these training providers and the services they offer in 

February 2008. In the two years since that initial report’s publication, a number of 

companies have enhanced their offerings. New companies have also entered this 

field, providing services ranging from medical testing and physiological training 

to high-performance jet flights and zero-gravity simulations. This updated 

information is included in this report.

Spaceports

In 2009, U.S. federal and non-federal spaceports continued to support ELV 

launches while seeking to address the emerging personal spaceflight market. These 

spaceports continued to carry out ELV launches at similar tempos as in recent years 

while implementing infrastructure improvements for future commercial ELV and 

RLV missions. In June, ground was officially broken on construction of Spaceport 

America. In December, Mojave Air and Spaceport hosted the official unveiling 

of the first SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo vehicles. Meanwhile, two new 

proposed spaceports, in Hawaii and Indiana, have been allocated money by their 

respective state legislatures to pursue the goal of building a spaceport.

Additionally, in October 2009, seven non-federal and proposed U.S. spaceports and 

three non-U.S. spaceports formed the “Spaceports Council” under the aegis of the 

Commercial Spaceflight Federation—an organization to work together on issues 

of common interest including airspace access, legal and regulatory frameworks, 

infrastructure, international policy migration, liability, and voluntary common 

operating standards. This represents a further step toward developing a network 

of non-federal spaceports within the United States, featuring relationships with 

spaceports abroad.

Regulatory and Legislative Developments

Finally, the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation initiated two new 

programs in 2009, designed to further encourage and facilitate the commercial 

space transportation industry. These two programs are the Center of Excellence for 

Commercial Space Transportation and the Commercial Space Grant Program.
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Significant 2009 Events

Significant 2009 Events

January 1: Virgin Galactic formally announces agreement to a 20-year lease as an 

anchor tenant of Spaceport America, New Mexico’s commercial spaceport. Under 

the agreement, Virgin Galactic will pay $1 million a year for the first five years of 

the lease, and after that a fee based on the amortization of the remaining cost of the 

spaceport’s facilities. One of the provisions of the lease also requires Virgin Galactic 

to establish its world headquarters in the state.

January 8: To reduce costs and align products, Northrop Grumman announces 

a corporate reorganization merging its space and aircraft manufacturing division 

aircraft. The Space Technology division combines with the Integrated Systems 

division, which is responsible for a number of manned and unmanned aircraft 

programs, to create a new Aerospace Systems division.

February 10: An Iridium commercial communications satellite and the defunct 

Russian military satellite Kosmos 2251 collide in low Earth orbit (LEO). The 

collision, which occurs 790 kilometers (490 miles) above Siberia, creates a large 

debris cloud with the potential to damage the International Space Station (ISS) and 

other spacecraft.

February 24: An Orbital Sciences Corporation Taurus XL vehicle carrying the 

Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) fails during launch when the rocket’s 

payload fairing stage does not separate properly. The OCO spacecraft, designed to 

monitor carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is lost.

March 16: NASA awards the United Launch Alliance (ULA) contracts to launch 

four scientific missions between 2011 and 2014: the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, 

the Magnetospheric Multiscale missions, and the TDRS-K and TDRS-L satellites.

March 26: A Soyuz rocket launches the Soyuz ISS 19 mission, carrying two 

Russian crew members bound for the ISS along with commercial space tourist 

Charles Simonyi. The flight makes Simonyi the first orbital space tourist to return 

to the ISS: his first trip was in April 2007. Simonyi lands back on Earth on April 7, 

along with two departing ISS crew members.

April 16: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) and Argentina’s 

National Commission on Space Activity (CONAE) sign an agreement to launch 

SAOCOM 1A and 1B, a pair of earth-monitoring satellites equipped with L-band 

synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments. The satellites are scheduled to launch 

aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 vehicle in 2012.

April 20: A Sea Launch Zenit-3SL lifts off from the Odyssey Launch Platform on 

the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, placing SICRAL 1B, a communications satellite 

operated by the Italian Ministry of Defense, into GEO.
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Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

May 15: The U.S. subsidiary of ICO Global Communications files for prearranged bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. 

The company had struggled to recover investment costs on its ICO-G1 satellite, 

launched in April 2008 to serve the North American market, and retained 

substantial debt to its hardware suppliers. Under bankruptcy protection, the 

subsidiary is restructuring its financing while continuing business operations.

May 19: An Orbital Sciences Corporation Minotaur 1 rocket successfully launches 

the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s TacSat-3 satellite to LEO. TacSat-3, 

built by Alliant Techsystems (ATK), demonstrates a hyperspectral sensor whose 

operations can be controlled directly by troops in the field.

June 19: Formal Spaceport America groundbreaking takes place in New Mexico, 

marking the formal beginning of construction on the new facility.

June 22: With more than $2 billion in unpaid debt, Sea Launch files for 

bankruptcy protection. The company had been experiencing ongoing financial 

shortfalls stemming from its January 30, 2007, failed launch of the NSS 8 

commercial communications satellite. Following the launch failure, Sea Launch 

did not resume launch operations until January 2008, and several of its launch 

contracts were canceled. Sea Launch officials announce the goal of emerging from 

bankruptcy by the end of the first quarter of 2010.

June 27: A ULA Delta IV Medium-Plus vehicle lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air 

Force Station (CCAFS), placing the GOES O environmental monitoring satellite, 

operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), into 

GEO.

July 13: A SpaceX Falcon 1 lifts off from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, 

placing RazakSAT, a remote sensing satellite operated by the Malaysian National 

Space Agency, into LEO.

July 21: The satellite communications company Globalstar receives a $276 million 

loan guaranteed by France’s export credit agency, Coface, as the first installment in 

a $586-million loan package. This financing allows Globalstar to pursue plans for 

its second-generation satellite system. The system, manufactured by Thales Alenia 

Space, is expected to provide Globalstar customers with voice and data services 

through 2025. The satellites are slated to launch in sets of six aboard the Soyuz 2 

vehicle, operated by Arianespace, beginning in 2010.

August 17: A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket successfully deploys 

the last of the U.S. Air Force’s GPS 2R-series positioning and navigation satellites 

from CCAFS. The satellite, Navstar GPS 2RM-8, is the final of eight Lockheed 

Martin-built GPS 2R satellites enhanced to include additional civilian and military 

bandwidth capacity, higher signal power, and superior jamming resistance. The 

newly launched satellite joins 18 other functioning GPS2R satellites in the Air 

Force’s 30-satellite GPS constellation.
• 7 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Significant 2009 Events

September 30: Guy Laliberté, Canadian entrepreneur and founder of Cirque de 

Soleil, becomes the world’s seventh space tourist, flying to the ISS aboard a Soyuz 

through the space tourism company Space Adventures. He returns safely to the 

Earth 12 days later.

October 8: A Boeing Launch Services Delta II lifts off from Vandenberg Air 

Force Base (VAFB), placing Worldview 2, a remote sensing satellite operated by 

DigitalGlobe, into LEO.

October 23: NASA releases the full text of its Review of Human Spaceflight Plans 

Committee (also known as the Augustine Commission) findings. The committee 

highlighted that any plan to fly humans beyond LEO would require additional 

funding of at least $3 billion a year. It also found that the Ares 1 rocket and Orion 

spacecraft were fundamentally solid from a technical standpoint, but a lack of 

funding would likely delay their development by several years. The White House 

planned to consider the options in the report to determine paths forward.

November 5: NASA Centennial Challenges program awards $1.65 million in prize 

money to Masten Space Systems and Armadillo Aerospace. Masten Space Systems 

won $1 million for winning Level 2 of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander 

Challenge as well as $150,000 for second place in Level 1. Armadillo Aerospace was 

awarded $500,000 for second place in Level 2.

November 23: A Lockheed Martin Atlas V lifts off from CCAFS, placing Intelsat 

14, a communications satellite operated by Intelsat, into GEO.

December 7: Virgin Galactic formally unveiled its suborbital piloted spacecraft, 

SpaceShipTwo, and its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, at a ceremony at Mojave 

Air and Space Port north of Los Angeles. This first SpaceShipTwo is named the 

Virgin SpaceShip (VSS) Enterprise.

December 11: Blue Origin announces its selection of three scientific projects—

from Louisiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Central 

Florida—for future test flights.

December 15: Dynetics announces its purchase of Orion Propulsion, Inc. in order 

to expand its space hardware capabilities.

December 17: South Korea’s Yeongcheon Astro Space Center announces it has 

selected XCOR Aerospace as its preferred supplier of suborbital launch services via 

XCOR’s Lynx vehicle.
• 8 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation
• 9 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Space Competitions

Space Competitions

Space prize competitions have become an established means of promoting 

innovation and developments in commercial spaceflight technology. The goal of 

these competitions is to encourage innovative contribution to commercial space 

launch services and other space capabilities while employing the highest-quality, 

but still economical and efficient methods. The three main space prize competitions 

currently active are the Google Lunar X PRIZE, America’s Space Prize, and NASA’s 

various Centennial Challenges.

Google Lunar X PRIZE

The Google Lunar X PRIZE, announced in 2007, is 

an international space prize competition to reward the 

privately funded teams able to land a robot on the surface 

of the Moon, travel 500 meters about the surface, and send 

data back to the Earth in the form of images and videos 

(called “Mooncasts”). A collaboration of the X PRIZE 

Foundation and Google, the Google Lunar X PRIZE 

promotes private enterprise and the exploration of the 

Moon. The first team to successfully complete the mission 

objectives will win the grand prize amount of $20 million, if 

completed by December 31, 2012. The prize money drops 

to $15 million if the competition is not won until 2013 

or 2014. A second place prize valued at $5 million will be 

awarded to the second team to complete the mission before 

the end of 2014. Finally, a total of $5 million is available 

to win for successfully completing additional tasks while 

exploring the lunar surface, bringing the total Google Lunar 

X PRIZE purse to $30 million. Space Florida offers an extra 

$2 million to the first place team if they successfully launch 

from the State of Florida. Teams are required to have at least 

90% of their funding as well as completed registration by 

December 2010.1

As of November 2009, more than 20 teams are registered. These teams range from 

space tourism organizations to groups of physicians and scientists, hailing from a 

variety of nations worldwide. The newest teams to join the competition are Synergy 

Moon, made up of 48 members from 15 countries; Team Selenokhod, the first team 

from Russia; and Team C-Base Open Moon, a group of five Germans.2

 In addition, 

a new miniature challenge called “MoonBots: A Google Lunar X PRIZE LEGO 

MINDSTORMS CHALLENGE” was announced at the National Instruments 

NIWeek event. The contest, similar to the Google Lunar X PRIZE, challenges 

teams made up of children and adults to design, program, and build robots capable 

of conducting simulated lunar missions. Announced in August 2009, registration 

and participation is free and open to teams across the world.3

Google Lunar X PRIZE LEGO MINDSTORMS 

challenge poster
• 10 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

America’s Space Prize

Bigelow Aerospace initiated a commercial spaceflight competition, America’s Space 

Prize, to develop commercial human spacecraft. This prize challenges interested 

competitors to design a reusable vehicle capable of carrying passengers into orbit, 

with the eventual goal of transporting humans to Bigelow Aerospace’s orbital space 

complex. The requirements for the competition are to build a spacecraft capable 

of taking a crew of at least five people to an altitude of 400 kilometers (240 miles), 

complete two orbits of the Earth, and subsequently repeat that accomplishment 

within 60 days. The first flight attempt allows for just test pilots and an established 

mass for passengers, but the second flight must carry a crew of at least five. 

The spacecraft will also have to demonstrate the ability to dock with a Bigelow 

Aerospace orbital habitat. Additionally, no more than 20% of the vehicle can be 

composed of expendable hardware.4

The competition deadline is January 10, 2010, with a cash prize of $50 million, 

funded fully by Bigelow Aerospace. Although the prize remains active, Bigelow 

Aerospace has stated publicly that apparently the cost of developing such a system is 

too high for this kind of prize incentive to be effective. The company has therefore 

decided to take more direct action. Specifically, Bigelow Aerospace partnered with 

Boeing and submitted a proposal to NASA under the auspices of the Commercial 

Crew Development initiative to construct a commercial capsule to service its own as 

well as NASA’s needs, thereby lowering the costs to both.5

 Although about 40 teams 

have shown interest in the prize, financial obstacles have kept any from participating. 

Centennial Challenges

There are currently six Centennial Challenges: Regolith Excavation, 

Green Flight, Lunar Lander, Power Beaming, Tether, and Astronaut 

Glove. The Green Flight challenge, referred to as the General Aviation 

Technology Challenge in 2008, does not directly relate to commercial 

space, nonetheless, the challenge develops technologies that could be 

applied to future commercial spaceflight, such as bio-fueled and hybridpowered aircraft. Green Flight, announced at AirVenture 2009, will 

differ from the General Aviation Technology Challenge in that it will 

focus more on aircraft efficiency.6

The Centennial Challenge that correlates most directly with commercial 

space transportation is the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge 

(NGLLC), held yearly since 2006. This competition is managed for 

NASA by the X PRIZE Foundation, which received funding to cover 

administrative costs from Northrop Grumman. The NGLLC is divided 

into two levels with separate prizes based on increasingly difficult 

requirements. In order to win Level 1, teams must construct a vehicle 

that is able to take off vertically, reach an altitude of at least 50 meters (164 feet) 

and travel horizontally to land precisely at a target landing area, having remained 

airborne for at least 90 seconds. Teams must then complete a similar return trip and 

transport the vehicle horizontally back to the starting point within 150 minutes. 

Masten Team’s qualifying 

Level 2 completion
• 11 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Space Competitions

The more difficult Level 2 is completed if a team’s constructed vehicle remains 

airborne for twice as long as Level 1 and lands on a simulated lunar surface. First 

and second place are awarded for both levels.7

The NGLLC rules were altered in 2009 to allow teams 

to compete at a date and location of their choice between 

specified dates, rather than compete only at organized 

challenge events. The 2009 competition window was from 

early August to the end of October.8

 There were four teams 

registered for the 2009 NGLLC: Armadillo Aerospace, 

Masten Space Systems, Unreasonable Rocket, and Bon 

Nova. As of mid-October, two teams had already qualified 

for prizes, namely Armadillo Aerospace for Level 2 on 

September 12, 2009 and Masten Space Systems for Level 1 

on October 8, 2009. Bon Nova was registered for attempts on October 26 and 27, 

but did not complete their demonstration flights in time. Masten Space Systems 

registered for attempts on October 28 and 29, but ended up forfeiting all but one 

attempt at the Level 2 purse on October 28 and 29 and a judging decision allowed 

Masten to take their second official attempt at Level 2 on the morning of October 

30. Unreasonable Rocket attempted to qualify for both Level 1 and Level 2 on 

October 30 – November 1, but did not successfully complete either level. In an 

official ceremony in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, NASA 

presented Masten Space Systems with checks for $1 million for first place in Level 

2 and $150,000 for second place in Level 1. NASA presented Armadillo Aerospace 

with a check for $500,000 for second place in Level 2, in addition to the $350,000 

they won in 2008 for successfully winning first place in Level 1. The total prize 

purse for the NGLLC of $2 million has now officially been fully claimed.9

The remaining five Centennial 

Challenges are space-related and 

promote further space mission 

technologies. The Regolith Excavation 

Challenge concluded on October 

18, 2009, with awards for the 

challenge winner, as well as second 

and third place, for the first time 

since its establishment in 2007. Paul’s 

Robotics won the first place prize 

purse of $500,000 at the event held 

at the NASA Ames Research Park in 

Mountain View, California.10

The Tether and Beam Challenges are organized by the Spaceward Foundation 

in order to promote the development of high strength-to-weight materials and 

wireless power distribution technologies. This year, the competitions are held 

separately for the first time. The 2009 Tether Challenge, held during the Space 

Elevator Conference in Seattle, Washington on August 14, 2009, concluded 

without a winner.11 The Power Beam Challenge was held November 4-6, 2009, 

Winning teams at NGLLC awards ceremony

A view of the excavators awaiting their 

opportunity to perform
• 12 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. 

The LaserMotive team won level one of the 

competition and the $900,000 prize purse for 

successfully driving their vehicle using power 

beaming. Level two remains to be won and the 

remaining prize money is available for the 2010 

competition.12

The Astronaut Glove Challenge, conducted by 

Volanz Aerospace Inc., tests participants on the 

dexterity, flexibility, and overall development 

of a spacesuit glove. Competitors must present 

a complete glove, consisting of the thermal 

micrometeoroid garment (TMG), unpowered 

bladder and bladder-restraint portions. The 

first Astronaut Glove Challenge was held in 

Connecticut at the New England Air Museum 

in May 2007 where Peter Homer, an aerospace engineer from Maine, took home 

the first place prize of $200,000. The 2009 Challenge was held November 18-19 at 

the Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center, and 

offered a prize purse of $400,000.13 Peter Homer was back 

with a new astronaut glove competing against Ted Southern, 

of Brooklyn, New York. Peter Homer again took home the 

top prize of $250,000 and second prize of $100,000 was 

awarded to Ted Southern.14

In 2009, $3.65M in NASA centennial challenge prizes have 

been awarded. The Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander 

Challenge awarded $1.65 million, level one of the Power 

Beam challenge was completed awarding LaserMotive 

$900,000, the Astronaut Glove Challenge awarded a 

combined total $350,000 to two teams, and lastly, three 

teams won a combined total of $750,000 during the 

Regolith Excavation Challenge. Supporters of space competitions and prizes are 

hoping that these recent successes within the Centennial Challenges will lead to 

additional money appropriated by Congress for prize competitions. The President’s 

Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Budget Request asks for $4 million per year for the 

Centennial Challenges for FY 2010 through FY 2014 as a part of the Innovative 

Partnership Program.15 If new funding becomes available, NASA plans to introduce 

new Centennial Challenges competitions. 

Torque test being performed on the glove designed by 

Ted Southern

KC Space Pirates prepare to launch 

their climber
• 13 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

Expendable Launch Vehicles

This survey of U.S. Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELVs) is divided into four 

sections. The first reviews the ELVs currently available to serve a wide range of 

commercial and government payloads. The second reviews a number of proposed 

commercial ELVs under study or development—many of which are designed 

to launch small satellites at lower costs, greater responsiveness, and with shorter 

turnaround times than existing vehicles. The third discusses the new launch vehicles 

being developed exclusively to support NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration. 

Finally, the fourth section reviews suborbital sounding rockets manufactured and 

operated by U.S. companies.

Current Expendable Launch Vehicle Systems

Table 1 on the next page lists the ELV systems available in the United States today 

for commercial or government missions. The Minotaur is restricted to government 

payloads. The Delta IV is available to both US government and commercial 

customers although currently is most active in the government market. The Atlas 

V, Delta II, Falcon 1, Pegasus, and Taurus vehicles are available for commercial and 

U.S. government launches. The Zenit-3SL and Zenit-3SLB are available only to 

commercial customers.

AtlasV – United Launch Alliance

The Atlas V is one of two launch vehicles developed as part of the U.S. 

Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. The 

Atlas V was developed by the Lockheed Martin Corporation; since 

December 2006 it has been produced by United Launch Alliance 

(ULA), a joint venture between The Boeing Company and Lockheed 

Martin. The Atlas V is made available for commercial launches by 

Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services.

The Atlas V is available in the 400 and 500 series and accommodates 

4-meter (13.1-foot) and 5.4-meter (17.6-foot) fairings and up to 

five strap-on solid rocket motors. The Atlas 400 series can place 

payloads between 4,750 and 7,700 kilograms (10,470 and 16,970 pounds) into 

geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The Atlas 500 series can place payloads 

between 3,775 and 8,900 kilograms (8,320 and 19,620 pounds) into GTO. ULA 

has also proposed a heavy lift variant of the Atlas, the Atlas V HLV, which would 

have a payload capacity of up to 13,000 kg (28,660 lb) to GTO.3

 No launches of the 

Atlas V HLV have occurred and none is currently scheduled. The Atlas V launches 

from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida and Vandenberg Air 

Force Base (VAFB) in California.2

Since its introduction in 2002, the Atlas V has performed 19 launches. In 2009, five 

Atlas V launches took place, including the commercial launch of the Intelsat-14 

satellite and the dual-payload launch of NASA’s lunar exploration spacecraft 

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing 

Atlas V
• 14 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Table 1: Currently Available Expendable Launch Vehicles

SMALL MEDIUM INTERMEDIATE HEAVY

Vehicle Falcon I Minotaur Pegasus 

XL Taurus XL Delta II Delta IV Atlas V Delta IV Heavy Zenit-3SL

Company SpaceX Orbital 

Sciences

Orbital 

Sciences

Orbital 

Sciences ULA ULA ULA ULA Sea Launch

First Launch 2008 2000 1990 1994 1990 2002 2002 2004 1999

Stages 2 4 3 4 3 2 2 2 3

Payload 

Performance 

(LEO*)

420 kg 

(924 lb)

580 kg

(1,279 lb)

440 kg 

(970 lb)

1,458 kg 

(3,214 lb)

6,097 kg 

(13,443 lb)

9,390 kg 

(20,702 lb)

(Delta IV M) 

13,360 kg 

(29,440 lb) 

(Delta IV M+ 

(5,4))

12,500 kg 

(27,558 lb) 

(Atlas V 402) 

20,520 kg 

(45,238 lb) 

(Atlas V 552)

22,977 kg 

(50,646 lb) N/A

Payload 

Performance 

(LEO polor)

420 kg 

(924 lb)

580 kg

(1,279 lb)

190 kg 

(420 lb)

(SSO)

1054 kg 

(2,324 lb)

(SSO)

3,123 kg 

(6,886 lb)

7,510 kg 

(16,550 lb) 

(Delta IV M) 

11,300 kg 

(24,920 lb) 

(Delta IV M+ 

(5,4))

7,095 kg 

(15,642 lb) 

(Atlas V 402) 

14,096 kg 

(31,076 lb) 

(Atlas V 552)

22,560 kg 

(49,740 lb) N/A

Payload 

Performance 

(GTO)

N/A N/A N/A 430 kg 

(950 lb)

2,171 kg 

(4,787 lb)

4,541 kg 

(10,012 lb) 

(Delta IV M) 

7,020 kg 

(15,470 lb) 

(Delta IV M+ 

(5,4))

4,750 kg 

(10,450 lb)

(Atlas V 401) 

8,900 kg 

(19,580 lb)

(Atlas V 551)

13,399 kg 

(29,540 lb)

6,180 kg 

(13,624 

lb)

Launch Sites RTS, 

CCAFS

VAFB, 

Wallops, 

KLC

Multi (air 

launched) VAFB CCAFS, VAFB CCAFS, VAFB CCAFS, VAFB CCAFS, VAFB Pacific Ocean

* LEO: inclination of 28.5°, 185 km circular for all vehicles 

except Falcon 1 (9.1° inclination) and Pegasus 
• 15 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

Satellite (LCROSS). The launch of the Air Force’s Defense Meteorological 

Satellites Program (DMSP)-18 mission onboard an Atlas V 401 on October 

18, 2009 was the 600th Atlas family launch (including variants which are now 

decommissioned).3

 Up to five Atlas V launches are planned for 2010.4

Delta II – United Launch Alliance

The Delta II launch vehicle, in service since 1989, traces its heritage to the Thor 

missile program of the 1950s. Since December 2006, the Delta II has been 

produced by ULA. The vehicle is marketed commercially by Boeing Launch 

Services (BLS). The Delta II has the capability to launch payloads of 898 

to 2,171 kilograms (1,979 to 4,787 pounds) to GTO, and 2,063 to 6,097 

kilograms (4,548 to 13,440 pounds) to low Earth orbit (LEO). The 

vehicle can launch from either CCAFS or VAFB.5

Eight Delta II launches occurred in 2009, including the commercial 

launch of WorldView-2. One Delta II launch is currently planned 

for 2010.6

Both NASA and the U.S. Air Force are phasing out their use of the Delta 

II, with the final launch of the vehicle currently planned for 2011, carrying 

NASA’s GRAIL spacecraft. The vehicle is no longer in active production, 

although ULA continues to market the line and has five Delta II vehicles 

available for sale to government or commercial customers.7

Delta IV – United Launch Alliance

The Delta IV is available in five versions: four medium-class versions, with varying 

payload fairing sizes and number of strap-on boosters, and one heavy-class version, 

which uses three common booster core stages instead of one. The vehicle’s payload 

launch capacities to LEO range from 9,390 kilograms (20,702 pounds) for the 

Delta IV Medium to 22,977 kilograms (50,646 pounds) for the Delta IV Heavy. 

Capacity to GTO ranges from 4,541 to 13,399 

kilograms (10,012 to 29,540 pounds). The Delta IV 

operates from CCAFS and VAFB.8

The Delta IV has flown eleven times since its 

introduction in late 2002. Three Delta IV launches, 

including the Delta IV Heavy launch of the National 

Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellite NROL-26, 

occurred in 2009. Up to four Delta IV launches, 

including the first Delta IV Heavy launch from VAFB 

and the FAA-licensed launch of the Geostationary 

Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-P 

scheduled for March, are planned for 2010. 

Delta II

Delta IV
• 16 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Falcon 1 – Space Exploration Technologies Corporation

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, 

California, has developed the Falcon 1 launch vehicle, which can place 

up to 420 kilograms (925 pounds) into LEO for about $8.9 million. 

SpaceX privately developed the entire two-stage vehicle, including the 

engines, cryogenic tank structure, and guidance system. The first stage 

engine, known as Merlin 1C (an updated version of SpaceX’s Merlin 

engine), uses pump-driven LOX and kerosene. The second stage engine, 

called Kestrel, uses a pressure-fed LOX and kerosene system. The Falcon 1 

launches from SpaceX’s launch facility on the Kwajalein Atoll.9

The Falcon 1 performed three launches before reaching orbit. The first, 

in March 2006, suffered an engine failure 29 seconds into flight due 

to a fuel leak. The second, in March 2007, reached space but failed to reach orbit. 

The third, in August 2008, experienced a stage separation problem. However, on 

September 28, 2008, Flight 4 of the Falcon 1 achieved success, placing a payload 

mass simulator into orbit. Falcon 1 is now fully operational and performed its first 

commercial launch in 2009, delivering Malaysia’s RazakSAT earth observation 

satellite into orbit on July 13. 

No further flights of the basic version of the Falcon 1 are currently planned.10 The 

Falcon 1e, an enhanced version of the Falcon 1 with a stretched first stage and 

larger payload fairing, is slated to enter service in 2010; it will be able to place up to 

1,010 kilograms (2,227 pounds) into LEO for $10.5 million.11 In September 2009, 

SpaceX and ORBCOMM announced an agreement for SpaceX to be the launch 

provider for ORBCOMM’s 18 satellite next generation constellation. Launches 

using SpaceX’s Falcon 1e, could begin as early as the 4th Quarter of 2010 and 

continue through 2014.12

The Falcon-1 is designed with re-usable elements. The first stage of this vehicle is 

designed to parachute into the ocean. It can then be recovered, refurbished, and 

reused. Although the Falcon 1 is technically designed as a partially reusable launch 

vehicle, it is currently operated as an ELV. 

Minotaur I – Orbital Sciences Corporation

Orbital Sciences Corporation developed the Minotaur 

family of launch vehicles under the U.S. Air Force’s 

Orbital/Suborbital Program (OSP). The first vehicle of 

the series, Minotaur I, is used to launch small government 

payloads. The Minotaur I booster uses a combination 

of rocket motors from decommissioned Minuteman 

II ICBMs and upper stages from Orbital’s Pegasus 

launch vehicle. The first two stages of the Minotaur are 

Minuteman II M-55A1 and SR-19 motors, while the 

upper two stages are Orion 50 XL and Orion 38 motors 

from the Pegasus XL. The Minotaur I has a payload 

capacity of up to 580 kilograms (1,280 pounds) to LEO.13

Falcon 1

Minotaur 1
• 17 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

The Minotaur I entered service in 2000 and has performed eight launches to date. 

One Minotaur I flight took place in 2009, the launch of the TacSat-3 satellite from 

the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) in Virginia.14 The Minotaur I has 

previously performed launches from VAFB, and can operate from CCAFS and 

Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC), Alaska.

Pegasus XL – Orbital Sciences Corporation

The Pegasus XL is an air-launched booster designed for small 

payloads, primarily to low Earth and sun-synchronous orbits. 

Introduced in 1994, the Pegasus XL is a derivative of the 

original Pegasus rocket, with stretched first and second stages. 

(The original Pegasus, first launched in 1990, was retired in 

2000.) The Pegasus XL, with three solid-propellant stages and 

an optional hydrazine monopropellant upper stage, is deployed 

from an Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft named “Stargazer.” 

The Pegasus is capable of delivering small satellites of up to 440 

kilograms (970 pounds) to LEO. One advantage of the fact that 

the Pegasus XL is air-launched is the flexibility to stage missions from a variety of 

sites, including Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) and VAFB in California; CCAFS 

and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida; NASA Wallops Flight Facility 

(WFF) in Virginia; Kwajalein Missile Range, Marshall Islands; and Gando Air 

Force Base (GAFB), Canary Islands.15

The Pegasus family has conducted 37 successful launches since 1994; however, 

no Pegasus launches took place in 2009.16 At least one Pegasus XL mission is 

scheduled for 2010.

Taurus – Orbital Sciences Corporation

The Taurus is a ground-launched vehicle based on the air-launched Pegasus. Orbital 

Sciences developed the Taurus under the sponsorship of the Defense Advanced 

Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The goal was to develop a standard launch 

vehicle that could be set up quickly in new locations to launch small satellites that 

exceed the lift capacity of the Pegasus XL. The Taurus 

uses the three stages of a Pegasus XL (without wings or 

stabilizers) stacked atop a Castor 120 solid rocket motor. 

The Castor 120 serves as the first stage of the Taurus. 

The Taurus is available in two versions, the Standard 

Taurus and the Taurus XL, and can deliver payloads of 

up to 1,458 kilograms (3,214 pounds) to LEO.17

The Taurus has successfully completed six of eight 

launch attempts since entering service in 1994.18 The 

only Taurus launch attempted in 2009 resulted in 

a failure, when the fairing of the Taurus XL vehicle 

carrying NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) 

spacecraft failed to separate after launch on February 24, 

2009.19 At least one Taurus launch is planned for 2010. Taurus

Pegasus XL rocket and Stargazer carrier aircraft
• 18 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Zenit-3SL and -3SLB – Sea Launch Company, LLC

The Zenit-3SL is a Ukrainian-Russian launch vehicle marketed and operated by Sea 

Launch Company, LLC, a multinational venture of four partners. Ukrainian sister 

companies SDO Yuzhnoye and PO Yuzhmash provide the first two stages, the same 

as those used on the Zenit 2 launch vehicle. A Russian company, RSC Energia, 

provides the third stage, a Block DM-SL upper stage. The Norwegian shipbuilding 

company, Aker, designed and built the two Sea Launch vessels and 

contracts marine operations. The Boeing Company provides the payload 

fairing and interfaces, as well as flight design. The Zenit-3SL provides a 

payload capacity of up to 6,180 kilograms (13,624 pounds) to GTO.20

The Zenit-3SL launches from the Odyssey Launch Platform, which 

travels from its Sea Launch Home Port in Long Beach, California, to a 

position on the Equator in the Pacific Ocean for each mission. Launch 

operations are remotely controlled from a separate vessel, the Sea Launch 

Commander, which is positioned approximately 6.5 kilometers (about 

4 miles) uprange from the platform during launch operations. After a 

January 2007 launch failure, the Zenit-3SL returned to flight in January 

of 2008. Following the successful launches of five satellites from sea in 

2008, Sea Launch completed one mission in April 2009, the launch of 

SICRAL-1B, for Telespazio. 

In addition to the Zenit-3SL, Sea Launch offers the Zenit-3SLB through its Land 

Launch service. The Zenit-3SLB is designed to lift commercial satellites in the 2,000 

to 3,600-kilogram (4,410 to 7,940-pound) range to GTO and heavier payloads to 

inclined or lower orbits. The three stages on the Zenit-3SLB are the same as those 

on the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL; the fairing is the only significant difference between 

the two vehicles. A two-stage configuration of the same rocket, the Zenit-2SLB, is 

also available for launching heavy payloads, or groups of payloads, to LEO.21

Payloads and vehicles for the Land Launch Zenit-3SLB are processed and launched 

from existing Zenit facilities at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. 

Following its first launch in 2008, the Zenit-3SLB successfully completed three 

missions in 2009.22

On June 22, 2009 Sea Launch Company, LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 

protection in the United States.23 The company continues to operate normally 

as it works through a reorganization process in preparation for emergence from 

bankruptcy.24 In December 2009, Sea Launch received court approval for $12.5M 

in debtor- in-possession (DIP) financing from Space Launch Services, LLC. 

Space Launch Services is joint venture of Excalibur Almaz and PlanetSpace, 

and is expected to make an equity investment in a reorganized Sea Launch. The 

DIP financing will provide working capital for Sea Launch as it works through 

reorganization. The company plans to submit its Plan of Reorganization in the first 

quarter of 2010.25 As Sea Launch proceeds through reorganization, it is anticipated 

that Boeing will divest all or most of its ownership stake in the company; while 

remaining a supplier to Sea Launch.26 In 2009, Sea Launch commemorated 10 years 

of operations, which included 30 launches from its ocean-based platform.27

Zenit-3SL lifts off from Odyssey 

Launch Platform
• 19 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

ELV Development Efforts

A number of efforts by both established corporations and startups are currently in 

progress to develop new ELVs. A number of these launch vehicle providers have 

succeeded in securing customers for the vehicles being developed – demonstrating 

that a market exists to support a number of launch options. Many of these providers 

focus on small to medium payload capacity. Some providers, however, have 

responded to the demonstrated market for large payloads to meet NASA’s ISS 

resupply requirements. ELV’s under development generally share the common goal 

of reducing launch costs in order to support and further develop the demonstrated 

market potential.

Athena III – PlanetSpace

In late 2007, PlanetSpace announced a partnership with Lockheed 

Martin and ATK to design a new launch vehicle in pursuit of the 

NASA ISS Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. In 

2008, this group of companies added a fourth member, Boeing, to 

their team. Together, the PlanetSpace-led consortium proposed the 

development of the Athena III booster.

The Athena III design centers around a 2.5-segment first-stage 

propulsion system derived from the Space Shuttle’s 4-segment solidrocket booster system. The vehicle’s seconds stage design would 

employ the ATK Castor 120 engine currently used on the Taurus I 

launch vehicle. The third stage of the vehicle would use an ATK Castor 

30 engine combined with a liquid-propelled Orbit Adjust module and the Boeing/

Lockheed Martin Orbital Transfer Vehicle designed to ferry cargo to the ISS.

In November 2008, the PlanetSpace team submitted its ISS CRS proposal, which 

called for 10 to 12 flights to the ISS from 2009 to 2015. In December 2008, NASA 

announced that the ISS CRS contract had been awarded to Orbital Sciences 

Corporation and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), rather 

than to the PlanetSpace team.28 PlanetSpace filed a protest of this award with the 

Government Accountability Office (GAO) in January of 2009; in April of 2009 

the GAO announced that it had denied the PlanetSpace protest.29 Nevertheless, 

PlanetSpace announced earlier in 2008 it planned to proceed with the 

Athena III design regardless of the outcome of the CRS bid process.30

Eagle S-series – E’Prime Aerospace Corporation

The Eagle S-series family of launch vehicles is being developed by E’Prime 

Aerospace of Colorado, based on the design and technology used in the 

LGM-118A Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). 

The concept for this family of vehicles dates back to 1987 when E’Prime 

signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force allowing the company to use 

Peacekeeper technology as the basis for developing commercial launch 

vehicles. Like the Peacekeeper, Eagle S-series vehicles would be ejected 

from a ground-based silo, using a compressed gas system. At an altitude of 

Vehicle Athena III

Developer Planetspace with ATK, 

Boeing, and Lockheed Martin

First Launch TBD

Number of 

Stages 3

Payload 

Performance TBD

Launch Site CCAFS

Markets 

Served ISS resupply

Cutaway view of Eaglet 

and Eagle
• 20 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

61 meters (200 feet), the engines would ignite. The smallest vehicle, the Eaglet, 

would launch 580 kilograms (1,280 pounds) into LEO. A somewhat larger version, 

the Eagle, would put 1,360 kilograms (3,000 pounds) into LEO. Planned followon vehicles, the S1 and S2, would be medium-lift boosters with launch capability 

of 2,948 kilograms (6,500 pounds) and 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) to LEO. 

E’Prime has also proposed developing larger pad-launched vehicles, designated 

S-3 through S-7. These vehicles would have the ability to place 

larger payloads into LEO and would also have geosynchronous 

Earth orbit (GEO) lift capability.31

The Eagle-S series would use solid propellant lower stages and 

liquid propellant upper stages. E’Prime is exploring upgrading 

the solid propulsion systems to use safer, more storable, and 

higher-performance microcellular solid fuels.

In August 2007, E’Prime Aerospace announced that it had 

selected MARS as its primary launch site and will develop 

infrastructure there to support its vehicles. In November 2007, 

the company was notified that its proposed vehicle had cleared 

an interagency policy review, removing government obstacles to 

its use of its Peacekeeper-derived motors.32

Falcon 9 – Space Exploration Technologies Corporation

SpaceX’s Falcon-9 launch vehicle, and the associated Dragon spacecraft, originated 

as internally funded Space X projects. Since August 2006, SpaceX has held a 

cooperative agreement with NASA under the Commercial Orbital Transportation 

Services (COTS) initiative. Development of the Falcon-9 has proceeded under the 

auspices of this agreement. Under the COTS agreement NASA provides payments 

totaling up to $278 million to Space X, and SpaceX contributes internal funds that 

must match or exceed the NASA funding, towards developing and demonstrating 

a capability to transport cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA’s 

payments to SpaceX are contingent upon the company achieving specific 

milestones in developing its capabilities.

The two-stage Falcon 9 vehicle is designed to launch 

large spacecraft as well as cargo and crew resupply 

missions to the ISS. The first stage uses nine Merlin 

1C engines, the same engine as used on the first stage 

of the Falcon 1. The second stage, a shortened version 

of the first stage, uses a single Merlin Vacuum engine. 

Both stages are designed to be recovered and reused. 

Launching from CCAFS, the Falcon 9 will be capable 

of placing up to 10,450 kilograms (23,050 pounds) 

into LEO and 4,540 kilograms (10,000 pounds) into 

GTO. In addition to the primary launch site at Space 

Launch Complex 40, a former Titan IV launch pad at 

CCAFS, development of launch facilities at VAFB and 

Kwajalein Atoll is under consideration.33 Launch price 

Vehicle Eaglet/Eagle/S1/S2

Developer E’Prime Aerospace

First Launch TBD

Number of 

Stages

2 (Eaglet and Eagle); 3 (S1 

and S2)

Payload 

Performance

580 kg (1,280 lb) to LEO 

(Eaglet); 1,360 kg (3,000 

lb) to LEO (Eagle); 2,948 

kg (6,500 lb) to LEO (S1); 

4,535 kg (10,000 lb) to 

LEO (S2)

Launch Site MARS

Markets 

Served Small satellite launch

Falcon 9
• 21 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

estimates for the Falcon 9 range from $44 million to $49.5 million, 

for satellite launches.34

A total of five Falcon 9 flights are planned for 2010.35 The first 

Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for February 2010. Although this flight 

will carry a prototype of SpaceX’s reusable Dragon spacecraft, it is 

not intended to count as one of the demonstration flights SpaceX 

must complete under its COTS agreement with NASA.36 Following 

the initial flight, three Falcon 9/Dragon demonstration flights are 

planned for 2010. In addition to the demonstration flights, one 

other Falcon 9 launch is planned for 2010, a commercial launch for 

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. of Canada. 

In December of 2008, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract, under 

the Commercial Resupply Services program, to fly a series of cargo 

flights to the ISS. The contract authorizes SpaceX to conduct missions 

between 2011 and 2015 to carry approximately 20,000 kilograms 

(44,000 pounds) of cargo to the ISS and has an estimated value of 

$1.6 billion. SpaceX will conduct these flights using the Falcon 9 

rocket to launch the Dragon spacecraft (discussed in the Reentry 

Vehicles and In-Space Technologies section of this report), also being developed at 

SpaceX using COTS funding.37 In October 2009, SpaceX successfully completed 

the first two test firings of the nine engine flight first stage that will power the 

Falcon 9. With the successful completion of these tests the first stage has passed 

all acceptance testing requirements and has been shipped to Cape Canaveral in 

preparation for the vehicle’s first flight.38

In July of 2009, Avanti Communications—which signed a contract for the 

Falcon 9 launch of the HYLAS commercial communications satellite in September 

2007—announced that it was switching the launch of HYLAS from SpaceX 

to Arianespace. The change was attributed to delays in the development and 

qualification of the Falcon 9.39

In April of 2009, SpaceX signed Argentina’s National Commission on Space 

Activity (CONAE) for two Falcon 9 launches for its pair of SAOCOM L-band 

Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites.40 This brings the Falcon 9 mission manifest to a 

total of 22 launches.

In 2008, SpaceX announced plans to develop the Falcon 9 Heavy. With a capacity 

of 29,610 kg (65,280 lb) to LEO, and 15,010 kg (33,090 lb) to GTO, the Falcon 

9 Heavy will be among the largest commercial launchers available. The design of 

the Falcon 9 Heavy features a standard Falcon 9 with two additional Falcon 9 first 

stages serving as strap-on boosters.41

Although the Falcon 9 is technically designed as a partially reusable launch vehicle, 

it will, at least initially, be operated as an ELV.

Vehicle Falcon 9

Developer Space Exploration 

Technologies Corporation

First Launch 2010 (Falcon 9); 2012 

(Falcon 9-Heavy)

Number of 

Stages 2

Payload 

Performance

Up to 10,450 kilograms 

(23,050 pounds) to LEO 

and 4,540 kilograms 

(10,000 pounds) into GTO; 

for Heavy version, up to 

29,610 kg (65,280 lb) to 

LEO, and 15,010 kg (33,090 

lb) to GTO

Launch Site

CCAFS (Falcon 9, Falcon 

9-Heavy), Kwajalein 

(Falcon-9)

Markets 

Served

Launch of medium and 

large satellites, ISS crew and 

cargo resupply
• 22 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Nanosat Launch Vehicle – Garvey Spacecraft Corporation

Garvey Spacecraft Corporation (GSC), based in Long 

Beach, California, is a small research and development 

(R&D) company focusing on developing advanced 

space technologies and launch vehicle systems. As 

part of the California Launch Vehicle Initiative 

(CALVEIN), GSC and California State University, 

Long Beach (CSULB) jointly conduct preliminary 

R&D tasks to establish the foundation for development 

of a two-stage liquid-propellant, Nanosat Launch 

Vehicle (NLV). Capable of delivering 10 kilograms 

(22 pounds) to a 250-kilometer (155-mile) polar 

orbit, the NLV will provide low-cost, dedicated launch 

services to universities and other research organizations 

that traditionally depend on secondary payload 

opportunities to access space. Their current work builds 

upon flights that the team conducted using several of its LOX/ethanol Prospector 

research vehicles. The company’s most visible accomplishments include the firstever flight of a composite LOX tank, conducted in partnership with Microcosm, 

Incorporated; the first-ever powered flights of a liquid-propellant aerospike engine; 

the first flight of a rocket featuring LOX and methane as propellants; and the 

launch and 100 percent recovery of several prototype reusable test vehicles.

Milestones achieved during 2009 centered around the latest 

two test vehicles, the Prospector 13 (P-13) and Prospector 10 

(P-10). In February 2009, the GSC and CSULB team jointly 

conducted a test flight of the P-13 to demonstrate the feasibility 

of the LOX and propylene propellant combination that has 

been baselined for the NLV. This was the second successful 

flight of this airframe, which first flew as the K-V in early 2001. 

Several months later came an attempted launch of the P-10 with 

its 10-chamber aerospike engine developed by CSULB. Ignition 

problems marred the liftoff and cut short the mission before 

achieving any test objectives. Late in the year, GSC received 

a contract to develop two more test vehicles, with first flight 

expected in late 2010, under a contract to ORBITEC for a vortex rocket engine 

development program sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory.42

NEPTUNE – Interorbital Systems

The NEPTUNE Series is a proposed family of launch vehicles based on the Orbital 

Transport and Rockets, Inc. (ORTAG) rocket design developed by Lutz Keyser, 

Wernher von Braun, and colleagues in the 1970s. In February 2008, Interorbital 

Systems publicly unveiled the design of the NEPTUNE series of modular rockets.43

The vehicle features a modular design; each NEPTUNE would be assembled 

from multiple, common propulsion modules (CPMs) coupled with a booster 

module and a sustainer module The CPMs are made of two propellant tanks 

and a single throttle-able, ablatively-cooled bipropellant liquid rocket engine.44 

Vehicle Nanosat Launch Vehicle

Developer Garvey Spacecraft 

Corporation

First Launch TBD

Number of 

Stages 2

Payload 

Performance

10 kg (22 lb) to LEO 

(polar orbit)

Launch Site TBD

Markets 

Served Nanosatellite launch

Prospector-13A test flight
• 23 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

Interorbital Systems currently proposes three versions of the NEPTUNE rocket. 

The basic NEPTUNE 30 would be capable of placing a 30-kilogram (66-pound) 

payload into polar low-earth orbit. It would be composed of five CPMs and a 

satellite kick stage. The NEPTUNE 1000 would 

place a 1,000-kilogram (2,200-pound) payload into 

polar low-earth orbit or accelerate a 190-kilogram 

(418-pound) payload to Earth-escape velocity. This 

vehicle is also proposed to serve as the launcher for a 

two-person LEO crew module for 8-orbit, 12-hour 

orbital tourism and human-tended payload services. The 

NEPTUNE 4000 vehicle would place a 4,000-kilogram 

(8,800-pound) payload into polar low-earth orbit or 

accelerate a 760-kilogram (1,672-pound) payload to 

Earth-escape velocity. This vehicle would be the primary 

launch vehicle for Interorbital Systems’ space tourism 

operations as well as orbital hotel shuttle services.45

Interorbital Systems plans an orbital space tourism venture using the NEPTUNE 

4000 rocket. Under these plans, a NEPTUNE 4000 would be used to launch a 

crew module. This module, conical in shape, would be capable of carrying a pilot 

and five tourists into LEO during the launch phase of a commercial orbital tourism 

flight. Once in orbit, it is planned that the crew would transfer through a hatch in 

the crew module’s heat shield to the orbital station module (OSM). The planned 

OSM is a unique aspect of the NEPTUNE that would consist of the adaptively 

reused pressurant tank of the NEPTUNE rocket. The OSM is planned to measure 

4.2 meters (14 feet) in diameter and 6.1 meters (20 feet) in length. It would be 

purged of any remaining pressurant gases and then re-pressurized and outfitted to 

serve as a large habitation module. The combined OSM and crew module would 

support a commercial flight of up to seven days in duration. At the end 

of the flight, the crew module would serve as the crew’s return vehicle.46

In 2008, Interorbital Systems completed a mockup of its planned sixperson crew module measuring 5.2 meters (17 feet) in diameter. The 

module is outfitted for crew and passenger training at the company’s 

Mojave, California facility.47 On February 27, 2009, Interorbital Systems 

announced it had joined the SYNERGY MOON team to compete in the 

Google Lunar X PRIZE.48 The team plans to use the NEPTUNE 1000 

rocket to launch a lander of up to 50 kilograms to the lunar surface in 

late 2012.49

Interorbital is currently selling payload space on both sub-orbital and 

orbital NEPTUNE 30 flights. The company’s TubeSat product offers 

0.75 kilograms (1.7 pounds) of payload capacity to orbit for $8,000.50

Interorbital currently has seven TubeSats and one cubesat on its launch 

manifest for the its initial planned orbital flight in December 2010, 

with 20 additional sales pending. Customers include the University 

of California, Irvine; the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, 

Morehead State University, and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). Interorbital 

will be involved with NPS and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 

NEPTUNE design concept

Vehicle NEPTUNE

Developer Interorbital Systems

First Launch Estimated for 2010

Number of 

Stages 3 or 4

Payload 

Performance

30 kg (66 lb) to 4,000 kg 

(8800 lb) to LEO

Launch Site

Island of ‘Eua, Kingdom 

of Tonga for equatorial 

and polar launches; Pacific 

Ocean west of Long Beach, 

California

Markets 

Served

Google Lunar X Prize; 

orbital space tourism; 

satellite and cargo launch; 

orbital hotel/laboratory/

surveillance/storage services; 

academic and university 

payloads
• 24 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

global maritime interdiction operation experiments in the first and second quarters 

of 2010. Non-orbital launches of Interorbital CPMs with NPS payloads will play 

an important role in data distribution during these exercises. These test launches 

are precursors to the orbital delivery of several NPS TubeSats (and additional 

spacecraft of the organizations mentioned above) by the NEPTUNE 30 in late 

2010. Various Morehead State University and SYNERGY MOON payloads will 

also be flown on the pre-orbital test flights of the CPMs.51

Interorbital plans a series of four pre-orbital test flights of the NEPTUNE 30 in 

February, May, July, and September of 2010, leading up to the first orbital launch 

in December, 2010, from its private spaceport on the island of ‘Eua, in the South 

Pacific Kingdom of Tonga.52

Minotaur IV and V – Orbital Sciences Corporation

Under a contract with the USAF Space and Missile 

Systems Center, Orbital Sciences Corporation is 

currently developing the Minotaur IV launch vehicle 

for U.S. government payloads. The Minotaur IV is 

derived from the Peacekeeper ICBM, using three 

Peacekeeper solid-propellant stages and an Orion 38 

motor for the fourth stage. The Minotaur IV uses a 

standard 234-centimeter (92-inch) payload fairing 

also used on Orbital’s Taurus rocket. The Minotaur IV 

will be capable of delivering 1,735 kilograms (3,825 

pounds) to LEO.53

The first Minotaur IV launch, 

carrying the Space-Based 

Surveillance System (SBSS) satellite for the USAF, previously 

scheduled for 2009 has been delayed indefinitely due to 

concerns over the vehicle’s third stage. The concerns stem from 

the fairing separation failure encountered on the February 2009 

OCO launch onboard a Taurus rocket. Officials do not expect 

this issue to affect previously planned 2010 Minotaur flights.54

In addition to the SBSS launch, up to three Minotaur IV flights 

are planned for 2010. These include two launches of DARPA’s 

Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV) test vehicle and the 

launch of the U.S Air Force STPSat-2 from Kodiak Launch 

Complex in Alaska.55 Including these planned 2010 launches, 

Orbital has announced eight finalized Minotaur IV launch 

contracts with the U.S Air Force.56

Orbital is also developing a derivative of the Minotaur IV, called the Minotaur V, 

for payloads launched to orbits beyond LEO. The Minotaur V features the same 

three Peacekeeper-based lower stages, but uses a Star 48 fourth stage and Star 37 

fifth stage, allowing it to put 648 kilograms (1,411 pounds) into GTO and 447 

kilograms (983 pounds) on a translunar injection trajectory. The Minotaur V shares 

many of the same subsystems as the Minotaur IV.57 In 2009, Orbital announced 

Vehicle Minotaur IV and V

Developer Orbital Sciences Corporation

First Launch 2010 (Minotaur IV), 2012 

(Minotaur V)

Number of 

Stages

4 (Minotaur IV), 

5 (Minotaur V)

Payload 

Performance

1,735 kg (3,825 lb) to LEO 

(Minotaur IV), 640 kg (1,411 

lb) to GTO (Minotaur V)

Launch Site MARS, VAFB, CCAFS, Kodiak 

Launch Complex 

Markets 

Served

Small satellite launch and 

responsive space operations 

for U.S. governmentsponsored payloads

Minotaur IV
• 25 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

its first contract for a Minotaur V launch, the 2012 launch of NASA’s Lunar 

Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE). The launch was ordered 

under the company’s Orbital/Suborbital Program-2 (OSP-2) contract with the U.S. 

Air Force.58

QuickReach – AirLaunch LLC

AirLaunch LLC, based in Kirkland, Washington, had been developing the 

QuickReachTM vehicle, a small, low-cost, air-launched rocket for defense and other 

applications, with assistance from the DARPA/Air Force FALCON SLV program. 

However, with the conclusion of the FALCON program on November 3, 2008, 

AirLaunch LLC has been put into hiatus. While the company structure still exists, 

no operations or development activities are being conducted.59

The QuickReach would have been carried 

aloft inside a cargo aircraft, such as a 

C-17A or other large cargo aircraft. The 

rocket would then be released from the 

aircraft at an altitude of 7,600 to 10,700 

meters (25,000 to 35,000 feet) and fire 

its liquid-propellant engines to ascend to 

orbit. The vehicle was targeted to to place a 

450-kilogram (1,000-pound) payload into 

LEO for less than $5 million.

During the QuickReach development activities to date, AirLaunch 

achieved significant technological milestones. On February 5, 2008, 

AirLaunch announced it had achieved a major hardware milestone 

as part of Phase 2C of the FALCON program: completion of the 

upgraded Horizontal Test Stand (HTS-2). The HTS-2 features 

new hardware and additional sensors and instrumentation systems. 

Upon completion, AirLaunch received approval from the FALCON 

program to proceed with its series of engine tests on the HTS-2. 

AirLaunch conducted 30 test firings on the new horizontal test stand 

during July and August 2008.60 AirLaunch was also awarded a patent, 

on December 20, 2008, for a method, known as trapeze lanyard (t/

LAD) airdrop, developed to release the QuickReach vehicle from its 

carrier aircraft.

DARPA and the Air Force collectively invested approximately $38 million in 

AirLaunch during the course of the FALCON SLV Program, covering Phases 1, 

2A, 2B and 2C.61

Horizontal Test Stand (HTS-2)

Vehicle QuickReach

Developer AirLaunch LLC

First Launch TBD

Number of 

Stages

3 (including the launch 

aircraft)

Payload 

Performance 450 kg (1,000 lb) to LEO

Launch Site Air launched

Markets 

Served

Small satellite launch, 

responsive space operations
• 26 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Shadow III – Lunar Rocket and Rover Company

Lunar Rocket and Rover Company, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, CA, is developing 

the Shadow III launch vehicle family. The Shadow IIIA has a planned capability to 

deliver a payload of up to 32 kilograms (70 pounds) into LEO.62

The Shadow IIIA is a three-stage, rail-launched vehicle. Each 

stage would be powered by solid fueled rocket motor. Tests have 

been conducted for both the first and second stage engines. 

The third stage would be powered by the flight-proven Altair 

III (Star 20) motor, manufactured by ATK. The Shadow IIIA 

could be assembled within 24 hours at its launch site of either 

CCAFS or VAFB.63 The primary market for the Shadow IIIA 

is intended to be the university based micro satellite research 

community.64 Lunar Rocket and Rover Company also plans a 

more advanced Shadow IIIC, with a larger payload capacity. 

However, development of this vehicle has not progressed 

beyond the design phase.

Taurus II – Orbital Sciences Corporation

In 2007, Orbital Sciences Corporation 

announced that it had begun studying a 

new launch vehicle, the Taurus II, designed 

to serve medium-class payloads for U.S. 

government and commercial customers. On 

February 19, 2008, NASA awarded Orbital 

a three-year, $320 million cooperative 

agreement under the Commercial Orbital 

Transportation Services (COTS) initiative. 

Under the agreement, NASA will invest 

$170 million in Orbital Sciences Corporation and Orbital will contribute an 

additional $150 million towards developing and demonstrating a capability 

to transport cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). The $150 million 

investment by Orbital also represents an investment by the company in its own 

Taurus II vehicle. The agreement provides for the Taurus II vehicle to perform a 

LEO flight demonstration of its commercial cargo delivery capacity.65 This initial 

demonstration flight is planned for 2011.66

In December of 2008, NASA awarded Orbital a contract, 

under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program, to 

fly a series of cargo flights to the ISS. The contract authorizes 

Orbital to conduct eight missions between 2011 and 2015 

to carry approximately 20,000 kg of cargo to the ISS and 

has an estimated value of $1.9 billion.67 Orbital will conduct 

these flights using the Taurus II rocket to launch the Cygnus 

spacecraft (discussed in the Reentry Vehicles and In-Space 

Technologies section of this report), also being developed at 

Orbital using COTS funding.68 NASA has also awarded a 

similar CRS contract to SpaceX. 

Vehicle QuickReach

Developer Lunar Rocket and Rover 

Company

First Launch TBD

Number of 

Stages 3

Payload 

Performance 32 kg (70 lb) to LEO 

Launch Site CCAFS, VAFB

Markets 

Served

Micro satellite launch for 

university customers

Taurus II

Vehicle Taurus II

Developer Orbital Sciences Corporation

First Launch 2010

Number of 

Stages

2 (with optional third 

stage)

Payload 

Performance

5,400 kg (11,900 lb) to 

LEO

Launch Site WFF, VAFB, CCAFS

Markets 

Served

Medium-class payloads for 

government and commercial 

customers
• 27 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

The Taurus II’s first stage will be powered by a pair of Aerojet AJ26-58 engines, a 

version of the NK-33 engine developed for the Soviet Union’s N-1 lunar rocket in 

the 1960s. The second stage of the vehicle will use an ATK Castor-30 solid motor 

with thrust vectoring; its design will be based on the Castor-120 motor. The Taurus 

II will also allow for an optional third stage that includes an Orbital Raising Kit 

(ORK) integrated into the 3.9-meter (12.8-foot) payload fairing. The ORK will 

feature a helium-pressure regulated bi-propellant system fueled by nitrogen tetroxide 

and hydrazine; its design heritage will be based on the Orbital STAR bus.69

The basic two-stage Taurus II would be able to place 5,400 kilograms (11,900 

pounds) into LEO; a configuration with an enhanced second stage would have 

a payload capacity of up to 7,600 kilograms (16,720 pounds). While the initial 

Taurus II demonstration flight is slated to launch from Wallops Flight Facility 

(WFF), the vehicle will also be compatible with facilities at VAFB, CCAFS, and 

Kodiak Launch Complex.70

Development of the Taurus II moved from the design phase to the testing phase 

in December 2009 with the completion of successful tests of the Castor 30 motor, 

which will power the second stage of the Taurus II. In June 2009, Orbital broke 

ground to construct the Taurus II launch infrastructure at NASA’s Wallops 

Flight Facility.71

NASA Exploration Launch Vehicles

On September 19, 2005, NASA announced its planned mission architecture for 

crewed lunar missions. The plan calls for developing two new launch vehicles, 

the Ares I (previously referred to as the Crew Launch Vehicle) and the Ares V 

(previously referred to as the Cargo Launch Vehicle). Both vehicles are designed to 

leverage Shuttle and even Apollo-era technologies to launch crewed and uncrewed 

spacecraft required to carry out the Vision for Space Exploration.

Ares I

The Ares I is a two-stage vehicle designed principally to launch NASA’s Orion 

CEV into LEO and may also be used to launch cargo spacecraft to the ISS. The first 

stage of the Ares I is a five-segment reusable solid rocket 

motor (RSRM) derived from the four-segment boosters 

used in the Space Shuttle program. The second stage 

is a new design powered by a single J-2X engine, based 

on the J-2S engine developed at the end of the Apollo 

program in the early 1970s; it uses LOX and liquid 

hydrogen propellants. The Orion spacecraft, along 

with an escape rocket, will be mounted on top of the 

second stage.72

Development of the Ares I is currently in progress. In 

December 2005, NASA selected ATK as the prime 

contractor for the Ares-1 first stage.73 In July 2007, 

Ares 1-X launch, October 2009 NASA selected Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) 
• 28 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

as the contractor for the J-2X engine, which will serve as the 

upper stage engine for the vehicle.74 In August 2007, NASA 

selected Boeing as the prime contractor for Ares 1 upper stage 

manufacturing.75 NASA also awarded Boeing a contract in 

December 2007 for the instrument unit avionics for the Ares I, 

the last major component of the launch vehicle to be assigned to 

a contractor.76

On October 28, 2009, a suborbital test launch of the vehicle 

with an inert second stage, the Ares I-X flight, was successfully 

completed at Kennedy Space Center.77 The Ares-1X was a four 

segment solid rocket booster first stage, with inert dummy 

upper stages to simulate the mass of the second stage, Orion spacecraft and Launch 

Abort System. Objectives of this test flight included; characterization of flight 

properties and stage separation, testing ground and launch operations procedures, 

and testing launch pad infrastructure and systems of an Ares 1-similar vehicle, 

testing first stage parachute performance and stage recovery operations. The test 

was largely successful in terms of collecting the desired data on in-flight parameters, 

staging events, parachute performance, and in demonstrating launch operations.78

However, some anomalies were observed, these include a potential first stage 

parachute malfunction, and observed damage to the recovered first stage.79 The first 

in a series of test flights for the crew escape enabling Launch Abort System on the 

Ares I is scheduled to occur at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in early 2010. In 

November 2008, the J-2X engine successfully completed its critical design review.80

In 2009, PWR began testing of the gas generator to be used on the J-2X engine; the 

first full-engine system test is planned for mid-2011. The operational orbital version 

of the Ares I vehicle is scheduled to enter service no earlier than 2015, pending any 

revisions in national space exploration policy.

Ares V

The Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle is a two-stage, heavy-lift vehicle that NASA will 

use to carry out human missions to the Moon and other destinations. The Ares V 

uses two, five-and-a-half segment RSRMs similar to those developed for the Ares I 

vehicle, attached to either side of a core propulsion stage. The core stage features 

six RS-68 engines, the same LOX and liquid hydrogen 

engines as those used currently on the Delta IV family 

of vehicles. Under the current exploration architecture, 

an Ares V vehicle would place a lunar module and Earth 

departure stage into LEO, where the module would 

dock with an Orion spacecraft launched separately by 

an Ares I. The combined vehicle would then leave Earth 

orbit for the Moon.

Detailed development of the Ares V is not expected to 

begin until the end of this decade, pending any revisions 

in national space exploration policy. The first test flight 

of the vehicle is scheduled to take place around 2018.81

Vehicle Ares I

Developer NASA

First Launch 2015

Number of 

Stages 2

Payload 

Performance

23,587 kg (52,000 lb) to 

LEO (ISS)

Launch Site KSC

Markets 

Served

Crew launches for 

exploration and ISS missions

Artist conception of Ares V
• 29 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

In 2009, a Presidentially chartered committee, the Review of U.S. 

Human Space Flight Plans Committee, conducted a examination 

of U.S. human spaceflight plans for the purpose of presenting the 

executive branch with a set of options concerning the future structure 

and direction of the nation’s human space exploration plans. Among 

other vehicles and options, the Committee’s final report included a 

description of a new version of the Ares V, known as the Ares V-Lite. 

The Ares V-Lite would be a somewhat lower performance variant 

of the Ares V. The first stage would use two of the five-segment 

solid rocket boosters currently being developed for the Ares I, in 

conjunction with a five engine core stage powered by derivatives of 

the RS-68 (the engine used on the Delta IV Heavy). The upper stage 

would be powered by the J-2X engine planned for the Ares I and V. The Ares V-Lite 

would be human-rated and capable of launching the Orion spacecraft. If adapted 

as an element of national space exploration policy, it is likely that the Ares V-Lite 

would replace both the Ares I and V. It would be used to launch both crew and 

cargo missions.82

Sounding Rockets

In addition to orbital launch vehicles, a number of suborbital ELVs, or sounding 

rockets, are in use today. These vehicles, which primarily use solid propellants, differ 

from amateur rockets in that they typically climb to higher altitudes and carry 

out missions on behalf of specific commercial, government, or non-profit clients 

(including scientific researchers, academia, and educational organizations). Sounding 

rockets support a variety of applications, including astronomical observations, 

atmospheric research, and microgravity experiments. Three of the sounding rockets 

types discussed in the 2010 Development and Concepts Report (Black Brant, Oriole/

Orion, and Terrier) are made available to the U.S. scientific community through the 

NASA Sounding Rockets Operations Contract (NSROC) managed by the NASA 

Sounding Rockets Program Office at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF).83

Black Brant – Bristol Aerospace Limited

Over 1,000 Black Brant rockets have been launched 

since 1962, when manufacturing of the vehicle began. 

Versions of the Black Brant can carry payloads ranging 

from 70 to 850 kilograms (154 to 1,874 pounds) to 

altitudes from 150 to more than 1,500 kilometers 

(93 to 932 miles), and can provide up to 20 minutes of 

microgravity time during a flight. The Black Brant and 

Nikha motors used on some Black Brant versions are 

manufactured in Canada by Bristol Aerospace Limited 

(a Magellan Aerospace Company). Terrier, Talos, and 

Taurus motors used on other Black Brant versions 

are built in the United States. The launch operator 

integrates these vehicles. In the United States, NASA 

has been a frequent user of Black Brant vehicles.

Vehicle Ares V

Developer NASA

First Launch 2018

Number of 

Stages 2

Payload 

Performance

187,787kg (414,000 lb) 

to LEO

Launch Site KSC

Markets 

Served

Cargo launches for 

exploration missions

Black Brant sounding rocket
• 30 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

The smallest version of the Black Brant family is the single-stage Black Brant V, 

which is 533 centimeters (210 inches) long and 43.8 centimeters (17.24 inches) 

in diameter. The rocket produces an average thrust of 75,731 newtons (17,025 

pounds-force). The Black Brant V motor is used as the second or third stage in 

larger, multi-stage versions of the Black Brant. The most powerful of the line, Black 

Brant XII, is a four-stage vehicle that uses the Black Brant V motor as its third 

stage. This vehicle can launch a 113-kilogram (250-pound) payload to an altitude of 

at least 1,400 kilometers (870 miles), or a 454-kilogram (1,000-pound) payload to 

an altitude of at least 400 kilometers (250 miles).84

In 2009, eight Black Brant vehicles were launched under NASA’s Sounding Rockets 

Program. In Fiscal Year 2010 up to 15 launches of rockets in the Black Brant family 

are planned through the Sounding Rockets Program.85

Orion and Oriole – DTI Associates

Both the Orion and Oriole are single stage sounding rockets that are often 

combined with other motors (often of the Terrier family) to create two-stage 

sounding rockets, with the Oriole or Orion serving as the upper stage. In July 

2001, SPACEHAB’s Astrotech Space Operations sold the Oriole program to 

DTI Associates of Arlington, Virginia, which integrates the vehicle and offers it 

commercially. 

SPACEHAB’s Astrotech Space Operations developed the Oriole 

sounding rocket in the late 1990s to provide launch services for 

commercial and scientific payloads. Oriole was both the first privatelydeveloped sounding rocket in the United States and the first new U.S. 

sounding rocket in 25 years. The Oriole is a single-stage vehicle with 

a graphite-epoxy motor manufactured by Alliant Missile Products 

Company of Rocket Center, West Virginia. It is 396 centimeters (156 

inches) long, 56 centimeters (22 inches) in diameter, and generates an 

average thrust of 92,100 newtons (20,700 pounds-force). The vehicle 

provides payloads with six to nine minutes of microgravity during flight. 

The Orion uses a surplus U.S. Army missile motor, and is capable of 

launching a 39-kilogram (85-pound) payload to an altitude of 88 

kilometers (55 miles), and a 68-kilogram (150-pound) payload to an 

altitude of 71 kilometers (44 miles). The Orion made its first flight in 

1974.86 The first Oriole launch took place from NASA WFF on July 7, 2000. That 

launch used a two-stage configuration, with the Oriole serving as the second stage 

and a Terrier Mk 12 motor serving as the first stage.

In 2009, one single-stage Orion vehicle was launched under NASA’s Sounding 

Rockets Program. The program does not list any single stage Orion or Oriole 

launches on its Fiscal Year 2010 manifest, although there are planned launches that 

include one of these vehicles as an upper stage.

Oriole sounding rocket
• 31 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Expendable Launch Vehicles

SpaceLoft XL – UP Aerospace, Inc.

UP Aerospace, Incorporated, headquartered in Farmington, 

Connecticut, with business and engineering offices in Highlands Ranch, 

Colorado, has developed the SpaceLoft XL sounding rocket for research 

and commercial applications. The rocket, 6 meters (20 feet) tall and 

25 centimeters (10 inches) in diameter, can carry up to 50 kilograms 

(110 pounds) of payload to an altitude of 225 kilometers (140 miles). 

UP Aerospace markets the SpaceLoft vehicle to serve educational 

and research markets, such as microgravity and atmospheric sciences 

experiments, as well as commercial applications, including product 

marketing and novelty promotion. Spaceport America in New Mexico is 

the primary launch site for the SpaceLoft XL.

The first successful SpaceLoft XL launch took place on April 28, 2007, 

from Spaceport America in New Mexico.87 Three SpaceLoft XL launches 

took place in 2009. The first, the SpaceLoft SL-3 mission on May 2, 2009, carrying 

student research experiments suffered a partial failure that resulted in the payload 

not reaching space.88 The second on August 4, 2009, lofted a ground-launched UAV 

prototype for the aerospace company Moog-FTS.89 The third flight, on October 10, 

2009, was a successful launch of an experimental test flight vehicle for Lockheed 

Martin.90

Shadow I and II – Lunar Rocket and Rover Company

Lunar Rocket and Rover Company, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, CA has developed 

the Shadow I suborbital ELV. The Shadow I vehicle can carry payloads of up to 

2.3 kilograms (5 pounds) to altitudes of up to 112 kilometers (70 miles). The 

Shadow is based on the Loki missile developed by the U.S Army. Including its first 

flight in 2003, the Shadow I has launched 10 times. Launches have occurred from 

CCAFS, White Sands Missile Range, and a French Navy 

ship. Two Shadow I launches are planned for 2010.91

Lunar Rocket and Rover Company also has plans to 

develop a more advanced version of the Shadow I, 

known as the Shadow II. Two versions of the Shadow II 

are in development. The single stage Shadow IIA would 

have the capacity to loft payloads of up to 23 kilograms 

(50 pounds) to an altitude of 129 kilometers (80 miles). 

The two-stage Shadow IIC would have the capacity to 

loft payloads of up to 200 kilograms (441 pounds) to 

an altitude of 185 kilometers (115 miles). The company 

has built a mobile launch system for the Shadow II and 

has developed and tested, in association with the U.S. 

Air Force, hardware related to the Shadow II.92

The primary market for the Shadow family of vehicles is the education sector. 

Payloads flown on the Shadow I have also been used for upper atmospheric research 

and to examine wind shear information for NOAA.93

Spaceloft XL

A Shadow I sounding rocket 

launches from a French naval vessel
• 32 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Terrier-Orion – DTI Associates

The Terrier is a first stage motor used in conjunction with various upper stage 

engines to form multi-stage, spin-stabilized sounding rockets. The basic version 

uses a Terrier Mk 12 Mod 1 engine (a surplus U.S. Navy missile motor), while more 

powerful versions use the Terrier Mk 70 motor. The Terrier stage is 46 centimeters 

(18 inches) in diameter. Versions of the Terrier, with various upper stages, in use 

in 2010 include: the Terrier-Improved Orion, which can loft payloads weighing 

from 91 to 363 kilograms (200 to 800 pounds) to altitudes ranging from 75 to 

225 kilometers (47 to 140 miles); the Terrier-Malemute, which can 

loft payloads weighing from 91 to 227 kilograms (200 to 500 pounds) 

to altitudes ranging from 400 to 700 kilometers (248 to 435 miles); 

the Terrier-Lynx, which can loft payloads weighing from 113 to 227 

kilograms (250 to 500 pounds) to altitudes ranging from 254 to 378 

kilometers (235 to 435 miles); and the Terrier-Oriole, which can loft 

payloads weighing from 363 to 680 kilograms (800 to 1500 pounds) to 

altitudes ranging from 184 to 340 kilometers (114 to 211 miles).94

DTI Associates of Arlington, Virginia, now markets and offers 

integration services for the Terrier-Orion after purchasing all intellectual 

property rights to the rocket from SPACEHAB in July 2001. In 2009, 

six vehicles in the Terrier family were launched under NASA’s Sounding 

Rockets Program. In Fiscal Year 2010, up to eight launches of rockets in 

the Terrier family are planned through the Sounding Rockets Program.95 Terrier Orion sounding rocket 
• 33 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Reusable Launch Vehicles

Reusable Launch Vehicles

This section describes active and emerging reusable launch vehicle (RLV) programs 

in the United States. It is divided into two subsections. The first features vehicles 

developed by private companies without direct government financial assistance—

many of which are developing space hardware for the first time. The second 

discusses the only operational government RLV program, the Space Shuttle, which 

is considered a first-generation RLV. The flight experience of the Space Shuttle, 

in operation for nearly 30 years, has helped highlight and resolve problems with 

implications not only for that vehicle, but for other RLVs as well.

Commercial RLV Development Efforts

QUAD & MOD-1 – Armadillo Aerospace

Armadillo Aerospace, a former competitor for the Ansari X PRIZE, is developing a 

set of vehicles designed for suborbital and, eventually, orbital flight opportunities: 

QUAD and MOD.

QUAD is a four-tank vertical takeoff and landing 

vehicle. In 2007, Armadillo developed a variant of the 

QUAD vehicle, the MOD-1 vehicle, for competition 

in Level One of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander 

Challenge (NGLLC). The MOD-1 consists of a single 

pair of propellant tanks (the QUAD design featured 

two pairs of tanks) above a LOX/ethanol engine, with 

payload and electronic boxes on top of the tanks. The 

vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing vehicle is supported by 

four large landing legs. 

After narrowly falling short of the NGLLC 

prize in 2007, in 2008 the MOD-1 

successfully performed two 90-second 

flights between pads 100 meters apart, capturing the $350,000 first 

prize for NGLLC Level One. Armadillo then entered an updated 

version of the MOD vehicle, called the Scorpius Super Mod, in 

the 2009 NGLLC. The Scorpius uses lightweight, composite, 

high pressure helium tanks developed by Microcosm, Inc., and is 

considerably less massive than earlier versions of the vehicle.1

 Under 

new Challenge rules teams were allowed to compete from a site of 

their choosing within a window of flight opportunities running from 

July through October of 2009. On September 12, 2009, Armadillo 

conducted its 2009 NGLLC Level Two qualifying attempts from 

the company’s home airport in Caddo Mills, Texas.2

 The Scorpius 

successfully completed both legs of the Level Two competition, 

completing the second flight leg with 30 minutes remaining in the 

flight window, while achieving a landing accuracy of 87 centimeters 

(34.3 inches).3

 This success qualified Armadillo for the $1,000,000 

Vehicle

Pixel (QUAD Prototype) and 

Scorpius Super Mod (MOD 

Prototype)

Developer Armadillo Aerospace

First Launch 2007

Number of 

Stages 1

Payload 

Performance

25 kg (55 lb) to 50 m 

(165 ft) (NGLLC vehicles)

Launch Site

Oklahoma Spaceport; 

Holloman Air Force Base; 

Las Cruces International 

Airport; Caddo Mills, Texas; 

Spaceport America

Markets 

Served

Lunar Lander Challenge 

competition, future 

suborbital and orbital 

launch applications

Scorpius Super Mod
• 34 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Level Two Prize; however the company would ultimately receive the $500,000 

second place as a result of Masten Space Systems completing a higher scoring Level 

Two attempt in October 2009. The 2009 flights were performed under the newly 

revised amateur rocket exemption to FAA launch license regulations.

Armadillo expects the MOD vehicle to provide the basis for a series of increasinglypowerful modular vehicles. In August 2008, Armadillo announced that its engines 

would be used in vehicles participating in the Rocket Racing League, a proposed 

competition featuring races between rocket-powered aircraft. Armadillo also 

plans to collaborate with the Rocket Racing League to develop a vertical takeoff, 

vertical landing suborbital vehicle. Additional plans call for testing vehicles that 

use two or more MOD-1 vehicles in combination. A “six-pack” variant using six 

modules, MOD-6, with the ability to reach higher suborbital altitudes, is also being 

considered.4

 Armadillo plans to double the flight ceiling achieved from its Caddo 

Mills home base from 900 to 1,800 meters before attempting high-altitude flights 

from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company then plans to increase the 

in-flight reduced-gravity time and begin to fly scientific payloads.5

New Shepard – Blue Origin

Blue Origin is developing the New Shepard Reusable 

Launch System, a suborbital, vertical-takeoff, verticallanding RLV for commercial passenger spaceflights. The 

vehicle will consist of a conical crew capsule, capable of 

carrying three people, mounted on top of a propulsion 

module. Engines using high-test peroxide (HTP) and 

kerosene will power the vehicle. The flights would take 

place from a private facility operated by Blue Origin in 

Culberson County, Texas.

As part of the New Shepard development process, Blue 

Origin has several prototype vehicles for flight testing 

at the company’s Texas facility. The first such vehicle, 

named Goddard, is powered by an HTP monopropellant engine and is intended 

to perform flights to altitudes of about 600 meters (2,000 feet) and lasting no 

longer than one minute. In September 2006, the FAA granted Blue Origin an 

experimental permit to perform those flight tests. The first permitted flight took 

place on November 13, 2006, followed by flights on March 

22 and April 19, 2007. All three test flights of the Goddard 

prototype were successful.6

Development activities continued during 2008 and 2009. The 

company is in the process of building a second prototype vehicle 

and continues to purchase land around their Texas launch site 

in order to create a safety buffer zone.7

 In November 2009, Blue 

Origin announced that it selected three research payloads to 

fly on uncrewed suborbital flights of the New Shepard vehicle. 

These payloads were selected as Phase 1 of the New Shepard 

Research Flight Demonstration Program and are intended both 

Vehicle New Shepard

Developer Blue Origin

First Launch 2010

Number of 

Stages 2

Payload 

Performance

3 120-kg (265-lb) 

passengers or cargoes to 

100 km (62 mi)

Launch Site Culberson County, Texas

Markets 

Served Suborbital space tourism

Blue Origin’s Goddard prototype 

vehicle on launch pad in 2006
• 35 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Reusable Launch Vehicles

to provide scientific and educational value and to demonstrate the feasibility of 

scientific experiments using the New Shepard vehicle. Blue Origin expects flight 

opportunities for uncrewed scientific payloads to be available in 2011; and for 

crewed flight opportunities to be available in 2012.8

XA-1.0 – Masten Space Systems

Masten Space Systems of Mojave, California, is 

developing the eXtreme Altitude (XA) series of 

suborbital RLVs, initially designed to carry small 

research payloads. The first in the series, the XA-1.0, 

is a vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing vehicle powered 

by LOX and isopropyl alcohol engines. The XA-1.0 is 

designed to carry a 100 kilogram (220 pound) payload 

to an altitude of at least 100 kilometers (62 miles), 

performing several such flights per day at a cost per 

flight of $75,000.9

 The company plans to sell payload 

space on the vehicle for as little as $99 for a 350-gram 

(12-ounce) “Soda Sat”; a 5-kilogram (11-pound) 

payload would have a cost of $1,250.10

As part of the development of the XA-1.0, Masten is building several prototype 

vehicles.

Masten Space Systems Company competed in the 2009 Challenge at 

both Level One and Level Two. Following an unsuccessful attempt 

on September 16, 2009, (completing only one flight leg), Masten 

flew its XA-0.1B Xombie vehicle at the Mojave Air and Space Port 

in California in a second Level One attempt on October 8, 2009. 

On this attempt, the Xombie vehicle completed both legs within the 

time window, and achieved a landing accuracy of approximately 16 

centimeters (6.3 inches).11 As a result the company qualified for the 

NGLLC Level One second prize (the first prize had been secured by 

Armadillo Aerospace during the 2008 NGLLC); when no other teams 

completed Level One in 2009 Masten won the $150,000 prize.

Masten entered its XA-0.1E Xoie vehicle in Level Two of the Challenge. After some 

technical problems were overcome Xoie completed the first leg of Level Two near 

the end of the team’s two-day launch window. However, upon landing the vehicle 

developed a small fire due to a fuel leak. Damage to the vehicle was minor, but 

significant enough to prevent the return leg from being flown within the window. 

However, the NGLLC judges decided to allow Masten an additional flight attempt 

the following morning. After working to repair Xoie, Masten made a final attempt 

to qualify for the Level Two prize on October 30, 2009. The vehicle successfully 

flew both legs, qualifying for Level Two with less than six minutes remaining in the 

allotted time.12 When the final team to compete in the Challenge, Unreasonable 

Rocket, failed to qualify, Masten won the $1,000,000 Level Two first prize, as the 

landing accuracy it had achieved—within 19 centimeters (7.5 inches)—was better 

than that of the only other team to qualify, Armadillo Aerospace.13

Vehicle XA-1.0

Developer Masten Space Systems

First Launch TBD

Number of 

Stages 1

Payload 

Performance

100 kg (220 lb) to 100 

km (62 mi)

Launch Site Mojave Air and Space Port

Markets 

Served Suborbital research payloads

The XA-0.1E Xoie vehicle after 

completing one leg of the 

Level Two NGLLC
• 36 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

In 2010, the company plans to focus on further testing of the XA-0.1B & E as a 

stepping stone toward developing the XA-1.0. Masten aims to begin low altitude 

commercial flights in early 2010. Masten also holds a Small Business Innovation 

and Research (SBIR) contract with the Department of Defense to use its vehicles as 

a testbed for network communications.14

Silver Dart – PlanetSpace

PlanetSpace, headquartered in Chicago, 

Illinois, is developing the Silver Dart 

reusable spacecraft for missions to LEO. 

The Silver Dart is based on the FDL-7 

hypersonic glider design originally proposed 

by the U.S. Air Force Flight Dynamics 

Laboratory in the late 1950s. The vehicle 

design features an all-metal thermal 

protection system to enable flight in all 

weather conditions. The Silver Dart is 

planned to have a glide range of 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) and a cross range 

of over 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles), allowing the vehicle to leave 

LEO at any time and still land in the continental U.S. PlanetSpace has 

proposed to launch the Silver Dart using a rocket under development at 

one time in Canada, the Canadian Arrow, from a proposed spaceport in 

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.15

In February 2009, PlanetSpace unveiled two quarter-scale Silver Dart 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).16 PlanetSpace plans to begin flight 

tests of these vehicles in 2010 in order to study the flight characteristics 

of the lifting body design. One of the quarter scale UAVs accommodates 

rocket propulsion and is designed to test aerodynamic properties of the 

vehicle under rocket powered flight.17

Rocketplane XP – Rocketplane Global

Rocketplane Global, a subsidiary of Rocketplane Inc. of Oklahoma City, 

Oklahoma, is developing the Rocketplane XP suborbital RLV. The vehicle will 

take off under jet power. At an altitude of at least 12,200 meters (40,000 feet), it 

will ignite a single AR-36 rocket LOX and kerosene rocket engine provided by 

Polaris Propulsion for a 70-second burn. The Rocketplane XP will fly to an altitude 

of at least 100 kilometers (62 miles) before 

reentering and landing, either under jet 

power or unpowered, at the same site as 

takeoff.

In late 2007, Rocketplane Global unveiled 

a new design for the Rocketplane XP. 

The previous design, based on a highlymodified Learjet fuselage, was replaced 

with a larger cabin capable of carrying 

SilverDart quarter-scale prototype

Vehicle Silver Dart

Developer PlanetSpace

First Launch TBD

Number of 

Stages

3 (1-stage vehicle deployed 

by 2-stage rocket)

Payload 

Performance TBD

Launch Site Cape Breton Space Port, 

Nova Scotia, Canada

Markets 

Served

Passenger and cargo 

missions to LEO

Artist’s conception of RocketplaneXP
• 37 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Reusable Launch Vehicles

one pilot and five passengers. The jet engines were upgraded to the 

more powerful J-85 version. The V-tail of the previous design has been 

replaced with a T-tail, and the landing gear with a model based on the 

gear used for the F-5 aircraft. 

In 2009, Rocketplane shut down its Oklahoma operations, and 

suspended active development of the Rocketplane XP. The company 

continues fund-raising efforts and has stated that the vehicle could fly 

in 2011, contingent on financing.18

SpaceShipTwo – The SpaceShip Company

Scaled Composites, LLC, and Virgin Galactic, LLC a subsidiary of the Virgin 

Group of Companies, announced the formation of a joint venture, called The 

Spaceship Company (TSC), LLC, in July 2005. The purpose of TSC is to 

oversee development and production of SpaceShipTwo (SS2), a commercial 

suborbital spacecraft based on technology developed for SpaceShipOne (SS1). 

TSC is producing the first five SS2 vehicles for Virgin Galactic, which will put 

them into commercial service once test flights are completed, offering suborbital 

space flights for private individuals, 

and scientific research payloads. The 

venture also developed a carrier aircraft, 

WhiteKnightTwo (WK2), that will be used 

to air-launch SS2 in much the same manner 

that the original White Knight aircraft airlaunched SS1. Virgin Galactic has exclusive 

use of both the SS2 and WK2 vehicles 

for the first 18 months of commercial 

passenger spaceflight operations.19

In January 2008, Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites unveiled the designs for 

WK2 and SS2. Production of the two craft continued throughout 2008 and 2009. 

In March 2008, senior officials from Virgin Galactic and the Kiruna Spaceport 

in Sweden announced plans to use Spaceport Sweden as a secondary launch site 

for SS2. In July 2008, the WK2 was publicly rolled-out.20 In July 2009, Virgin 

Galactic announced that Aabar Investments of Abu Dhabi made a $280-million 

investment in Virgin Galactic, taking a 32% ownership stake in the 

company. As part of the agreement Aabar gains exclusive regional 

rights to host Virgin Galactic flights at a spaceport being considered 

for development in Abu Dhabi. Aabar has also committed to an 

additional $100-million investment towards developing a small 

satellite launch capability, in conjunction with Virgin Galactic.21

WK2 made its maiden test flight on December 21, 2008, reaching the 

altitude of 4,880 meters (16,000 feet) as planned. As of November 13, 

2009, WK2 has completed 22 test flights.22

In May 2009, Scaled Composites, and subcontractor Sierra Nevada 

Corporation, successfully completed the first phase of test firings of 

the rocket motor that will propel SS2. The motor uses a hybrid nitrous 

Vehicle Rocketplane XP

Developer Rocketplane Global

First Launch 2011

Number of 

Stages 1

Payload 

Performance

6 people to 100 km (62 

mi)

Launch Site Oklahoma Spaceport

Markets 

Served

Suborbital space tourism, 

microgravity research

Vehicle SpaceShipTwo

Developer

The SpaceShip Company 

(Virgin Galactic and Scaled 

Composites)

First Launch 2010

Number of 

Stages 2

Payload 

Performance

8 people to minimum of 

100 km (62 mi)

Launch Site Spaceport America

Markets 

Served Suborbital space tourism

SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo 
• 38 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

oxide system, and is the largest of its kind in the world.23 SS2 was publicly rolledout for the first time on December 7, 2009.24

As of July 2009, Virgin Galactic had signed up approximately 300 customers for its 

suborbital space tourism flights. Commercial tourism flights will begin after the 18- 

to 24-month-long test flight program for SS2 is completed.25

Dream Chaser – Sierra Nevada Corporation

Dream Chaser is an RLV under development by 

the Space Systems Business Area of Sierra Nevada 

Corporation (SNC), created in 2009 after the company 

acquired SpaceDev and MicroSat Systems, to serve 

suborbital and orbital applications. The design of this 

vehicle is based on the NASA HL-20 spaceplane concept 

from the early 1990s, which was itself inspired by the 

successfully launched Soviet BOR-4 spaceplane from 

the early 1980s. Dream Chaser has been expanded 

from the original HL-20 by 10% to an overall length of 

9.6 meters (31.5 feet) and wingspan of 8 meters (26.2 

feet). The Dream Chaser is designed to transport 6-9 

passengers, compared to the original HL-20’s capacity of 

6-10. The Dream Chaser will launch vertically and land 

horizontally on conventional runways.

The Dream Chaser concept was one of the finalists in 

the original round of NASA’s COTS competition, and 

was resubmitted as a bid for the COTS-2 competition. 

However, the vehicle was not selected for a funded 

COTS agreement. In June 2007, NASA and SpaceDev 

signed an unfunded Space Act agreement (SAA) where NASA will provide 

technical support and other information to SpaceDev to aid in the ongoing 

development of Dream Chaser.26

With NASA’s October 2008 certification that SpaceDev had successfully 

performed its Internal Space Vehicle Propulsion Module Preliminary 

Design Review (PDR), SpaceDev has completed three technical 

milestones to date under the unfunded SAA. SpaceDev also signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with United Launch Alliance 

(ULA) in April 2007 to study the use of the Atlas V to launch the 

Dream Chaser on orbital missions.27 As of the end of 2009, SNC has 

completed over 1,200 hours of wind tunnel tests on Dream Chaser, 

test articles and over 300 firings of the hybrid rocket engine technology 

intended for use in the vehicle.28

SNC submitted a proposal to NASA’s Commercial Crew Development 

program, a $50-million pool of funds from which NASA will award 

funded SAAs in early 2010 to further the development of concepts 

related to commercial provision of crew transport to orbit. If this proposal 

DreamChaser and Atlas V, 

design concept 

Vehicle Dream Chaser

Developer Sierra Nevada Corporation 

(SNC)

First Launch 2011 

Number of 

Stages 3

Payload 

Performance 6-9 people

Launch Site CCAFS

Markets 

Served

Suborbital space tourism, ISS 

crew and cargo resupply, 

orbital space tourism, 

military missions
• 39 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Reusable Launch Vehicles

is successful SNC intends to use the funds to support an air drop test of a Dream 

Chaser prototype test article. This test would test subsonic flight aerodynamics and 

control surface effectiveness. Sierra Nevada has speculated that this drop test could 

occur using Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo as the carrier aircraft.29

Laramie Rose – SpeedUp

SpeedUp of Laramie, Wyoming, developed the 

Laramie Rose vehicle, originally to compete in the 

NGLLC. The vehicle, being built in partnership with 

Frontier Astronautics of Chugwater, Wyoming, is 

a vertical takeoff and vertical landing 

design powered by an engine using 

90-percent concentration hydrogen 

peroxide. The vehicle is also designed to 

be a technology testbed for future rocketpowered recreational vehicles planned 

by the company. SpeedUp chose not to compete at the 2008 or 2009 

NGLLC; however, the Laramie Rose vehicle did perform its first 

tethered hover test in April 2008, and development continues.30 With 

the end of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge in 2009 

SpeedUp plans to use Laramie Rose as a development test bed only.31

MICHELLE-B – TGV Rockets, Inc.

TGV Rockets, Inc. (TGV) is developing the Modular Incremental Compact High 

Energy Lowcost Launch Example (MICHELLE)-B, a fully reusable, remotelypiloted suborbital vehicle, designed to carry up to 

1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) to an altitude of 

100 kilometers (62 miles). This vehicle is designed to 

perform vertical take-off and landing, with a drag shield 

to assist in deceleration during landing. MICHELLE-B 

will provide up to 200 seconds of 

microgravity, while not exceeding 4.5 

Gs during any phase of flight. Using 

existing optical packages, the vehicle is 

designed to provide 60-centimeter (24-

inch) oblique imagery. Six pressure-fed 

LOX and JP-8 engines for use on ascent 

and landing power the vehicle. TGV’s 

design is intended to enable high reusability, require minimal ground 

support, and allow the vehicle to return to flight within a few hours 

of landing. The company has completed a preliminary design review 

of the MICHELLE-B and, in the second quarter of 2007, performed 

three tests of its “workhorse” engine for the vehicle. Research and 

development work continues while the company seeks additional 

capital needed for full-scale vehicle development.32

Vehicle Laramie Rose

Developer SpeedUp

First Launch TBD

Number of 

Stages 1

Payload 

Performance

25 kg (55 lb) to 50 m 

(165 ft)

Launch Site TBD

Markets 

Served

Lunar Lander Challenge 

competition

MICHELLE-B concept

Vehicle MICHELLE-B

Developer TGV Rockets

First Launch TBD

Number of 

Stages 1

Payload 

Performance

1,000 kg (2,200 lb) to 100 

km (62 mi)

Launch Site

Field operable; requires 

15 x 15-meter (50 x 50-

foot) reinforced pad

Markets 

Served

Remote sensing; science, 

including microgravity 

research; national security 

applications

Laramie Rose
• 40 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Burning Splinter – Unreasonable Rocket

Unreasonable Rocket of Solana Beach, California, is 

a father-son team that developed two versions of the 

Burning Splinter vehicle to compete in the NGLLC. 

The “Burning Splinter 90” vehicle (also called “the 

blue ball”) was designed to compete in Level One of 

the NGLLC, and “Burning Splinter 180” vehicle (also 

called “the silver ball”) was designed to compete in 

Level Two of the Challenge. Both vehicles are vertical 

takeoff, vertical landing crafts powered by a single 

engine using hydrogen peroxide 

propellant.33 During development of 

these vehicles the Unreasonable Rocket team was not satisfied 

with the peroxide decomposition and demonstrated thrust 

levels during testing and chose not to compete in the 2008 

NGLLC.34 In October 2009, Unreasonable Rocket was the last 

team to compete in the NGLCC. The team competed in both 

levels, but failed to qualify in either, although the “blue ball” 

vehicle came within five seconds of completing a Level One leg 

before running out of propellant.35 With the conclusion of the 

NGLLC, Unreasonable Rocket is considering its options for 

future projects.36

Lynx – XCOR Aerospace

In March 2008, XCOR Aerospace 

unveiled the design of a suborbital RLV 

known as Lynx. The Lynx will be a twoseat suborbital plane designed to take 

off horizontally from a runway under 

rocket power and fly to an altitude of 100 

kilometers (62 miles) before returning for a 

horizontal landing. The Lynx will enable participants to experience weightlessness, 

obtain a clear view of the stars, and see the curvature of the 

Earth below. The firm’s previous concept for a suborbital 

vehicle was known as the Xerus. However, the company made 

significant technical and aerodynamic changes during the 

launcher design process. The changes resulted in a new vehicle 

designation: the Lynx.37

Since 2006, XCOR has performed fundraising and technical 

development for its suborbital launch vehicle.38 In December 

2008, the firm announced a partnership with RocketShip Tours 

to begin selling suborbital space tourism tickets for $95,000 a 

flight. In the same month, XCOR successfully performed its 

first hot fire of the 5K18 kerosene-LOX engine that will be used 

on the Lynx. Development activities continued during 2009. 

In July 2009, the company completed a series of subsonic wind 

Vehicle Burning Splinter

Developer Unreasonable Rocket

First Launch 2009

Number of 

Stages 1

Payload 

Performance

25 kg (55 lb) to 50 m 

(165 ft)

Launch Site Cantil, CA

Markets 

Served

Lunar Lander Challenge 

competition

Unreasonable Rocket’s 

Silver Ball prototype

Vehicle Lynx

Developer XCOR Aerospace

First Launch 2010

Number of 

Stages 1

Payload 

Performance

Two people (one pilot, one 

participant) to suborbital 

altitude 

Launch Site

Mojave Air and Space Port 

(initial planned site) and 

others (in future)

Markets 

Served

Suborbital space tourism; 

suborbital government and 

science missions

Lynx wind tunnel model with U.S. quarter (for scale)
• 41 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Reusable Launch Vehicles

tunnel tests at the Air Force Research Laboratory, testing the Lynx’s aerodynamic 

design. Supersonic wind tunnel tests are planned.39 XCOR continued development 

of the 5K18 engine and reached several technical milestones, including 

demonstration of reliable stop and re-start capabilities and the ability to run 

continuously at thermal equilibrium.40 XCOR anticipates filing a new FAA launch 

license application, and expects to perform the first Lynx flight by mid-2010.411

Meanwhile, on December 17, 2009, South Korea’s Yeongcheon Astro Space Center 

announced its selection of the Lynx vehicle as its preferred supplier of suborbital 

launch services.

Government RLV Development Efforts

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA 

conducted several joint and independent programs to produce experimental RLVs. 

These vehicles were intended to improve reliability, minimize operating costs, and 

demonstrate “aircraft-like” operations. However, none of these concepts resulted 

in a fully operational vehicle. In recent years, these technology development efforts 

diminished. The U.S. Department of Defense focused on operating its large EELV 

vehicles and developing small responsive launch vehicles, although it is devoting 

some resources to technology development that is relevant to RLVs. NASA has 

shifted its emphasis to developing large ELVs designed to implement the Vision for 

Space Exploration.

Space Shuttle

Consisting of an expendable external tank, two reusable solid rocket boosters, and a 

reusable Orbiter, NASA’s Space Transportation System (STS), commonly referred 

to as the Space Shuttle, has conducted 129 launches 

since its introduction in 1981. 

The three remaining orbiters—Atlantis, 

Discovery, and Endeavour—returned 

to flight in July 2005 after the loss of 

Columbia in February 2003. Today, the 

Space Shuttle is the only available means 

for completing assembly of the ISS. 

Intending to use the Shuttle until 2010, 

NASA is committed to investing in the 

Space Shuttle fleet to maintain safety and 

reliability and extend orbiter service life 

until its role in constructing the ISS is 

complete. Five Space Shuttle flights occurred in 2009, including the 

final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, flown by Atlantis

in May. As of January 1, 2010, five Space Shuttle flights are planned 

before the fleet is retired by the end of the year. The Space Shuttle’s 

day-to-day operations are managed by United Space Alliance, a 

Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture in operation since 1996.

Vehicle Atlantis, Discovery, and 

Endeavour

Developer

Rockwell International (now 

Boeing); fleet is managed, 

operated, and maintained 

on the ground by United 

Space Alliance, a joint 

venture between Boeing and 

Lockheed Martin

First Launch 1981

Number of 

Stages 1.5

Payload 

Performance

24,900 kg (54,890 lb) 

to LEO

Launch Site KSC

Markets 

Served

Non-commercial payloads, 

ISS access

Space Shuttle on the launch pad
• 42 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation
• 43 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • In-Space Technology

Reentry Vehicles and In-Space

Technologies

A number of new orbital transportation systems are being developed by U.S. 

entities. These systems range from government reusable crewed and cargo vehicles 

to commercial habitats. These developments will provide critical manned and 

unmanned orbital operations and transportation in the post-Shuttle era after 2010. 

A number of technologies have been demonstrated for these systems during the 

past year and show progress towards planned operational capability.

NASA has development contracts for the Orion crew exploration vehicle, and 

two active awards for commercial ISS crew and cargo demonstrations through the 

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. NASA awarded 

additional contracts for ISS Cargo Resupply Services in December of 2008, and 

provided for additional funding to industry by way of the American Recovery 

and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Additionally, the U.S. Air Force is developing a 

military-use X-37B Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) that will carry payloads into 

orbit. Finally, Bigelow Aerospace is in the process of developing commercial orbital 

habitats.

Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle 

The U.S. space exploration strategy calls for continued 

missions to LEO and later missions to the Moon, Mars, and 

beyond. To maintain this mission capability after retiring the 

Shuttle in 2010, NASA is developing a new Crew Exploration 

Vehicle (CEV), the Orion, as part of the Constellation 

Program. The Orion design was amended in April 2009 

to reduce the maximum number of crew from six to four 

members for initial missions to the ISS or to the Moon.1

Orion’s first crew transport to the ISS is planned for 2015, 

while the first lunar flight is currently targeted for 2020.2

The spacecraft will consist of a combined pressurized crew module and service 

module launched into orbit by the Ares I crew launch vehicle. For missions to the 

Moon and Mars, NASA will precede the Ares I launch with an Ares V cargo launch 

vehicle. Ares V will deliver the Altair lunar lander and the Earth Departure Stage to 

LEO. Orion will then dock with these vehicles, and the Earth Departure Stage will 

propel Orion and Altair to the Moon.

Once in lunar orbit, Altair will undock from Orion and carry the astronauts to the 

Moon’s surface. At the end of the mission, a lunar ascent module will return the 

crew to the orbiting Orion craft. The crew will then use the service module main 

engine to break out of lunar orbit and return to Earth, where Orion’s crew module 

will reenter the atmosphere and parachute to the surface. 

The spacecraft’s conical shape is similar to the Apollo capsules that predated 

the Shuttle, but Orion will incorporate 21st century technology in computers, 

Artist rendition of the Ares V departure stage in orbit 

with the Orion capsule docked with the Altair lander
• 44 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

electronics, life support, propulsion, landing technology, and a newly developed 

thermal protection system for Earth re-entry. A powered system for launch abort 

will sit atop the Orion capsule. It is designed to pull the crew module away from 

the Ares I launch vehicle in an emergency situation on the launch pad or during the 

first 91,400 meters (300,000 feet) after launch. In addition, Orion’s 5-meter (16.5-

foot) diameter will allow for more than twice the volume of Apollo-era modules.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the Orion CEV. NASA selected 

Lockheed Martin in August of 2006, awarding them a seven-year base contract 

worth just under $4 billion. The contract contains an option worth another $4 

billion for production and operational engineering activity up to 2019. Lockheed 

Martin’s contracting team includes Honeywell, Orbital Sciences, United Space 

Alliance, and Hamilton Sundstrand. 

Contracts for the Altair lunar lander and Earth Departure 

Stage have not yet been awarded. NASA is developing 

conceptual designs for Altair and has been seeking input 

from industry experts to support that effort. In 2009, NASA 

issued the Altair Conceptual Design Contract, which 

was to evaluate conceptual designs and develop necessary 

products for design review. This particular procurement is 

on hold pending assessment of the conclusions of the final 

report by the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans 

Committee.3

 However, industry continues to demonstrate 

to NASA various technologies that can be incorporated 

into the Altair lander. In June 2009, Northrop Grumman 

successfully demonstrated the use of their heritage pintle 

injector technology in order to maintain stable combustion over a broad throttling 

range. This is a vital requirement to providing a soft and precise landing on the 

Moon’s surface.4

In October of 2009, NASA successfully completed a demonstration test of Orion’s 

main parachute test equipment. This was part of a series of tests supporting the 

design of the Orion parachute recovery system, derived from the system NASA 

used to recover the Apollo spacecraft. The 2009 test was made necessary by a failed 

2008 parachute test of an Orion mock-up vehicle, where a set-up parachute did 

not inflate properly and led to the failure of the entire parachute system. NASA’s 

2009 tests were an attempt to improve the testing technique and prevent such 

an anomaly from occurring again. By introducing “smart” avionic systems that 

automatically sense the attitude and pitch rate of the test vehicle, which can lead 

to a more precise release of the vehicle from the test platform for the parachute 

test can be achieved. A 9,400-kilogram (20,700-pound) test vehicle was dropped 

6,248 meters (20,500 feet) by a C-130 aircraft above the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving 

Grounds.5

 At least one more test is scheduled in 2010. 

Additional 2010 milestones include the first full-scale test of the new launch abort 

system scheduled for spring 2010 at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range. 

This test will involve both the Orion spacecraft and the launch abort system in 

Concept of the abort flight tests of the Orion crew 

exploration vehicle’s launch abort system at the White 

Sands Missile Range in New Mexico
• 45 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • In-Space Technology

order to simulate an emergency abort scenario from the launch pad. In preparation 

for that test, Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and Lockheed Martin completed a 

successful ground test of the abort system’s attitude control motor (ACM) in 

December of 2009.6

The overall Constellation Program is managed at the Johnson Space Center in 

Houston, Texas. Every other NASA center has a role in the mission, and many have 

been actively involved in testing the Orion and Ares vehicles and their subsystems. 

For instance, the Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, leads the 

development of Orion’s thermal protection systems. Langley Research Center in 

Hampton, Virginia, is the lead for integrating the launch abort system while the 

Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is responsible for developing 

the propulsion elements for the abort system. 

International Space Station Crew and Cargo Transport 

The decision to finish constructing the ISS by the end of the decade and maintain 

its operation with a six-person crew reinforces the demand for continual transport 

flights to and from the station. Several government systems are either operational or 

planned to fill this demand. Until it is retired in 2010, the Space Shuttle will be the 

primary American system for bringing new station components, crew, and cargo to 

the ISS. Orion is scheduled to start providing crew transport by 2015. 

This five-year gap can be filled by using the services of existing and developing 

international ISS transport vehicles. Russia’s Soyuz crew and Progress cargo vehicles 

are frequently used to support the station and are currently the most robust 

international ISS supply systems. However, other international systems are making 

progress to fill that role as well. In March of 2008, the European Space Agency 

conducted the maiden voyage of their Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for ISS 

cargo supply. The Jules Verne ATV delivered supplies, propellants, and oxygen to 

the ISS and remained docked with the ISS for six months and performed orbital 

reboosts. The ATV eventually offloaded 21⁄2 tonnes of waste from the ISS before 

returning to Earth in a controlled destructive re-entry.7

 The ESA has contracted 

industry to produce four more ATVs to be flown through 2015, starting with the 

Johannes Kepler, which is due to launch in mid-2010.8

 Additionally, the Japan 

Aerospace Exploration Administration ( JAXA) conducted the maiden voyage of 

the H-2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV) in September 2009, delivering supplies to the ISS 

and returning to earth, also burning upon re-entry after a seven-week mission.9

American commercial vehicles are planned to supplement these government 

systems for crew and cargo transport to the ISS. To that end, NASA established 

the Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Office (C3PO) at the Johnson Space 

Center. This office will help stimulate the U.S. commercial space transportation 

industry through technical assistance as well as direct investment through the 

COTS Demonstrations project. In August 2006, NASA announced the signing 

of two funded Space Act Agreements with U.S. companies under Phase 1 of the 

COTS program. Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Rocketplane/

Kistler (RpK) collectively received nearly $500 million in funding to develop and 
• 46 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

demonstrate the ability to provide transportation services to the ISS. However, the 

agreement with RpK was terminated and re-competed in 2007 due to RpK’s failure 

to meet required financial and technical milestones related to developing its K-1 

vehicle. In February of 2008, NASA selected Orbital Sciences Corporation as a 

new funded partner and awarded them approximately $170 million.10

In Phase One of the COTS program, the bidding companies were required to 

demonstrate one or more of four capabilities:

• external, unpressurized cargo delivery and disposal;

• internal, pressurized cargo delivery and disposal;

• internal, pressurized cargo delivery and return;

• an option for crew transportation. 

Fixed payments will be made to the winning companies as they achieve milestones 

for design and development, including conducting demonstration flights. 

Phase Two of the program culminated in the December 2008 awards of two ISS 

Cargo Resupply Services (ISS-CRS) contracts, which also went to SpaceX and 

Orbital Sciences. The contracts call for delivering a minimum of 20 metric tons of 

upmass cargo to the space station, with flights taking place between 2010 and 2016. 

NASA initially ordered 12 flights valued at about $1.6 billion from SpaceX, and 

eight flights valued at about $1.9 billion from Orbital Sciences.11

SpaceX Dragon

Initiated internally by SpaceX in 2005, the Dragon spacecraft will be used for 

the commercial transportation of cargo and crew to and from LEO. The 4-meter 

(13-foot) diameter Dragon consists of an unpressurized 

trunk module and the capsule itself. The trunk module 

carries the solar arrays and thermal radiators, and can also 

store any unpressurized cargo. The Dragon capsule will be 

carried by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle, and comprises 

three elements: the nose cone, which protects the vessel 

and docking adaptor during liftoff; the pressurized crew 

and cargo section; and the service section which contains 

support infrastructure such as avionics, parachutes, and the 

reaction control system (RCS). 

The structural design of Dragon will be identical for cargo 

and crew missions, providing a capacity of over 2,500 

kilograms (5,500 pounds) for launch and return in either configuration. In crew 

mode the vehicle can carry up to seven people, and will be able to remain attached 

to the ISS for six months at a time, providing emergency return capability for 

the entire ISS crew. SpaceX has constructed full-scale engineering models of the 

capsule pressure vessel, heat shield, and other systems.12

The SpaceX Dragon Lab vehicle in orbit
• 47 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • In-Space Technology

In February 2009, SpaceX’s conducted high temperature tests on the Dragon’s 

heat shield material. The tests, successfully conducted at NASA’s Ames Research 

Center, subjected the material to temperatures as high as 1,850 degrees Celsius 

(3,360 degrees Fahrenheit), simulating the conditions that the Dragon capsule 

crew can expect upon re-entry.13 In addition, SpaceX successfully demonstrated 

a proximity sensor, called DragonEye, on NASA’s STS-127 shuttle mission in 

July 2009. DragonEye, a Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor, 

provides laser-based range and bearing information between the Dragon spacecraft 

to the ISS. DragonEye will make its operational debut on the final flight of the 

Dragon spacecraft under NASA’s COTS program.

SpaceX plans to conduct a series of three COTS demo flights of the Falcon 9 and 

Dragon system in 2010 culminating with an actual berthing of an empty Dragon 

vehicle with the ISS, returning to Earth via parachuted water landing. Then, 

starting in 2011, the first of the 12 (non-demo) CRS missions ordered by NASA 

are scheduled to begin. All flights are scheduled for launch from SpaceX’s Space 

Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.14 NASA also has the option 

to extend the agreement with SpaceX to include three demonstrations of crew 

transport to and from the ISS. Those demonstrations would be conducted 18-24 

months after the execution of that option.15

SpaceX is also pursuing the commercial market with the DragonLab spacecraft. 

Introduced in November 2008, DragonLab’s potential uses include small spacecraft 

deployment, recovery of pressurized and some unpressurized payloads, and inspace experimentation and research projects. SpaceX is marketing the DragonLab 

system as being able to provide all aspects of in-orbit operation and re-entry, 

including propulsion, power, environmental control, avionics, communications, 

thermal protection, flight software, navigation and control, entry, landing, 

and recovery.16 Based on the positive response from prospective customers at 

DragonLab’s unveiling, SpaceX immediately added two DragonLab missions to its 

launch manifest, scheduled for 2010 and 2011.17

Orbital Sciences Taurus II/Cygnus

On February 18, 2008, Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, 

Virginia, won the re-competed RpK COTS agreement. NASA 

and Orbital Sciences signed a funded Space Act Agreement 

worth approximately $170 million in federal funds to 

supplement Orbital’s private funding for the Taurus II launch 

vehicle and the Cygnus advanced maneuvering spacecraft. 

The Taurus II will have a payload capacity of 4,750 to 6,250 

kilograms (10,470 to 13,780 pounds) to LEO. The Cygnus 

spacecraft will be capable of delivering up to 2,300 kilograms of 

pressurized or unpressurized cargo to the ISS, and will be capable 

of returning up to 1,200 kilograms of cargo from ISS to Earth. 

Orbital will also develop several interchangeable modules for 

pressurized and unpressurized cargo. 

Artist rendition of Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft

approaching the ISS
• 48 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

The development, production, and integration of Cygnus and these cargo modules 

will take place at Orbital’s facilities in Dulles as well as Greenbelt, Maryland. The 

first COTS demonstration is scheduled to take place in early 2011 from Wallops 

Flight Facility. Orbital is preparing to begin operational CRS missions in 2011 and 

as many as eight operational ISS cargo flights between 2011 and 2015.18

The pressurized cargo module is based the on the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module 

(MPLM), developed by Thales Alenia Space for NASA. The solar arrays will be 

developed by Dutch Space, who will be responsible for the design, manufacture, 

assembly, integration, and testing of the arrays for nine pressurized cargo missions 

to the ISS.19

Other Commercial Crew and Cargo Transport Concepts

NASA currently has signed unfunded Space Act Agreements with three companies 

to help them develop various vehicles and technologies that could lead to orbital 

crew and cargo missions in the future. While these companies do not receive 

funding for their projects, NASA does provide them technical assistance in order 

to facilitate compatibility with ISS and future programs. These systems potentially 

could provide transport to the ISS and other orbital locations. 

• PlanetSpace has teamed with Lockheed Martin Space Systems, ATK, and 

Boeing to develop, produce, launch, and operate modular Orbital Transfer 

Vehicles (OTVs) that can serve as the cargo carriers to the ISS.20 In 2008, the 

PlanetSpace team proposed this vehicle to NASA as part of the COTS Phase-2 

funding for the ISS-CRS project.

• Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (formerly SpaceDev’s) Dream Chaser Space 

Transportation System is a lifting body RLV based on the NASA HL-20 lifting 

body spaceplane. The vehicle is designed to launch on a human-rated Atlas V 

rocket. 

X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle

The U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office is leading development of an 

unmanned reusable space vehicle designated the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle 

(OTV). This new capability will serve as a platform 

for science and technology demonstration and testing. 

Experiments will be carried in a payload bay that can open 

and expose its contents to the space environment. This 

vehicle leverages previous work NASA, DARPA, AFRL, 

and Boeing completed for the X-37 program. As it was for 

the original X-37 vehicle, Boeing is the prime contractor for 

the OTV.

The OTV will launch vertically into orbit on an expendable 

rocket and have the ability to de-orbit on command and 

land horizontally for reuse. The first OTV test flight is 

Artist’s concept of an X-37 vehicle, similar to 

the X-37B in development
• 49 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • In-Space Technology

scheduled to take place in April of 2010, using an Atlas V rocket to be launched 

from Cape Canaveral.21 During the test, the OTV is to deploy a gallium arsenide 

solar array to power its flight, then de-orbit and land on a runway at Vandenberg 

AFB. The entire test flight will be unmanned. Other flights for the X-37B will 

be for testing advanced thermal protection materials, autonomous approach and 

landing schemes, and orbital and ground operations.22

Commercial Orbital Habitat Development

Bigelow Aerospace is developing next-generation expandable space habitat 

technology intended to support a future, robust, private-sector-driven commercial 

space industry. The company manufactured and launched two technology 

demonstration spacecraft called Genesis I and Genesis II. These spacecraft are 

currently being used to validate the fundamental engineering concepts necessary 

to construct an expandable orbital habitat. Currently, Bigelow Aerospace is 

constructing a larger and more complex spacecraft designed to support a crewed 

presence in LEO.

The Genesis II spacecraft was launched on June 28, 2007, 

less than one year after the Genesis I launch on July 12, 

2006. Both of these spacecraft were successfully orbited by 

an ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket launched from facilities 

at the Yasny Cosmodrome in the Orenburg region of the 

Russian Federation. The two spacecraft are externally similar 

although internally different; Genesis II was outfitted with 

additional sensors, cameras, and unique interior payloads. 

The size of the demonstrators is approximately 4.4 meters 

(15 feet) in length and 1.6 meters (5.3 feet) in diameter 

at launch, expanding to 2.54 meters (8 feet) in diameter 

after full deployment in orbit. Both Genesis spacecraft 

have a usable volume of 11.5 cubic meters (406 cubic feet). 

Bigelow Aerospace uses its mission control facility in North Las Vegas, Nevada, for 

operating these spacecraft, both of which have performed as planned, validating 

Bigelow Aerospace’s basic concepts and capabilities.

Because of the success of the Genesis technology demonstrators, Bigelow Aerospace 

has decided to proceed directly with developing the larger Sundancer spacecraft. 

Sundancer will be the company’s first attempt at producing a habitat capable of 

supporting a human presence on orbit. The spacecraft is currently anticipated to 

weigh around 8,600 kilograms (19,000 pounds) and offer roughly 180 cubic meters 

(6,350 cubic feet) of usable volume. The technologies to be demonstrated and 

deployed on Sundancer include environmental control and life support systems; 

guidance, navigation, and attitude control; propulsion; power generation; and 

windows, among others. 

In May 2009, Bigelow announced that it had successfully obtained approval from 

the U.S. Directorate of Defense Trade Controls to conduct activities related to 

passengers without having to file Technical Assistance Agreements, Technology 

Artist rendition of Bigelow’s planned 

space complex in orbit
• 50 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Transfer Control Plans, or other ITAR-related paperwork. This is considered a 

major development as it eases the commercial space industry’s path regarding 

complex and expensive export-approval processes.

In October of 2009, Bigelow Aerospace teamed with Boeing in a proposal to 

NASA in response to the Agency’s new Commercial Crew Development program 

(CCDev). Developed as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 

of 2009, CCDev directs up to $50 million in stimulus funds towards private sector 

development and demonstration of human spaceflight concepts and associated 

enabling technologies.23 Boeing and Bigelow’s proposal centered on accelerating 

the development of a new crew capsule that could potentially launch atop multiple 

rockets, and could also dock with either the ISS or the Bigelow orbiting habitats.24

Awarding of CCDev funding is expected in early 2010.
• 51 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Enabling Technologies

Enabling Technologies

Organizations from industry and various government agencies have been working 

to develop launch vehicle components that are substantially simpler, more flexible 

and reliable, and less costly than those based on legacy technologies. These efforts 

research projects in the areas of composite cryogenic propellant tanks, propulsion 

systems, thermal protection systems, navigation and docking sensor systems, and 

vehicle recovery systems. This chapter reviews some of the accomplishments made 

in 2009 with emphasis given to those organizations and technologies that have 

achieved significant testing milestones.

Future Responsive Access to Space Technology Program

The Future-Responsive Access to Space Technology (FAST) 

program is an effort by the Air Force Research Laboratory 

(AFRL) to develop technologies for use in RLVs capable 

of “aircraft-like” operations. FAST calls for the methodical 

development of these key technologies initially through ground 

experiments and later in flight tests. The ultimate goal is to 

fly a ground-launched suborbital vehicle capable of reaching 

speeds of Mach 4-7, as well as being capable of reentering at 

Mach 25 if launched as the upper stage of another vehicle. 

This experimental vehicle could be later scaled up to larger, 

operational vehicles.1

AFRL has issued contracts with several companies to work on elements of the FAST 

program. In March 2007, AFRL awarded Andrews Space a contract to develop the 

program requirements for a series of technology experiments that will be part of the 

overall effort.2

 In November 2007, Lockheed Martin Michoud Operations won a 

$14 million contract to work on airframe technologies, including composite 

structures and thermal protection systems, as a part of the FAST program.3

 In 

December 2007, AFRL awarded Northrop Grumman a 39-month, $5.2-million 

contract to study responsive ground operations and perform experiments and 

simulations to support the development of a future operations control center.4

On December 12, 2008, in support of the FAST Airframe Ground Experiment, 

Lockheed Martin successfully tested an unlined LOX-compatible composite 

tank with a demonstrated cryogenic containment of up to 5,000 micro-strain 

(250 pounds-force per square inch gauge, or psi) of pressure.5

 In July of 2009, 

Andrews Space delivered a composite liquid oxygen tank it had jointly developed 

with the University of Dayton Research Institute under the FAST program to 

the U.S Air Force Research Laboratory.6

 In May 2009, AFRL issued a Request 

for Information (RFI) to identify resuable booster systems concepts. This RFI is 

intended to kick-off a process, as a follow-on to the FAST program, that will lead 

to a subscale responsive launch vehicle with a resuable first stage and expendable 

second stage. It is envisioned that in 2017-2018, this vehicle will be ready to fly as 

a demonstrator and will have achieved a technology readiness level preparing it to 

begin full-scale development.7

Display model of a proposed FAST booster
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Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Improved Heat Shield Material – SpaceX

SpaceX developed an improved high performance heat shield material called 

PICA-X, based on PICA (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator), a material 

first created by NASA. PICA holds the record for the fastest reentry speed of a 

spacecraft into Earth’s atmosphere: NASA’s Stardust sample return capsule, which 

reentered at 12.9 kilometers per second (28,900 miles per hour) in January 2006. 

Developed with the assistance of NASA, the SpaceX variants of 

the rigid, lightweight material have several improved properties 

and greater ease of manufacture than older types of ablative heat 

shields. Tests at the Arc Jet Complex at NASA Ames Research 

Center subjected samples of PICA-X to temperatures as high 

as 1850 °C (3360 °F), simulating the reentry heating conditions 

that will be experienced by SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.

In all cases, the SpaceX versions of PICA demonstrated equal or 

improved performance in comparison to the heritage material. 

All of SpaceX’s initial production will be used for internal applications, including 

the heat shields of Dragon spacecraft, as well as the Falcon 9 second stage, which is 

designed to return from orbit for recovery and reuse.8

Composite Tanks – Microcosm, Inc.

In 2009, Microcosm, Inc. (MI) and Scorpius Space Launch Company (SSLC), 

both of Hawthorne, California, continued developing cryogenic composite LOX 

tanks for a variety of applications and customers. MI’s tank design and SSLC’s 

manufacturing method prevent gas permeation and leakage. In addition, they 

manage the typical micro-cracking that has always been a problem with allcomposite tanks at cryogenic temperatures. The tank design allows for reducing 

the weight of the propellant tanks for Sprite, Microcosm’s proposed launch vehicle, 

and potentially increases the mass to orbit by over 30 percent. MI/SSLC offer 

these tanks in a range of sizes as well as custom-made pressure vessels for industrial 

applications where ultra-high strength-to-weight ratio is important. MI and 

SSLC continue to provide these new technology tanks to others in the aerospace 

community, as well as customers with other applications.9

At the AIAA Space 2009 conference, Microcosm presented a 

low-cost launch infrastructure that can be created on the basis 

of Scorpius technology. A high-pressure helium tank without 

a metallic liner was developed and flown on an Armadillo 

Aerospace vehicle that took second prize in Level Two of 

the NGLLC. These high pressure tanks have been further 

developed using the composite bosses that had been applied 

to the all-composite propellant tanks, resulting in an allcomposite configuration. The use of this technology for storing 

high-pressure helium is an expansion of the all-composite tank 

technology into all of the tanks in the Scorpius pressure-fed 

Testing of SpaceX’s PICA heat shield material

Microcosm’s composite propellant tank
• 53 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Enabling Technologies

architecture. It also has wide applicability in aerospace, transportation, energy, and 

other fields.10

High Performance Pressurization System (HPPS) – 

Microcosm, Inc.

Microcosm continued development in 2009 of the HPPS for the company’s family 

of launch vehicles and upper stages, and for other customer applications. The HPPS 

uses high pressure cold gas. Typically, as cold gas is expanded, the resulting loss of 

pressure causes the remaining cold gas to cool down. However, by using a specialized 

catalytic converter, the HPPS provides pressurized heated gas to compensate for this 

temperature reduction. Thus the system is very scalable and the HPPS reduces in 

half the comparable gas required for the typical pressure-fed system, thus potentially 

lowering cost and mass of launch vehicles using the system.11 A monolithic tank using 

the all-composite design described above has been sized for the 63.5 centimeter 

(25-inch) pod of the Mini-Sprite, a proposed micro-satellite launch vehicle designed 

to deliver 102 kilograms (225 pounds) to orbit. This configuration replaces the dual 

tank arrangement at this small scale, simplifying the structure of the pod with a 

conveniently available tank size.

VASIMR® Engine – Ad Astra Rocket Company

The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR®) is an electromagnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion. The VASIMR® engine is not intended 

to launch a vehicle into space from ground-level. Rather, it would be an efficient 

method of propulsion for high payload commercial robotic 

operations in cislunar space and high speed propulsion for 

interplanetary craft. It uses radio waves to ionize a propellant 

and magnetic fields to accelerate the resulting plasma to generate 

thrust. The method of heating plasma used in VASIMR® was 

originally developed as a result of research into nuclear fusion. 

VASIMR® is intended to fill the high power electric propulsion 

niche, affording substantially higher thrust at high specific 

impulse than existing electric thrusters. Scientist and former 

astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz created the VASIMR® concept 

and has been working on its development since 1979.

On October 28, 2008, Ad Astra announced that the VASIMR® Helicon first 

stage, which generates the plasma that is later accelerated by the drive, achieved 

its full rated power of 30 kilowatts. Demonstrating the engine, in its two-stage 

configuration, at its full rated power of 200 kW, occurred on September 30, 2009, 

at Ad Astra’s Houston research laboratory. This paves the way for further testing, 

leading to the critical design of the VF-200 flight engine to be completed in early 

2012.12 On December 8, 2008, an agreement was signed between Ad Astra and 

NASA to test the VASIMR® engine aboard the International Space Station. This 

test is being planned for late 201313.

The VASIMR engine
• 54 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Rocket Upper Stage – SpeedUp

In addition to its Laramie Rose prototype (discussed in the 

Reusable Launch Vehicles section), SpeedUp is developing a 

modular expendable upper stage to increase the altitude or 

payload mass capability of other launch providers’ unmanned 

sounding rockets. The rocket is powered by a hybrid engine 

using 98-percent concentration hydrogen peroxide as oxidizer. 

Prototype construction is underway, and SpeedUp began to 

perform static firings of sub-scale engines in 2009; and plans 

to begin captive carry tests on other launch providers’ rockets 

in 2010.14

Solid Rocket Motors – Alliant Techsystems, Inc.

ATK was named the prime contractor by NASA to develop the Ares I first stage 

in December 2005. The design of the Ares I first stage will primarily use existing 

Space Shuttle solid rocket motor technology; however, ATK is developing new 

components to increase performance. Improvements include the use of lighter 

materials throughout the rocket, more advanced avionics, and an additional, 

fifth segment. The core tooling used to 

achieve the new propellant shape is being 

manufactured.15 Two mockups of a section 

located at the top of the motor between the 

first and second stages, called the forward 

skirt, have been constructed. The forward 

skirt mockups will simulate the physical 

space available for the avionics and will be 

used to determine the optimal required 

space and placement of the electronics.

In 2009, test series continued with the solid rocket booster. On October 28, 2009, 

the Ares 1-X suborbital test vehicle launched, using a four-segment version of the 

solid rocket motor as its first stage. The test was a success, according to ATK and 

NASA.16 Five ground tests of a new five-segment Ares I rocket motor are scheduled 

in 2009-2011. On September 10, 2009, ATK conducted the first burn test of the 

new, five-segment booster, which performed as expected.17

NOFB Monopropellant and Rocket Engines – Firestar 

Technologies, LLC

NASA has awarded Firestar Engineering, LLC a $600,000 Phase I/II SBIR 

contract in February 2008 to develop and test a continuous operating 100 lbf 

NOFB monopropellant thruster overseen by NASA Johnson Space Center, 

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and NASA Glenn Research Center. 

NOFB monopropellants are non-toxic, high performance, self-pressurizing 

monopropellants that can generate over 300s of Isp performance. These 

monopropellants were previously invented, characterized, and operated from 

SpeedUp’s Laramie Rose prototype vehicle

ATK’s September 10 test of the 5-segement 

solid rocket booster
• 55 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Enabling Technologies

2004–2007 under NASA’s Mars Advanced Technology 

program managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech 

( JPL). The 100 lbf NOFB monopropellant thrusters are 

candidates for a variety of NASA programs as well as low cost, 

non-toxic thrusters for the commercial spacecraft market . 

Since October of 2009, Firestar Technologies and its partners 

have successfully demonstrated continuous operation of a 

scaled down 25lbf vacuum equivalent version of the NOFB 

monopropellant thruster. Ongoing development work is 

focused on scaling this NOFB monopropellant thruster up to the 100 lbf level 

and conducting vacuum chamber testing of this engine. Overlapping this work, 

NASA has also just recently awarded a Phase I SBIR to Firestar Engineering 

(Technologies) for investigating an NOFB clustered truncated aerospike engine 

option for future NASA ascent vehicles. In parallel with NASA’s ongoing rocket 

engine development efforts, as of February 2008, Firestar Technologies has also 

been funded under DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) 

Phase I/II SBIR contracts for developing an extreme altitude unmanned aerial 

vehicle (UAV) engine that burns NOFB monopropellants. This program would 

support DARPA’s Rapid Eye program. All of these programs overlap and have been 

supporting the ongoing development and military standard (MIL-STD) testing of 

NOFB monopropellants and their associated fluid-handling hardware.18

Liquid Rocket Engines and Associated Technologies – 

Garvey Spacecraft Corporation

Garvey Spacecraft Corporation (GSC) conducts research and development in 

partnership with a variety of organizations. The most notable of these partnerships 

has been the California Launch Vehicle Education Initiative (CALVEIN) with 

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Since getting started in early 

2001, the CALVEIN work has resulted in numerous static fire tests and 21 flight 

tests. The partnership developed two aerospike rocket 

engines as well as more recent missions involving a 

prototype RLV test bed and the first-ever flight test of 

a LOX/methane rocket (the P-14) in April 2008 that 

featured an engine developed by CSULB students. 

In February 2009, GSC and CSULB successfully flew 

the P-13, consisting of a refurbished airframe that first 

flew in 2001 and a LOX/propylene engine developed 

by CSULB students. This propellant combination has 

the potential to provide higher specific impulse while 

retaining the density of RP-1. Two months later, in 

April, the team attempted to fly CSULB’s P-10 vehicle 

with a next-generation aerospike engine that featured 

ten Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) thruster 

chambers. The engine was successfully ignited during 

Garvey Aerospace’s P-13 rocket a static fire test the previous year. This time, however, 

Test runs of the Firestar monoprop engine
• 56 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

an ignition problem in one of the chambers resulted in an early termination of the 

mission and total loss of the vehicle.

Development is still continuing with Hyper Therm High Temperature Composite 

(HTC) on CMC chamber applications, with static fire testing starting near the end 

of 2009. This material could see use in upper stages and attitude control thrusters as 

a replacement for chambers made from heavy refractory metals.19

Liquid Rocket Engines – Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.

NASA awarded Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. (PWR) a $1.2 billion contract 

in July 2007 to design, develop, and test the J-2X engine that will power the upper 

stage of the Ares I and Ares 5 launch vehicles. Powered by liquid oxygen and liquid 

hydrogen, the J-2X is an evolved variation of two historic predecessors: 

the J-2 upper stage engine that propelled the Apollo-era Saturn 1B and 

Saturn 5 rockets to the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s, and the J-2S, a 

simplified version of the J-2 developed and tested in the early 1970s 

but never flown. The J-2S turbopumps and related machinery were 

dem¬onstrated in the 1990s on the X-33 aerospike engine. The J-2X 

main injector hardware, a major component of the engine, is similar 

to the J-2 engine injector.20 In December 2007, NASA began testing 

core components of the J-2X on the A-1 Test Stand at NASA’s John C. 

Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The tests focused 

on the engine’s turbopumps. During the test, engineers ran liquid oxygen 

and liquid hydrogen through the turbopumps, monitoring their ducts, 

valves, and lines to verify the tightness of seals in the oxidizer lines and 

pumps. All test objectives were met with no anomalies noted.21 By 

November of 2008, the J-2X had passed its critical design review and was 

on track to commence full-scale testing in 2010.22

The J-2X will provide an estimated 1,308,000-Newtons (294,000-pounds-force) 

of thrust to power the Ares vehicles. The contract includes ground and test flight 

engines and extends through December 31, 2012.23

Liquid Rocket Engines – Space Exploration 

Technologies Corporation

In 2006, SpaceX began working on the Merlin 1C engine, a regeneratively-cooled 

successor to the ablatively-cooled Merlin 1A engine. The regeneratively-cooled 

Merlin 1C uses rocket propellant grade kerosene (RP-1), a refined form of jet 

fuel, to cool the combustion chamber and nozzle before combining it with the 

liquid oxygen to create thrust. This cooling allows for higher performance without 

significantly increasing engine mass.24

In its current Falcon 9 first-stage configuration, the Merlin 1C has a thrust at sea 

level of 423,000 Newtons (95,000 pounds-force), a vacuum thrust of over 480,000 

Newtons (108,000 pounds-force), vacuum specific impulse of 304 seconds and sea 

level thrust-to-weight ratio of 92.25

The J-2X engine
• 57 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Enabling Technologies

In July 2009, the Merlin 1C engine propelled the 

fifth Falcon 1 into orbit. SpaceX’s far larger Falcon 9 

rocket, due to make its maiden launch in February 

of 2010, will employ nine Merlin 1C engines on its 

first stage. 

A vacuum version of the Merlin 1C, with a larger 

bell nozzle and a much larger, radiatively cooled 

expansion nozzle that maximizes performance in 

the vacuum of space , will be used on the Falcon 9’s 

upper stage.26 Throughout 2009, SpaceX conducted 

numerous tests of the Merlin 1C vacuum engine, 

including a full six-minute mission duration firing. 

With a thrust of approximately 42,000 kilograms 

(92,500 pounds) of force in vacuum conditions, 

and a vacuum specific impulse of 342 seconds, the new engine demonstrated the 

highest efficiency ever for an American hydrocarbon rocket engine.27

In October 2009, SpaceX successfully conducted two static firings of the flightready first stage of its new Falcon 9 rocket. Using nine of its Merlin 1C engines, the 

10- and 30-second long firings generated nearly a million pounds (454,000 Kg) of 

thrust using RP-1 and LOX. The Merlin 1C engine is one of very few liquid rocket 

engines designed in the United States in the last three decades. The October tests 

cleared the way for the stage to travel to Cape Canaveral in preparation for the 

inaugural launch of the Falcon 9 in early 2010.28

Liquid Rocket Engines – Microcosm, Inc.

Microcosm has continued with developing its line of low-cost 

ablatively-cooled pressure fed engines. The 22,000 Newton 

(5000 pounds-force) engines have now been successfully flown 

on suborbital vehicles, and the newer 88,900 Newton (20,000 

pounds-force) engines have passed preliminary test firings. As 

of the end of 2009, the conceptual sizing of the large, Stage 3 

engine has been completed. It is of a standard Scorpius design, 

namely ablative, pressure-fed, burning LOX and kerosene, 

and is, essentially, scaled down from the Stage 3 engine of the 

proposed Sprite.29

Launch Abort System – Orbital Sciences Corporation

Orbital Sciences Corporation announced in September 2006 that it will build the 

Launch Abort System (LAS) for the NASA Orion CEV. Orbital is a member of the 

Lockheed Martin-led team selected to construct the Orion CEV and will receive 

approximately $250 million under subcontract to Lockheed Martin to construct 

the LAS.30 The LAS will be composed primarily of solid rocket motors, separation 

mechanisms, canards, and an adapter structure. The LAS will provide escape 

The Merlin 1C Vaccum engine 

on the test stand

Microcosm’s ablatively-cooled engine
• 58 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

capability for the Orion crew from pad operations through ascent. 

According to Orbital, the new design, using Orbital’s small launch 

vehicle technology, will improve flight crew safety as compared to 

current human space flight systems.31

The first full-scale test fire took place on November 20, 2008, at the 

ATK Launch Systems facility in Promontory, Utah. This is the first 

time such a test was conducted since the Apollo Program tested 

its launch escape system in the 1960s. The demonstration was the 

culmination of a series of motor and component tests conducted 

earlier in 2008 in preparation for a test with a mock-up.32 As of the end 

of 2009, the hardware underwent final testing and shipped to White 

Sands, NM for the Pad Abort 1 test, currently scheduled to take place 

in early 2010.33

Scramjet Propulsion – Pratt 

& Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.

By the end of 2007, Pratt & Whitney 

Rocketdyne, Inc. (PWR) along with its 

X-51A team members, including the 

U.S. Air Force, DARPA, NASA, and the 

Boeing Company, demonstrated operation 

and performance of the X-1 scramjet 

engine in the first simulated flight at Mach 5. The X-1 demonstrator engine, 

designated the SJX61-1, is a hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet featuring X-51A flight 

hardware. The X-51A flight test program plans to demonstrate scramjet engine 

technology within the Mach 4.5-6.5 range with four flight tests beginning in 2010. 

According to PWR, the program will set the foundation for several hypersonic 

applications including access to space.34 By the end of October 2008, the X-2 

scramjet engine, a developed version of the X-1, had completed ground testing.35

With ground-testing complete, the vehicle has been cleared for its inaugural test 

flights, which are expected to start in early 2010.

Stage Recovery System – Alliant Techsystems, Inc. & 

United Space Alliance, LLC

ATK and United Space Alliance successfully tested the world’s largest rocket stage 

recovery parachute system. In September and November 2007, the 46-meter (150-

foot) in diameter, 900-kilogram (2,000-pound) parachute carried a 19,000-kilogram 

(42,000 pound) weighted test unit safely to the Earth.36 The parachute is derived 

from the 41-meter (136-foot) main parachute currently used on the Space 

Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters. The larger parachute will be used by the new fivesegment solid rocket booster being developed for the Ares I first stage. In July 

of 2008, the drogue parachute system was successfully tested, being attached to 

a 10,800-kilogram (24,000-pound) test article.37 The first flight of the Ares 1-X 

took place on October 28, 2009. This was the first full-scale test of the new triple 

ATK’s November 20, 2008 test of 

the launch abort system

Artist concept of the X-51A in flight
• 59 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Enabling Technologies

parachutes. During splashdown, two of the three parachutes failed, 

causing the depleted first stage to hit the water harder than expected 

and denting it. This was not seen as a catastrophic failure though, and 

work is underway to determine the cause of the mishap.38

Spacecraft Navigation LIDAR – SpaceX

SpaceX demonstrated DragonEye, a new navigation sensor system, 

in proximity to the International Space Station (ISS). Carried in the 

payload bay of Space Shuttle Endeavour, the sensor was launched 

aboard NASA’s STS-127 mission on July 15, 2009.

Developed in just ten 

months from concept to final 

hardware, the DragonEye LIght Detection 

And Ranging (LIDAR) system provides 

three-dimensional images based on the 

amount of time it takes for a single laser 

pulse from the sensor to reach a target and 

bounce back. It further provides range 

and bearing information from the Dragon 

spacecraft to the ISS.

DragonEye will make its operational debut on the final flight of the Dragon 

spacecraft under SpaceX’s NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services 

(COTS) program, where the sensor will guide the Dragon spacecraft’s approaches 

to the ISS for berthing. According to SpaceX’s launch manifest, this should take 

place in 2010. It will subsequently fly aboard all 12 Dragon missions to re-supply 

the ISS under NASA’s ISS Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program.39

DragonEye’s test aboard STS-127

Damage to the first stage of the Ares 

1-X following the parachute malfunction 
• 60 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation
• 61 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

Table 2: Spaceport summary by state

State Nonfederal Federal Proposed

Alaska x

California x x

Florida x x

Kwajalein x

New Mexico x x

Oklahoma x

Texas x x

Virginia x x

Washington x

Wisconsin x

Wyoming x

Spaceports

Launch and reentry sites—sometimes referred to as 

“spaceports”—are the nation’s gateways to and from space. 

Although individual capabilities vary, these facilities may 

house launch pads and runways as well as the infrastructure, 

equipment, and fuels needed to process launch vehicles and 

their payloads before launch. Spaceports usually have access 

to airspace that is restricted to allow spaceflight operations 

that minimize danger to other aircraft and people on the 

ground. The first such facilities in the United States emerged 

in the 1940s when the federal government began to build and 

operate space launch ranges and bases to meet a variety of 

national needs. 

While U.S. military and civil government agencies were 

the original and still are the primary users and operators of 

these facilities, commercial payload customers have become 

frequent users of federal launch ranges. Federal facilities are not the only portals to 

and from space. Indeed, the commercial dimension of U.S. space activity is evident 

not only in the numbers of commercially procured launches but also in the presence 

of non-federal launch sites supplementing federally operated sites. 

Table 2 shows the states that have active non-federal, federal, and proposed 

spaceports. Figure 1 shows a map of active U.S. spaceports and launch sites. Nonfederal and federal U.S. spaceports capable of supporting launch and landing 

activities are described. A subsection detailing state and private proposals for future 

spaceports is also included.

Figure 1: US spaceports and launch sites
• 62 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Non-Federal Spaceports

While the majority of licensed launch activity still occurs at U.S. federal ranges, 

significant future launch and landing activity may originate from spaceports 

operated by private entities or state and local governments. For a non-federal entity 

to operate a launch or landing site in the United States, it is necessary to obtain a 

license from the federal government through the FAA. At present seven spaceports 

hold active FAA Launch Site Operator licenses. The newest licensed spaceport is 

Cecil Field in Florida which received its license on January 11, 2010.

Representatives from nine non-federal and proposed spaceports met in Florida 

in July 2009 to hold the Spaceports Executive Summit. The event was hosted by 

Space Florida and was focused on discussing the best practices and challenges the 

leaders face in further developing their spaceports.1

 The summit was followed by 

the formation of the Spaceports Council, under the guidance of the Commercial 

Spaceflight Federation, in October 2009. The Spaceports Council includes seven 

non-federal and proposed non-federal U.S. spaceports and three foreign spaceports 

that will work together on issues of common interest including airspace access, legal 

and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, international policy migration, liability, 

and voluntary common operating standards.2

 The Spaceports Executive Summit 

and the creation of the Spaceports Council represent strong steps towards the stable 

development of a network of non-federal spaceports within the United States.

However, competition among spaceports also exists. State governments in Virginia, 

Florida, and Texas have passed or are considering legislation that would limit 

the liability of “space flight entities.” These state incentives are part of a growing 

competition among states and the spaceports they represent to attract spaceflight 

vehicle manufacturers and operators. To attract more business, some spaceports are 

also marketing their facilities and access to restricted airspace to entice developers 

of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Blue Origin Launch Site 

Blue Origin’s West Texas launch site is private property where the company 

proposes to launch RLVs on suborbital, ballistic trajectories to altitudes in excess of 

99,000 meters (325,000 feet). The FAA issued Blue Origin the first experimental 

permit for a reusable suborbital rocket in September 2006. The first flight of 

Goddard, a subscale prototype of the company’s planned New Shepard vehicle, 

took place in November 2006; subsequent flights of Goddard took place in 2007.

As part of Phase 1 of the New Shepard Research 

Flight Demonstration Program, Blue Origin has 

selected three unmanned research payloads to fly 

on the New Shepard with the earliest possible 

unmanned flight opportunity in 2011 and 

crewed opportunities in 2012.3

Blue Origin Launch Site 

Location Van Horn in Culberson County, Texas 

Owner/Operator Blue Origin

Description Private property used by Blue Origin to test 

vertical launch vehicles

Infrastructure Van Horn Ranch is a 66,800 hectare (165,000 

acre) ranch with basic support infrastructure
• 63 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

California Spaceport 

On September 19, 1996, the California Spaceport 

became the first commercial spaceport licensed 

by the FAA. The California Spaceport offers 

commercial launch and payload processing services 

and is operated and managed by Spaceport Systems 

International (SSI), a limited partnership of 

ITT Federal Service Corporation. Co-located at 

VAFB on the central California coast, SSI signed 

a 25-year lease in 1995 for 0.44 square kilometers 

(0.17 square miles) of land. Located at 34 ̊ North 

latitude, the California Spaceport can support a variety of mission profiles to 

low-polar-orbit inclinations, with possible launch azimuths ranging from 220 ̊ 

to 165 ̊. California Spaceport supports satellite processing for many of VAFB’s 

launch sites via the Integrated Processing Facility (IPF). The IPF can maintain a 

clean room environment as high as class-1,000. In April 2008, the modification to 

the access tower at Level 5 of SLC-8 was completed to provide for class-100,000 

clean room operations.4

In September 2008, Orbital Sciences 

Corporation announced that the preparations 

to launch the Minotaur IV launch vehicle at 

VAFB/California Spaceport were complete.5

The inaugural flight of a Minotaur IV, carrying 

the SBSS 1 payload, is scheduled to take place 

in 2010 at the California Spaceport’s launch 

pad.6

 Two other Minotaur IV launches carrying 

the Hypersonic Technology Vehicles HTV-2a 

and HTV-2b will occur in early 2010.7

Cecil Field

Originally developed as a Naval Air Station, 

Cecil Field was proposed for closure by the Base 

Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process in 1993. 

Five years later, based on the recommendation of 

the Base Reuse Commission, Jacksonville Aviation 

Authority ( JAA) took ownership. The airport was 

identified as a potential launch site in the feasibility 

study of a Florida commercial spaceport. Space 

Florida has provided guidance and direction for 

developing the Cecil Field Spaceport.8

 On January 

11, 2010, Cecil Field was awarded an FAA launch license.

JAA has several new facilities under construction or in the planning phase. Hangar 

880, a 2,100-square-meter (23,000-square-foot) corporate jet maintenance and 

repair and overhaul (MRO) hangar began construction in 2008 and was completed 

in November 2009. Hangar 925, a 5,900-square-meter (64,000-square-foot) MRO 

California Spaceport 

Location Vandenberg AFB, California

Owner/Operator Space Systems International (SSI)

License Status Active FAA Launch Site Operator License

Description

Operating through a 25-year lease since 1995, 

California Spaceport offers commercial launch and 

payload processing, and supports a variety of 

mission profiles to low-polar-orbit inclinations.

Infrastructure Launch pads, runways, payload processing facilities, 

telemetry, and tracking equipment.

SLC-8

Cecil Field

Location Jacksonville, Florida

Owner/Operator Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA)

License Status Active FAA Launch Site Operator License

Description

Commercial spaceport supporting horizontal launch 

for commercial, government, and non-profit users. 

Cecil Field is a retired Naval Air Station.

Infrastructure

Four runways, 175 buildings, 8 aircraft hangars, 

an active air traffic control tower, warehouse, 

industrial, office, general use, and support facilities.
• 64 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

hangar with 1,500-square-meter (16,000-square-foot) shop and office space sized 

for up to three 767-type aircraft for MRO activities, is scheduled for construction 

in the summer of 2010 with completion in 2011.

JAA has land available for construction of another hangar facility on the southwest 

side of the airport that has been reserved for space operations when Cecil Field 

gains a spaceport tenant. JAA can assist with financing for hangar, assembly, and 

launch facilities.9

Kodiak Launch Complex

The Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC) is state owned and independently 

operated. The corporation has a conventional top-down business organization 

including a board of directors, CEO, President & COO, vice presidents, and 

directors who oversee focus areas. AAC’s corporate offices are in Anchorage, Alaska.

AAC’s core business area is space launch, and it developed, owns, 

and operates the Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC), a state-of-theindustry spaceport on Kodiak Island, Alaska, that provides access to 

space for commercial and government interests. The corporation’s 

charter includes more than space launch, and it therefore participates 

in other aerospace fields as well, such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems, 

Range and Spaceport consultation, and Range and Spaceport/

Launch Complex engineering/support services.

KLC is the nation’s high-latitude space launch facility, and it 

was designed specifically to support space launches to polar and 

high inclination orbits. Ballistic missions are launched from KLC as well. The 

spaceport offers unrestricted launch azimuths from 110 ̊ to 220 ̊, and unrestricted 

down range flight corridors that preclude need for energy consuming dog-leg 

flight segments. KLC facilities feature all-weather indoor processing; a certified 

range consisting of two internally redundant, GPS and telemetry tracking Range 

Safety and Telemetry Systems that mitigate single point failures, and fiber optic 

connectivity to the world. 

The Launch Operations Control Center includes an open architecture office 

bay with 60 offices. The Tech Control Center is the communications hub for 

the facility and is Defense Security Service certified for red communications. 

The Weather Forecast Office is staffed by certified meteorologists during launch 

missions and can simultaneously track up to six balloon-borne sondes. The Payload 

Processing Facility is a large structure that is designed to accommodate spacecraft 

preparation for flight including tanking of spacecraft reaction systems. Depending 

on the mission it can be operated as a class-100,000 clean room or as an ultra-clean 

class-10,000 clean room. 

The Integrated Processing Facility is KLC’s rocket assembly building. It is 

environmentally controlled and rockets are received and processed year-round in 

shirtsleeve comfort. Processed rockets are moved to Launch Pad (LP) 1 or 2 inside 

of the environmentally-controlled rail-mounted Spacecraft Assemblies Transfer 

RPT lift-off from LP 1 at Kodiak
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

Facility. This facility has doors on both ends that 

abut matching doors on the Integration Processing 

Facility and the Launch Service Structure at LP 1. 

For launches from LP 2, the Spacecraft Assemblies 

and Transfer Facility is parked over LP 2 until final 

launch operations commence. The Launch Service 

Structure at LP 1 is an environmentally controlled 

facility featuring 48 meters (157 feet) of hook 

height, four work platforms adjustable in 0.3 meter 

(one-foot) increments, and custom designed work 

platform inserts that accommodate various rocket 

classes up to 16 feet in diameter. LP 1 includes a 

flame trench rated to 4,900,000 Newtons 

(1.1 million pounds-force). 

As part of its business plan, AAC emphasizes 

maintaining KLC and keeping its infrastructure 

up to date. In 2009, major infrastructure related developments cost more than 

$8.25 million and included: replacement of KLC’s radar surveillance systems with 

a new single system that fulfills both surface and aerial surveillance requirements; 

installation of a second cell phone tower to broaden coverage; refurbishment 

of the road to the Narrow Cape Lodge (a commercial lodge located about three 

miles from the Range that is operated solely in support of KLC); floor repairs in 

the Integration Processing Facility; beginning construction of the Rocket Motor 

Storage Facility that will reduce motor shipping costs and support Operationally 

Responsive Space missions; and initiating design of the LP 3 and LP 4 complex.

Two space launch missions, both for the USAF using Minotaur IV vehicles, are 

scheduled for 2010.10

Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) is designed to provide “one-stopshopping” for space launch facilities and services for commercial, government, 

scientific, and academic users. Optimal orbital 

inclinations accessible from the site are between 38 

degrees and 60 degrees; other inclinations, including 

Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), can be reached through 

in-flight maneuvers. The FAA issued a launch site 

operator license to the Virginia Commercial Space 

Flight Authority (VCSFA) in December 1997. In 

July 2003, Virginia and Maryland created a bi-state 

agreement to operate, conduct future development of, 

and promote the spaceport, initially called the Virginia 

Space Flight Center. The agreement renamed the 

spaceport to MARS. 

Kodiak Launch Complex

Location Kodiak Island, Alaska

Owner/Operator Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC)

License Status Active FAA Launch Site Operator License

Description

Kodiak Launch Complex was the first commercial 

launch site located outside of a federal facility. 

Launch site for military, government, and 

commercial telecommunications, remote sensing, 

and space science payloads

Infrastructure

Launch Control Center with integral Launch 

Operations Control Center, Weather Forecast Office, 

and Tech Control Center; Maintenance and Support 

Facility; Instrumentation Field, Payload Processing 

Facility; Integration Processing (rocket assembly) 

Facility; mobile Spacecraft Assemblies Transfer 

Facility; two launch pads with two more in design; 

and a Rocket Motor Storage Facility 

Pad 0-B
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Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport

Location Wallops Island, Virginia

Owner/Operator Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority

License Status Active FAA Launch Site Operator License

Description

Commercial spaceport co-located with NASA’s 

Wallops Flight Facility that supports vertical 

and horizontal space launch for commercial, 

government, and non-profit users.

Infrastructure

Two orbital launch pads, multiple suborbital 

launching rails, payload processing and integration 

facilities, vehicle storage and assembly buildings, 

class-100,000 clean room, mobile liquid fueling 

capability, on-site and down range telemetry and 

tracking, and payload recovery capability.

Launch site infrastructure to support integration 

and launch of Orbital Sciences Corporation’s 

(OSC) Taurus II launch vehicle and other 

mid-class launch vehicles is currently under 

development at MARS. OSC aims to conduct 

its first International Space Station-bound 

transportation demonstration flight from 

MARS in early 2011.11 Approximately $75M 

in new processing and launch infrastructure 

are underway and will be completed by the end 

of 2010. In March 2009, the Virginia General 

Assembly approved $10-million in capital 

outlay to develop fueling support equipment, 

improvements to support buildings and services, 

and the development of a vehicle integration facility. The state legislature has 

committed $26-million in the past two years to the spaceport expansion.12 Pad 0-A 

will be renovated in order to support the Taurus II class of vehicles. According to 

OSC, the Taurus II program is expected to create 125 jobs split between the Dulles 

and Wallops Island locations.13

OSC won a $1.9-billion contract from NASA for cargo re-supply services to the 

International Space Station (ISS). Under this contract, OSC will launch eight ISS 

cargo re-supply missions from MARS between 2011 and 2015 using the Taurus II 

launch vehicle.14

Developing the new mid-to-heavy class launch capability at MARS includes 

an additional launch pad, launch mount, pad water deluge system, large 

capacity liquid fueling storage and transfer facility at the pad, a 1,100-squaremeter (21,000-square-foot) horizontal integration facility, a 230-square-meter 

(2,500-square-foot) payload propellant fueling facility, and the necessary 

transportation infrastructure to support the launch vehicle process flow. This work 

started in 2009 with completion expected in mid- to late-2010.

On May 19, 2009, the Air Force Research Laboratory successfully launched 

TacSat-3 from MARS.15

Mojave Air and Space Port

Mojave Air and Space Port (formerly Mojave Airport) in Mojave, California, 

became the first inland launch site licensed by the FAA on June 17, 2004, allowing 

Mojave Air and Space Port to support 

suborbital launches of RLVs. The Kern County, 

California, government established the Mojave 

Airport in 1935. The original facility was 

equipped with taxiways and basic support 

infrastructure for general aviation. A short 

time after its inception, the Mojave Airport 

became a Marine Auxiliary Air Station. The 

Mojave Air and Space Port largest general aviation airport in Kern County, 
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

Mojave Air and Space Port is owned and operated by the East Kern Airport 

District (EKAD), which is a special district with an elected Board of Directors and 

a General Manager. In late 2007, the FAA instituted safety-related amendments 

to the Mojave Air and Space Port launch site operator license. The FAA approved 

EKAD’s Launch and Recovery Site Boundaries, Mission Preparation Areas, and 

Energetic Liquids Storage Plan, November 2008.16

Hangar 161, one of the original hangars at Mojave 

Air and Space Port, was built by the Navy for the 

Mojave Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Station in 

1942. The hangar was demolished in May 2008 in 

order to build a larger structure for the Mojave’s 

National Test Pilot School.17

In August 2008, the East Kern Airport District 

qualified for a $1.7-million grant from the FAA to 

build an engine run-up pad adjacent to the approach 

to Runway 30 equipped with two tie-down points.18

The pads would allow aircraft engines from F-4 

fighters to Boeing 747-400 airliners to run-up 

engines during tests. Primary users of the pads would include the National Test 

Pilot School, BAE Flight Systems, and CalSpan’s Bicycle Works, which all operate 

jet aircraft. Runway 30 was recently extended to 3,800 meters (12,500 feet) using 

another FAA grant. The district also received three other FAA grants this fiscal year. 

In 2009, upgrades were approved to rebuild paving at the airport general aviation 

T-hangars at the west end of the airport, upgrade utilities, and install a new and 

larger water line to provide for future expansion. These upgrades are scheduled to be 

completed by March 2010.19

Mojave was the site of Masten Space Systems qualification for first place of the Level 

Two of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge on October 30, 2009.20

Oklahoma Spaceport

In 1999, the Oklahoma state legislature created the Oklahoma Space 

Industry Development Authority (OSIDA). The mission of OSIDA 

was to establish a spaceport in Oklahoma and on June 12, 2006, 

the Oklahoma Spaceport received its Launch Site Operators license 

from the FAA. The FAA license allows OSIDA to provide launch 

and support services for horizontally-launched suborbital RLVs at 

the Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark (CSIA) launch site, located 

near Burns Flat in Washita County. 

OSIDA has struggled to generate business at the Oklahoma Spaceport in recent 

years mainly due to the setbacks with space tourism company, Rocketplane Global, 

but has managed to continue operations through more concentrated efforts within 

the aerospace field. OSIDA is working with the University of Oklahoma and 

Oklahoma State University to help establish Oklahoma as a center for unmanned 

aerial systems development. The Oklahoma Spaceport’s infrastructure and access 

Mojave Air and Space Port

Location Mojave, California

Owner/Operator East Kern Airport District (EKAD)

License Status Active FAA launch site operator license. 

Description

An airport being used for flight testing, space 

industry development, and aircraft heavy 

maintenance and storage.

Infrastructure

Air traffic control tower, three runways, rotor test 

stand, engineering facilities, and high bay building. 

Easy access to restricted airspace. Space zoned 

specifically for rocket motor development and 

testing.

Oklahoma Spaceport
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Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

to special airspace are attractive for both 

spaceflight vehicle developers and unmanned 

systems.21

The Oklahoma Spaceport is the only spaceport 

with its own sub-orbital flight corridor strictly 

assigned to it. In July 2009, OSIDA executive 

director Bill Khourie stated that OSIDA has 

discussed the possibility of creating a pointto-point flight plan between the Oklahoma 

Spaceport and Spaceport America.22 During 

the year Armadillo Aerospace conducted flight 

testing for its vertical takeoff and landing 

vehicles in competition for the Northrop 

Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge.23

Spaceport America

Spaceport America is being developed for use by private companies and government 

organizations conducting space activities and operations. The state owns and 

operates the spaceport and will lease the facilities to the users. Virgin Galactic is an 

anchor customer that will locate its world headquarters at Spaceport America. 

Spaceport development continues to progress after NMSA received a launch 

site operator license from the FAA in December 2008. On December 31, 2008, 

Governor Bill Richardson announced a 20-year lease 

agreement between Virgin Galactic and the State of 

New Mexico, with Spaceport America as the new 

world headquarters for Virgin Galactic.24 Ground 

breaking for the spaceport occurred on June 19, 

2009. A new 3,000-meter-long (10,000-foot) by 

60-meter-wide (200-feet) runway is being built by 

David Montoya Construction, Inc., of Alameda, New 

Mexico. The runway is designed for day-to-day space 

tourism and payload launch operations and will be able 

to accommodate returning launch vehicles, fly-back 

rocket boosters, and other space launch and training 

vehicles. The runway is expected to be complete by late 

summer 2010.25

On October 10, 2009, Lockheed Martin Space Systems of Denver launched a 

proprietary rocket prototype from the spaceport, with UP Aerospace providing 

the launch services. The launch was reportedly successful and was the third time 

Lockheed has teamed with UP Aerospace.26

In November 2009, the New Mexico Spaceport Authority awarded a $32.5-million 

contract to Albuquerque-based Summit West to build Spaceport America’s new 

terminal-hangar facility. The three-floor, 10,200-square-meter (110,000-squarefoot) facility will serve as the headquarters of operations for Virgin Galactic, 

Oklahoma Spaceport

Location Washita County, Oklahoma

Owner/Operator Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority

License Status Active FAA Launch Site Operator License

Description Provides launch and support services for 

horizontally-launched suborbital RLVs

Infrastructure

A 4,100-meter (13,500-foot) runway; 5,200-squaremeter (50,000-square-foot) manufacturing 

facility; 2,800-square-meter (30,000-square-foot) 

maintenance and painting hangar; 6 commercial 

aircraft hangars, including a 2,800-square-meter 

(30,000-square foot) maintenance and paint 

facility; 39 hectare (96 acre) of concrete ramp, 

control tower, crash and rescue facility; and 435 

square kilometer (168 square miles) of land 

available for further construction.

Runway construction
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

considered the anchor-tenant company for the 

spaceport, as well as for the Spaceport Authority. 

Work began in mid-December 2009 and will finish 

within 12 months.27

On July 8, 2009, FNF New Mexico, LLC, of 

Albuquerque, NM, was awarded with the Site 

Enabling contract. FNF has experience in largescale construction projects including airports and 

highway construction and will design and execute 

a plan to facilitate the spaceport construction. The 

activities include preparing the site for construction 

and coordination with all contractors for site 

security, dust control, and other crucial functions.28

Federal Spaceports

Since the first licensed commercial orbital launch in 1989, the federal ranges 

have continually supported commercial launch activity in addition to handling 

government launch operations. The importance of commercial launches is evident 

in the changes taking place at federal launch sites. Launch pads have been developed 

with commercial, federal, and state government support at CCAFS and VAFB, the 

two major federal sites. These federal ranges also host pads for the Delta II, Delta IV, 

and Atlas V. Recognizing that the ranges are aging, the U.S. government is engaged 

in range modernization. This effort includes the ongoing Range Standardization 

and Automation program, a key effort to modernize and upgrade the Eastern 

Launch and Test Range at CCAFS and the Western Range at VAFB. 

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

The 45th Space Wing, headquartered at Patrick AFB, conducts launch operations 

and provides range support for military, civil, and commercial launches at CCAFS, 

located near Kennedy Space Center and the Space Florida Spaceport. The 45th 

Space Wing manages the Eastern Launch and Test Range (ELTR). The ELTR is 

used to gather and process data on a variety of East Coast launches and deliver it to 

range users. 

Staff throughout the 45th Space Wing provide vital support, including weather 

forecasts, launch and range operations, safety, and public affairs. The wing also 

provides its vast network of radar, telemetry, 

optical, and communications instrumentation 

to facilitate a safe launch on the Eastern 

Range.29

Users of CCAFS include the USAF, 

Navy, NASA, and various private industry 

contractors. The eastern range also supports 

the Space Shuttle launches and U.S. Navy 

submarine and ballistic missile testing. With its 

Spaceport America

Location Upham, New Mexico

Owner/Operator New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA)

License Status Active FAA launch site operator license

Description A commercial spaceport in development that will 

support vertical and horizontal space launch.

Infrastructure

Current infrastructure includes a launch pad, 

weather station, rocket motor storage facilities, 

and trailers. Planned infrastructure includes a 

central control facility, runway, maintenance and 

integration facility, launch and recovery complex, 

and a cryogenic plant.

Delta IV Heavy on SLC 37B
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Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

mission partners, CCAFS processes a variety of 

satellites and launches them on Atlas V, Delta II, 

Delta IV, and the upcoming Falcon 9 vehicles. 

2009 includes many highlights at CCAFS. Three 

Delta II launch vehicles deployed two GPS 

satellites and the STSS Demo satellites on-board. 

The Delta IV and Atlas V vehicles deployed 

two Wideband Global SATCOM satellites, the 

NRO L-26, the classified PAN satellite, and 

Intelsat-14. 

Edwards Air Force Base

The original landing site for the Space Shuttle, 

Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California, 

is the home of more than 250 first flights and 

about 290 world records. The first two Shuttle 

flights landed on Rogers Dry Lake, a natural, 

hard-pack lakebed, measuring about 114 square 

kilometers (44 square miles). Today, NASA 

prefers to use KSC as the primary landing 

site for the Space Shuttle and uses EAFB as 

a backup site. EAFB is the DoD’s premier flight test center, leading in unmanned 

aerial vehicle (UAV), electronic warfare, directed energy test capabilities, and 

testing of future hypersonic vehicles.

Space Shuttles Atlantis and Discovery landed 

at Edwards during 2009. The U.S. Air Force’s 

X-51A WaveRider vehicle, the fastest airbreathing, jet-fueled vehicle built in the U.S., 

is scheduled to fly from EAFB in 2010.30

On December 18, 2009, the Stratospheric 

Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, a modified 

747SP jet known as SOFIA, flew the first test 

flight from Edwards where the jet flew with a 

large door open on its side to allow its telescope 

to view the sky. More test flights from Edwards 

are planned for the airborne observatory in 

spring of 2010.31

Kennedy Space Center

Established as NASA’s Launch Operations Center in July 1962, Kennedy Space 

Center today serves as the primary launch site for NASA’s human spaceflight 

space missions. NASA KSC manages NASA’s requirements for using expendable 

launch vehicles flown primarily from CCAFS and VAFB with support from the 

USAF. NASA KSC and Space Florida are cooperating to establish a technology 

Edwards Air Force Base

Location Edwards AFB, California 

Owner/Operator U.S. Air Force

License Status N/A

Description

Landing site for Space Shuttle. DoD uses EAFB as 

a flight test center for unmanned aerial vehicle 

(UAV), electronic warfare, directed energy test 

capabilities, and testing of future hypersonic 

vehicles.

Infrastructure

Telemetry and tracking facilities, jet and Shuttle 

capable runways, reentry corridors, operations 

control center, movable hangar, fuel tanks, and 

water tower 

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Location Cape Canaveral, Florida

Owner/Operator U.S. Air Force

License Status N/A

Description

CCAFS conducts launch operations and provides 

range support for military, civil, and commercial 

launches. Home of the 45th Space Wing which 

oversees the Eastern Range.

Infrastructure

Telemetry and tracking facilities, jet and Shuttle 

capable runways, reentry corridors, operations 

control center, movable hangar, fuel tanks, water 

towers, and launch pads.

Atlantis takes off from EAFB
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

and commerce park at Kennedy Space Center. 

Exploration Park is expected to support 

expanded private sector participation in 

space exploration, support commercial space 

transportation, and promote commercial 

development of technologies for application in 

space and on Earth.32

NASA KSC is actively supporting the 

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services 

(COTS) demonstration. NASA KSC also is jointly developing with Space Florida a 

new space experiment platform called FASTRACK to use the emerging capabilities 

of the commercial suborbital vehicles and other carriers for science and technology 

experiments. An engineering unit of FASTRACK was test flown aboard Zero 

Gravity Corporation’s reduced gravity aircraft in September 2008.33

Work on transition of KSC’s Complex 39 to 

support the Constellation program has begun.34

With the upcoming Shuttle retirement in 2010, 

NASA’s Exploration and Systems Mission 

Directorate has assigned KSC new roles in the 

Constellation program such as final assembly duties 

for Orion and building the Altair landers.35

In 2009, KSC finished upgrades to pad 39B to 

support launch of the Ares I-X test rocket. The 

upgrades included three 180-meter (600-feet) high 

lightning towers The Fixed Service Structure on pad 

39A now features a V-shaped pair of arms to help stabilize the tall and skinny Ares 

I rocket. The Space Shuttle White Room, access arm for crew, and External Tank 

“beanie cap” vent were removed. Following the successful test of the Ares I-X the 

entire pad 39B is slated to be demolished and rebuilt.36

The KSC and Space Florida have partnered to enable developing a mixed-use 

technology and commerce park known as Exploration Park at Kennedy Space 

Center. Exploration Park will become home to diverse private sector technology 

and innovation enterprises, offering opportunities that support NASA’s mission, 

grow and deploy U.S. commercial space capabilities, and respond to national 

priorities in science and technology. KSC has established a flexible, long-term 

area development plan for Exploration Park. The initial phase is soon to be under 

design/construction by Space Florida and its selected master developer, Pizzuti. 

Up to 29,300 square meters (315,000 square feet) of planned floor space will 

be available for research/lab facilities, processing and light manufacturing, and 

offices. In addition, NASA and Space Florida plan to incorporate the existing 

9,300-square-meter (100,000-square-foot) Space Life Sciences Laboratory into the 

park, broadening the lab’s accessibility and use beyond NASA. 

Exploration Park is ideally located on KSC grounds in close proximity to launch, 

payload processing, and technical labs operated by NASA and by the U.S. Air 

Kennedy Space Center

Location Cape Canaveral, Florida

Owner/Operator NASA

License Status N/A

Description

Primary launch and landing site for NASA’s 

human spaceflight missions and also procures and 

oversees expendable launch vehicle services for 

NASA missions.

Infrastructure

Launch pads, supporting Space Shuttle operations, 

Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), and Shuttle 

Landing Facility

Ares I-X rocket on pad 39B
• 72 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Force on neighboring Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It offers easy and reliable 

24/7 access for clients, workers, and visitors because it is located just outside the 

restricted access portion of KSC. The park is serviced with all necessary utilities 

and emergency services, and will offer sites ready for development and leases within 

dedicated or multi-tenant facilities.

NASA launched a Delta II carrying Kepler and an Atlas V carrying the Lunar 

Reconaissance Orbiter & Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite 

(LCROSS) in 2009. NASA successfully launched Space Shuttle missions STS-119, 

STS-125, STS-127, STS-128, and STS-129 during 2009. NASA also performed 

the successful launch of the Ares I-X suborbital test in October 2009.

Reagan Test Site

Located at Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Republic 

of the Marshall Islands, the U.S. Army’s Reagan 

Test Site (RTS) is part of the DoD Major 

Range and Test Facility Base (MRTFB). The 

first Naval Station was established on Kwajalein 

after World War II and management of the 

facility was turned over to the Army in 1964. 

The facilities have gone through a series of 

infrastructure upgrades and names resulting in 

the Ronald Reagan ballistic Missile Defense 

Test Site (RTS), which has been operating under that name since 2001. The 

advantages of RTS include its strategic geographical location, allowing launch in 

virtually all azimuths; unique instrumentation; and ability to support ballistic 

missile testing and space operations. RTS is completely instrumented to support 

space launch customers with radar, telemetry, optics, and range safety systems. As a 

U.S. Army DoD MRTFB, RTS receives annual federal funding in addition to direct 

cost reimbursement from customers. 

In 2009, development continued on fiber 

connectivity to the continental U.S., specifically 

Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. 

The Kwajalein Space Operations Control 

Center (KSPOCC) in Huntsville supports 

space operations using satellites until the fiber 

installation is complete in mid-2010. At that 

time, customers will have the flexibility to 

conduct missions from either the Huntsville 

facility or Kwajalein. A launch pad on Omelek 

Island was constructed in 2006 to support space 

launch missions, including those conducted by 

SpaceX. 

In July 2009, the RazakSAT satellite was 

successfully launched from Reagan Test Site 

by Flight 5 of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle. 

Reagan Test Site

Location Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands

Owner/Operator U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

License Status DoD Spaceport

Description

The Reagan Test Site (RTS) conducts 24/7 

space control operations to provide space 

situational awareness, and protect key space 

assets supporting U.S. Central Command, U.S. 

Pacific Command, and U.S. Northern Command. 

Launch facilities support space launch as well as 

scientific, tactical, and strategic missile launches. 

Infrastructure

Telemetry, radars, and optical tracking systems, 

ship-based telemetry/safety system, mission control 

facility, wideband connectivity with the continental 

U.S., multiple safety systems and launch facilities, 

runway, warehouse and industrial use space, user 

and engineering office space

Falcon 1 launch from Omelek
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

Preparations are underway to support the larger Falcon 1e and Falcon 9 SpaceX 

vehicles in the near future.37

Vandenberg Air Force Base

VAFB is currently the headquarters of the 30th Space 

Wing and the Air Force Space Command organization 

responsible for all DoD space and ballistic activities 

for the West Coast. All of the U.S. satellites destined 

for near-polar orbit launch from the Western Range 

at VAFB. The 30th Space Wing Western Range 

Operations Control Center provides flight safety, 

weather, scheduling, instrumentation control, vehicle 

designation information, and tracking data to and from 

inter- and intra-range sensors in real or nearly real-time 

for ballistic and space launch support. Range tracking 

capabilities extend over the Pacific Ocean as far west as 

the Marshall Islands, as far north as Alaska, and as far 

south as Central America. Vandenberg is host to the 

14th Air Force Headquarters and the Joint Functional 

Component Command for Space.

In January 2008, construction began on a new 

facility for the incoming 21st Space Operations 

Squadron. This facility will house command and 

control instruments as well as satellite operators 

to support the space mission. These operations 

included missile warning systems, meteorological 

data, NASA launch and re-entry missions, and 

intelligence related projects.

Preparations for the March 2008 launch of 

Atlas V required major modifications to Space 

Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3). The first of these 

modifications was a 10-meter (30-foot) high 

extension to the mobile service tower to house the rocket during its construction. 

In addition, there was a 6-meter (20-foot) depth increase in the exhaust duct to 

direct the rocket exhaust. The base also built a new 227-metric ton (250-ton) 

platform to carry the weight of the rocket and made numerous improvements to 

the SLC-3 ground systems and control centers.38

SLC-6 is currently undergoing a series of renovations to enable launching the 

Delta IV Heavy. Currently the pad is configured to launch the standard Delta IV 

Common Core Booster. Additional infrastructure is required to launch the Delta 

IV Heavy. Pad modifications should be complete in 2010.39

Vandenberg’s launch range assisted in launching a Taurus XL carrying NASA’s 

Orbiting Carbon Observatory in February 2009. VAFB’s SLC-2 launched four 

Delta II vehicles in 2009 carrying the NOAA-N Prime weather satellite, the Missile 

Vandenberg Air Force Base

Location Vandenberg AFB, California

Owner/Operator U.S. Air Force

License Status N/A

Description

Headquarters of the 30th Space Wing and the Air 

Force Space Command organizations responsible 

for all DoD space and ballistic activities for the 

West Coast.

Infrastructure

Launch pads, vehicle assembly, and processing 

buildings, payload processing facilities, telemetry 

and tracking facilities, control center, engineering, 

user office space, and Shuttle-capable runways

Tower roll back at SLC-2
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Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Defense Agency’s Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology 

Risk Reduction spacecraft, DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 Earth imaging satellite, 

and NASA’s WISE scientific satellite. An Atlas V launched from SLC-3 carrying a 

military weather satellite in October 2009. 

Wallops Flight Facility

The predecessor of NASA, the National 

Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 

(NACA), established an aeronautical and 

rocket test range at Wallops Island, Virginia, 

in 1945. Since then, over 16,000 NASA, DoD, 

and commercial rocket launches have taken 

place from the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), 

which is operated for NASA by the Goddard 

Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland. 

The successful launch of TacSat-3 on May 19, 2009, marked Wallops’ and the colocated Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s third successful Minotaur I launch. 

On July 8, 2009, Wallops conducted a successful demonstration of NASA’s 

Max Launch Abort System (MLAS), a 

technology test of an alternative concept for 

safely conducting an abort of the Orion Crew 

Module, in the event of a failure of the Ares 

I booster. In addition to several other major 

suborbital science missions, Wallops also 

launched NASA’s Inflatable Reentry Vehicle 

Experiment (IRVE-2), a sounding rocket flight 

that carried the first successful demonstration 

of an inflatable ballute, a potential concept for 

either Earth or planetary reentry.

White Sands Missile Range

Once exclusively military, White Sands 

Missile Range (WSMR) today attracts other 

government agencies, foreign nations, and 

private industry to its world-class test facilities. 

The largest overland test range in America, 

WSMR is operated by the U.S. Army and used 

by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, 

and MDA. It is also home to the NASA White 

Sands Test Facility. Situated 26 kilometers (16 

miles) northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico, 

this range covers 8,100 square kilometers 

(3,127 square miles).

Wallops Flight Facility

Location Wallops Island, Virginia

Owner/Operator NASA

License Status N/A

Description

A federally funded research, development, and 

testing facility supporting vertical launch and 

aircraft based launch.

Infrastructure

Runway, telemetry and tracking facilities, 

integration & testing facilities, Class-100,000 clean 

room for spacecraft. Co-located with Mid-Atlantic 

Regional Spaceport (MARS).

Wallops Flight Facility

Orion launch abort test pad
• 75 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

In June 2008, Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire 

Control conducted a test to launch a GPS-guided 

rocket from a wheeled launcher to shoot down 

targets at the White Sands Missile Range.40

In September 2008, NASA and Pratt & Whitney 

Rocketdyne tested the methane-fueled RS-18 

engine at the WSMR. The RS-18 engine was 

built by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and 

modified under NASA’s Exploration Technology 

Development Program. This program is developing 

rocket engine and propulsion technologies for 

future missions to the Moon and Mars.41

Several demonstration flights for the Orbital Science’s Orion launch abort 

system will take place at the White Sands Missile Range. In March 2009, NASA 

completed work on a launch complex that will serve as the test site for the Orion 

launch abort system. The first launch abort system test is scheduled for early 2010.42

Proposed Spaceports

Eight states plan to develop spaceports offering a variety of launch and landing 

services. Two common characteristics of many of the proposed spaceports are 

inland geography—a contrast to the coastal location of most present-day U.S. 

spaceports—and interest in hosting RLV operations. While some proposed 

spaceports are focused on offering facilities for launch into space as soon as possible, 

other spaceports are focusing on facilities to provide public spaceflight education 

with plans for hosting spaceflights in the long-term. This year new profiles have 

been added for proposed spaceports in Hawaii and Indiana. Spaceport supporters 

in North Carolina have discussed the possibility of creating a spaceport within the 

state but their efforts are in the early stages.43

Space Florida Spaceport

Space Florida was created on May 30, 2006, when then-Florida 

Governor Jeb Bush approved Florida House Bill 1489. Space Florida 

consolidates the state’s previous space and aerospace entities and 

coordinates all space-related issues in Florida. Under an arrangement 

between the federal government and Space Florida, excess CCAFS 

facilities were licensed to Space Florida for use by commercial launch 

service providers on a dual-use, non-interference basis.

The U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center / Space Development and 

Test Wing (SMC/SDTW) at Kirtland AFB, NM released a Request for Proposal 

in late May 2009. They had identified Florida as one of four states pre-qualified 

to respond to the two task orders identified to provide launch facilities, launch 

site, operations support, range and range integration support, logistics support, 

facility engineering, and program support for Minotaur V launches. Space Florida 

provided a proposal response at the end of June to provide LC-46 and Area 57 

White Sands Missile Range

Location White Sands, New Mexico

Owner/Operator U.S. Army

License Status N/A

Description

WSMR provides missile test range facility not just 

for the U.S. military but for other government 

agencies, foreign nations, and private industry. 

After KSC and EAFB, WSMR is the Space Shuttle’s 

tertiary landing site.

Infrastructure

Full telemetry and tracking facilities, runway 

engine and propulsion testing facilities, class-100 

clean room for spacecraft parts.

RLV hangar, Space Florida Spaceport
• 76 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Solid Motor Processing Area for launch and processing. This proposal is currently 

being evaluated.44

In June 2009, Space Florida and United Launch Alliance (ULA) completed a 

refinancing of the outstanding conduit debt on Launch Complex 41 (LC-41) 

at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This transaction was concurrent with the 

transfer of the ground lease with the U.S. Air Force from Lockheed Martin to 

ULA. Approximately $92-million in outstanding debt was refinanced, with liability 

for repayment transferred from Lockheed Martin to ULA.45

Space Florida provided SpaceX with several 

surplus NASA pressure vessels in 2009. Space 

Florida paid to relocate the pressure vessels 

from Santa Susanna, California, to LC-40. 

SpaceX was awarded a contract under NASA’s 

Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) valued 

at $1.6 billion for 12 cargo flights to the 

International Space Station over six years. Space 

Florida has under active consideration several 

requests from SpaceX for additional financial 

assistance to prepare LC-40 for these flights, 

and will work with the Florida Legislature and 

the U.S. Congress in 2010 to identify additional 

ways and means for supporting these requests.46

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Space 

Florida have partnered to enable the 

development of a mixed-use technology and 

commerce park known as Exploration Park 

at Kennedy Space Center. Exploration Park will become home to diverse private 

sector technology and innovation enterprises, offering opportunities that support 

NASA’s mission, grow and deploy U.S. commercial space capabilities, and respond 

to national priorities in science and technology.47

KSC has established a flexible, long-term area development plan for Exploration 

Park. The initial phase is soon to be under design and construction by Space Florida 

and its selected Master Developer, Pizzuti. Up to 29,300 square meters (315,000 

square feet) of planned floor space will be available for research/lab facilities, 

processing and light manufacturing, and offices. In addition, NASA and Space 

Florida plan to incorporate the existing 9,300-square-meter (100,000-square-foot) 

Space Life Sciences Laboratory into the park, broadening the lab’s accessibility and 

use beyond NASA. Exploration Park is ideally located on KSC grounds in close 

proximity to launch, payload processing, and technical labs operated by NASA and 

by the U.S. Air Force on neighboring Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It offers 

easy and reliable 24/7 access for clients, workers, and visitors because it is located 

just outside the restricted access portion of KSC. The park is serviced with all 

necessary utilities and emergency services, and will offer sites ready for development 

or leases within dedicated or multi-tenant facilities.48

Space Florida Spaceport

Location Cape Canaveral, Florida

Owner/Operator Space Florida

License Status

Space Florida’s license application is in process 

for Launch Complex-46 and the application for 

Launch Complex-36 is drafted

Description

Launch sites for vertical take-off commercial 

launch vehicles. Space Florida received $4 million 

in direct state appropriations to support its 

operations for fiscal year 2009.

Infrastructure

Three commercial orbital launch complexes with 

a remote control center, one suborbital launch 

complex with two pads and a blockhouse, an 

off-site solid rocket motor storage facility that 

includes heavy rail access, a 27-m (90-ft) high 

bay with overhead cranes, a 5,200-square-meter 

(50,000-square-foot) RLV support hangar adjacent 

to the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility runway, and a 

9,290-square-meter (100,000-square-foot) Space Life 

Sciences Lab at KSC.
• 77 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

Space Florida entered into a joint venture agreement in March 2009 with 

Astrotech, a provider of payload integration services for the military, NASA, and 

commercial markets. This agreement provides the framework for Space Florida and 

Astrotech to engage in collaborative ventures that will result in more space-related 

business for Florida. Possibilities include:

• A “turn-key” type service for commercial satellite operators, allowing the 

operator to procure payload integration and launch services in one bundled 

package;

• Outsourcing operation of commercial satellites on orbit; and

• A mechanism to use Space Florida’s status as an Independent Special District 

of the state to procure/provide some type of secondary reinsurance for 

commercial payloads launched from Florida.

Spaceport Hawaii

In July 2009, Hawaiian lawmakers approved 

$250,000 in funding to develop a launch site.49

This marked the first step in what is expected to 

be a multi-year process of environmental 

impact analyses and community impact surveys 

that spaceport proponents hope will result in 

establishing Spaceport Hawaii.50 Spaceport planners 

are currently considering two main options. The 

first would be a commercial suborbital space 

tourism site, where space vehicles would lift off and 

land on the same runway, most likely a converted 

airstrip at Kona International Airport in Keahole, 

Hawaii (on the “Big Island”). The second option 

would be the world’s first infrastructure for 

suborbital point-to-point travel. Vehicles would depart from Kona International 

Airport, ascend to a suborbital altitude of 105 kilometers (65 miles), and land 

approximately 550 kilometers (340 miles) to the west at Kalaeloa Airport on the 

island of O’ahu 45 minutes later.51 This second option is seen as a possible prelude 

to regular trans-Pacific suborbital point-to-point travel—for instance, flights from 

Hawaii to Tokyo with greatly reduced travel times.

Rocketplane Global has expressed early interest in serving the suborbital point-topoint route using its proposed Rocketplane XP vehicle. Rocketplane’s plan calls for 

a Spaceport Hawaii Visitor’s Center at Kalaeloa Airport, featuring a space camp, 

flight simulators, and other space exhibits.52

Spaceport Hawaii

Location Kona International Airport, Keahole, Hawaii

Owner/Operator Hawaiian Office of Aerospace Development

License Status State legislature has allocated $250,000 to fund 

license application

Description

Spaceport Hawaii is exploring two options: a 

commercial suborbital space tourism launch site; 

and/or a suborbital point-to-point transportation 

service connecting two Hawaiian islands

Infrastructure

A main runway at Kona International Airport; 

possibly a secondary takeoff and landing runway 

at Kalaeloa Airport on the island of Oahu 

featuring a visitor’s center, space camp, and flight 

simulators
• 78 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Space Port Indiana

In May 2008, Space Port IndianaTM, Inc. (SPI) began conducting rocket launches 

from its facilities, and offering opportunities for various types of tests including 

microgravity, radiation hardened testing, power systems, and rocket engines. 

It also conducts regularly scheduled high 

altitude balloon launches and heavy lifting 

balloon launches are also available. Space Port 

IndianaTM, Inc. also conducts high altitude tests of 

equipment and suits to be worn by commercial 

space travelers. In a partnership with the Purdue 

College of Technology-Columbus, the National 

Centre for Future Space Exploration was formed 

and is located in Columbus, Indiana.53

The National Centre for Future Space 

Exploration was created to serve as a pipeline 

for the people of Indiana to gain skills and 

employment in an industry that will require 

ground operations, tracking, telemetry, payload 

integration, environmental services, and a host 

of other skills. The curriculum offered by the 

Centre will support the needs of industry including OEMs, airports, DHS, FEMA, 

and military agencies.54 On November 23, the Commercial Spaceflight Federation 

announced the formation of the Spaceports Council, of which Space Port IndianaTM, 

Inc. is a member.

Spaceport Sheboygan

On August 29, 2000, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation officially 

approved creating Spaceport Sheboygan, located on Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, 

Wisconsin. The city of Sheboygan owns the spaceport, which strives to support 

space research and education through suborbital launches for student projects. The 

centerpiece of Spaceport Sheboygan will be the proposed Great Lakes Aerospace 

Science & Education Center (GLASEC). This facility is proposed to use the 

Sheboygan armory and provide 4,600 square meters (50,000 square feet) of space 

to provide space travel, math, and science oriented education center. The center will 

include hands-on multi-sensory exhibits, a theatre and planetarium, and a mission 

control facility that will provide simulated space missions from launch to landing. 

By December 2009, five million dollars has been raised of the $11 million to open 

GLASEC.55

Suborbital sounding rocket launches to altitudes of up to 55 kilometers (34 miles) 

have been conducted at the site. Additionally, Rockets for Schools, a student 

program founded in Wisconsin by Space Explorers, Inc., and developed by the 

Aerospace States Association, has conducted suborbital launches at Spaceport 

Sheboygan since its inception in 1995. Each year, hundreds of students from 

Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan participate in these launches. Currently, 

Space Port Indiana

Location Columbus, Indiana

Owner/Operator Space Port Indiana, Inc.

License Status State legislature has allocated $250,000 to fund 

license application

Description

Space Port Indiana is designed to offer military, 

industry, and educational organization low cost 

access to a safe, secure, and equipped location to 

test ground, air and near space activities.

Infrastructure

Located at the Columbus Municipal Airport 

with access to controlled airspace and adjacent 

special use Airspace, a rocket test cell that can 

accommodate up to 13,000 newtons (3,000 

pounds of thrust), and telemetry, tracking, 

GPS, communications, guidance, and air space 

management tools.
• 79 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Spaceports

Rockets for Schools is a volunteer run program of 

the Great Lakes Spaceport Education Foundation. 

Over 1,500 kids participated in activities at the 

Spaceport Sheboygan site. 

The Wisconsin Aerospace Authority (WAA) was 

created in 2006 and is tasked with promoting the 

aerospace industry and education for the aerospace 

sector in Wisconsin, as well as the creation of and 

promotion of a spaceport in Sheboygan. Although 

Spaceport Sheboygan is currently focused on 

education, in the long-term supporters hope 

the facility could be used to launch vehicles into 

space. The WAA held a press conference as part 

of the Rockets for Schools event, in May 2009, 

announcing the release of their Strategic Plan and a 

student logo design contest. The WAA Board met 

last in October 2009.56

Inactive Spaceports

The following proposed spaceports have shown interest in developing spaceflight 

infrastructure but have not announced significant progress in recent years.

Spaceport Sheboygan

Location Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Owner/Operator Owner: City of Sheboygan; Operator: Rockets for 

Schools

License Status Have not applied

Description

Spaceport Sheboygan conducts suborbital sounding 

rocket launches for the purpose of educating 

students and the general public.

Infrastructure

Portable launch pads, equipment, and facilities, 

including mission control. Proposed for renovation 

adjacent to the launch pads, the proposed Great 

Lakes Aerospace Science and Education Center will 

serve as a hands-on space travel-oriented center 

focusing on math and science education and 

tourism. Plans for developing additional launch 

infrastructure are ongoing and include creating 

a development plan that includes support for 

additional suborbital and future orbital RLV 

operations. Sheboygan is located near an airport 

and has access to “restricted airspace over Lake 

Michigan.

Inactive Spaceports

Chugwater Spaceport

Location Platte Country, Wyoming

Owner/Operator Private Owner

License Status Have not applied

Description A private decommissioned Atlas-E launch site used by a number of small companies to develop 

and test rocket equipment.

Infrastructure

The Chugwater Spaceport was originally an Atlas E missile base outside of Chugwater, Wyoming, 

built in 1960 and decommissioned in 1965. Designed to store and launch a complete Atlas E 

ICBM, the facilities are designed with many special amenities for rocketry. In March 2006, Frontier 

Astronautics bought the property and began renovation to use it as a launch site. Since the last 

change in ownership, maintenance work has been performed to get original military equipment 

operational. No updates reported in 2009.

South Texas Spaceport

Location Willacy County, Texas

Owner/Operator Willacy County Development Corporation for Spaceport Facilities

License Status Have not applied

Description

A private site designated as a spaceport adjacent to the Charles R. Johnson Airport. Launches to 

be conducted from spoil islands or barges in the Mansfield ship channel. The site initially may 

support the suborbital and small orbital launch systems currently in service or being developed for 

service in the near future, with a long-term focus on RLVs

Infrastructure Road, fire hydrants, metal building with offices and bathrooms, and a concrete slab.
• 80 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Inactive Spaceports

Spaceport Alabama

Location No land has been acquired but possible location in Baldwin County

Owner/Operator Spaceport Alabama Program Office at Jacksonville State University

License Status Have not applied

Description

Proposed as a next-generation spaceport, Spaceport Alabama will be a full-service departure and 

return facility, supporting orbital and suborbital space access vehicles. Under the current spaceport 

development plan, a spaceport facility could become operational within 10 years, depending on 

market demand.

Infrastructure

Plans call for developing an R&D park, a commerce park, supporting community infrastructure, 

intermodal connectivity, and other services and infrastructure necessary for providing a turnkey 

capability in support of space commerce, R&D, national security, science, and related services are 

also included in this plan.

Spaceport Washington

Location Grant County International Airport, Washington

Owner/Operator Port of Moses Lake

License Status Have not applied

Description Spaceport Washington, a public and private partnership, proposes to use Grant County International 

Airport for horizontal and vertical take-offs and horizontal landings of all classes of RLVs.

Infrastructure

A 4,100-meter (13,452-foot) main runway and 3,200 meter (10,500-foot) crosswind runway. 

A 12,100-hectare (30,000-acre) potential vertical launch site has been identified. An Aerospace 

Overlay Zone has been established in the Grant County Unified Development Code. The site is 

certified as an emergency-landing site for the Space Shuttle. Additional infrastructure development 

could occur depending on customer response.

West Texas Spaceport

Location Pecos County, Texas

Owner/Operator Pecos County/West Texas Spaceport Development Corporation

License Status Have not applied

Description

The Pecos County/West Texas Spaceport Development Corporation is developing a spaceport at a 

sparsely populated location with underused national airspace. Currently the West Texas Spaceport is 

mainly an R&D site for UAVs and suborbital rockets.

Infrastructure

The Greasewood site in Pecos County has an air conditioned control center, an industrial strength 

concrete pad, and a 30x30 meter (300x300 feet) scraped and level staging area, broadband 

internet on site, controlled fenced access, a 1,300-square-kilometer (500-square-mile) recovery 

area, and access to optical tracking and high-speed video capability. The Pecos County Airport has 

five runways with hangar space. Future infrastructure plans include developing a privately-funded 

1,100-meter (3,500-foot) runway, a static engine test facility, and a hangar for balloon and wind 

sensitive activities.

Inactive Spaceports (Cont’d)
• 81 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Training

Commercial Human Spaceflight

Training

Introduction

Commercial human spaceflight vehicles under development are stimulating interest 

in training services for flight crew and participants. Within the United States, 

a handful of training services are emerging. These organizations offer a range of 

services including medical screening and flight preparation, flight simulation 

training, flights in high performance aircraft, devices that simulate the stresses 

of space launch and re-entry, or zero-g (gravity) parabola flights that simulate 

microgravity. This chapter focuses on the capabilities and milestones developed in 

2009 for organizations that are creating or offering services tailored for commercial 

human spaceflight training.

A number of training services focus on rigorous training programs for launch 

vehicle flight crews. Other types of training are designed to help prepare and screen 

spaceflight participants. Finally, training is offered as entertainment for those 

seeking to experience simulated spaceflight or the astronaut training experience. 

This chapter includes organizations that focus on one or more types of training.

Aurora Aerospace

Aurora Aerospace offers customized courses on spaceflight training and medical 

screening for spaceflight.1

 These courses are appropriate for those interested in 

space travel or who have an interest 

in experiencing some of the training 

and educational aspects involved 

in spaceflight. Participants have the 

opportunity to fly an L-39 high 

performance military jet and experience 

zero gravity in a specially configured 

aircraft. Ground-based training includes 

spatial disorientation training in a 

multi-axis disorientation machine 

(“MAD Machine”) and a spacecraft simulator where students can learn orbital 

and suborbital flight procedures. High altitude/hypoxia training is offered as a 

standalone training option for pilots. Aurora Aerospace facilities and equipment 

include an L-39 Albatross jet, 

Rockwell 700 Zero Gravity 

aircraft, “MAD Machine,” and a 

spacecraft simulator with hypoxia/

high altitude equipment. Aurora 

Aerospace also offers type ratings 

in their L-39 jet as well as upset 

training for pilots. 

A zero-gravity flight

Location Tampa Bay, Florida

Company 

Description

Aurora Aerospace is an organization based at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater 

Airport offering commercial spaceflight training and medical screening for 

spaceflight.

Overview of 

Services

High Performance Jet, Zero-g (gravity) Flights, High Altitude/Hypoxia Training, 

Spatial Disorientation Training, Simulator Training, Unusual Attitude Training, 

High-g (gravity), and High Performance Glider Training.
• 82 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

The company officially launched its full range of space training services at the 2009 

Space Investment Summit in association with the National Space Society. Aurora 

Aerospace donated free space training to the Space Frontier’s Foundation New 

Space 2009 auction and a “Space Camp Day” for CAP cadets. The organization 

attended public events such as Sun’n Fun and various air shows and the 2009 

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Aviation Summit. Aurora 

Aerospace was recognized as the official space training facility for the non-profit 

organization “Americans-in-Orbit 50 Years”.

Barrios Technology

Founded in 1980, Barrios is headquartered in Houston, Texas, near NASA’s 

Johnson Space Center, where it works with NASA’s human spaceflight programs. 

Also, Barrios has an office in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that focuses on space 

systems support for the Department of Defense. Currently, Barrios uses NASA 

facilities for training purposes. Future business opportunities may enable Barrios 

to develop their own facilities or work out agreements with other organizations to 

acquire access to spaceflight training equipment and facilities.2

Civilian Aero and Space Training Academy

The company began operating in the state of Washington on October 4, 2006, 

and has plans for highly reusable launch vehicle operations at the proposed 

Washington Spaceport. In 2008, the Civilian Aero and Space Training Academy 

(CASTA) entered into a joint venture to use an existing centrifuge with multiRLV platform simulation and spatial disorientation training software.

In 2009, CASTA expanded its six-day training 

program in a joint venture with Alphajetsusa.

com and added a wilderness survival training 

program using helicopter drop off. CASTA 

developed a zero-gravity flight program in 

house under Title 14 Part 91 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations. CASTA now offers access 

to supersonic and training jets that provide 

high-G/high-altitude flights. Training on 

Location Houston, Texas

Company 

Description Barrios Technology is an aerospace engineering and technology services firm. 

Overview of 

Services

Requirements definition, curriculum development, training products and training 

services for: spaceflight crewmembers, mission/flight controllers, ground systems 

personnel, space vehicle flight simulation and special facilities, and simulation 

planning and execution. Barrios’ instruction products and services follow formal 

Instructional Systems Design with the five elements of analyze, design, develop, 

implement, and evaluate. Using an iterative process with evaluations performed 

throughout the life cycle, training objectives are effectively met.

Wilderness training helicopter
• 83 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Training

helicopters, gliders, and other light aircraft following traditional American and 

Russian methods are still offered. Each six-day CASTA training program will have 

one or more lectures and classes 

conducted by former astronauts 

or cosmonauts with experience 

in Apollo, Soyuz, Shuttle, and 

ISS flights and training. Medical 

screening is conducted with 

an FAA flight surgeon before 

graduation, and qualification 

certificates will be issued.3

Executive Aerospace Physiology Training

Executive Aerospace began offering physiological and high altitude training in 

1994. Based at IEEM, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, the Executive Aerospace 

facilities include a classroom and large and advanced hypo/hyperbaric chamber 

facilities. The chamber can simulate altitudes of 30,000 meters (100,000 feet) above 

sea level and simulate depths to 50 meters (165 feet) below sea level at controlled 

rates of descent and ascent. 

Benjamin D. Levine, M.D., F.A.C.C., Director of IEEM, Presbyterian Hospital 

of Dallas and Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at the University of Texas 

Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, maintains overall responsibility for 

the Executive Aerospace Physiology Program. He has served on national and 

international panels advising NASA on the appropriate screening strategies to 

minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease in astronauts during prolonged space 

flight, as well as the optimal use of a National Lunar Laboratory.4

IEEM investigators have been actively involved in almost every dedicated lifesciences mission on the Space Shuttle, as well as the largest medical experiment in 

the International Space Station.

Location Arlington, Paine Field, and Moses Lake, Washington

Company 

Description

The Civilian Aero and Space Training Academy (CASTA), under the direction of D 

Joseph Sandlin, is developing the Civilian Aero and Space Training Academy.

Overview of 

Services

Physiological training, psychological training, unusual attitude training, high-g 

(gravity), high altitude flight, high performance jet, flight simulation, space 

flight operations, neutral buoyancy training, survival training: water and 

mountain/wilderness, pressure suit training, parachute training, and FAA medical 

screening.

Location Dallas, Texas

Company 

Description

The Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine (IEEM) consists of 

six physicians and eight technical support staff. Physicians of the IEEM, in 

cooperation with Johnson Space Center, are actively involved with studying 

the cardiological effects of spaceflight on NASA astronauts. As an integral 

part of the IEEM, Executive Aerospace Physiology offers services that include 

high altitude aerospace physiology, high altitude human research, as well as 

high altitude equipment research and testing. Executive Aerospace’s multiplace 

chambers are certified for both hypobaric and hyperbaric operations.

Overview of 

Services

Aerospace physiology, hyperbaric oxygenation, flight physicals, decompression 

sickness, medical evaluation flights, and aerospace medical consultations. 
• 84 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI)

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute’s (CAMI) 

Aerospace Medical Education Division is responsible for: 1) Safety-related education 

programs in aerospace physiology, global survival, cabin safety, and human factors, 

2) Aerospace medical publications and other didactic materials (training manuals, 

multimedia products, presentation materials, etc.) used to disseminate medical/

human factors information to promote aerospace safety, 3) A highly specialized 

aerospace medical library, 4) A centralized program for the selection, designation, 

training, and management of Aviation Medical Examiners appointed to conduct 

physical examinations and issue FAA medical certificates to civil pilots (including 

commercial space crews) throughout the U.S. and around the world.

CAMI’s Aerospace Human Factors Research Division conducts an integrated 

program of field and laboratory performance research on organizational and 

human factors aspects of aerospace work environments. Research includes, but 

is not limited to, human performance under various conditions of impairment, 

human error analysis and remediation, impact of advanced automated systems on 

personnel requirements and 

performance, human factors 

evaluations of performance 

changes associated with 

advanced multifunction 

displays and controls, and 

the psycho-physiological 

effects of workload and 

work scheduling on job 

proficiency and safety in 

aerospace human-machine 

systems.

The Aerospace Medical Research Division: 1) Evaluates human performance 

and safety (including safety, security and health) in aerospace environments, 

both simulated and actual, by applying multidisciplinary medical, physiological, 

pharmacological, bioengineering, and biochemical/molecular studies, 2) Conducts 

protection and survival research, 3) Conducts research related to improving 

performance, and 4) May participate in select onsite visits to investigate and analyze 

major problem areas associated with the human in the aerospace environment. 

Through FAA Cooperative Research Development Agreements (CRDA), CAMI 

can share facilities, equipment, services, intellectual property, personnel resources 

and other cooperation with private industry, academia, or state/local government 

agencies. CRDAs are implemented to develop an idea, prototype, process, or 

product for direct application to the civil aerospace community and/or indirect 

application for commercial exploitation.

CAMI provides an aviation physiology DVD course and offers a one-day 

physiological training course at the FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in 

Location Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

Organization 

Description

The mission of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Civil Aerospace Medical 

Institute (CAMI) is to create, apply, manage, and transfer aerospace medicine 

and human factors knowledge. CAMI’s vision is to advance flight safety through 

world leadership in aerospace medicine. CAMI is part of the the Office of 

Aerospace Medicine and is located at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center 

(MMAC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Overview of 

Services

CAMI provides services in aerospace medical/safety/human factors education, 

medical certification, human factors research, medical research, and occupational 

health. These aerospace services are provided by a workforce including 

biologists, computer specialists, engineers, nurses, physicians, physiologists, 

psychologists, and other professional and technical personnel.
• 85 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Training

Oklahoma City, OK. The following topics are covered during the training course:

• Physics of the atmosphere 

• Respiration and circulation 

• Inflight decompression effects 

• Self-imposed stress 

• Hypoxia 

• Hyperventilation 

• Acceleration, noise, vibration & thermal effects

• Pressure equalization difficulties & trapped gases

• Aviation oxygen equipment 

• Altitude chamber and aviation oxygen equipment familiarization 

• Altitude chamber flight including rapid decompression and hypoxia 

demonstrations

• Spatial orientation and disorientation demonstration using a Barany Chair, 

GAT-II, GAT-II HELO, Gyro-I, Gyro-II, or VRSDD

FAA physiological training courses are also offered at the following locations:

• Andrews AFB, MD

• Beale AFB, CA

• Brooks AFB, TX

• Columbus AFB, MS

• Fairchild AFB, WA

• Ft. Rucker, AL

• Holloman AFB, NM

• Langley AFB, VA

CAMI also provides an aviation survival DVD course and offers a one-day aviation 

survival training course. The following topics are covered during the training course:

• Surviving a crash

• Psychology of survival

• Survival medicine

• Signaling equipment and techniques

• Fire starting equipment and techniques

• Obtaining food and water

• Emergency shelter

• Hot-land survival procedures

• Cold-land survival procedures

• Water survival procedures

• Post-crash emergency evacuation procedures

• Assembling customized survival kits

• Cold survival demonstration using an indoor cold exposure facility

• Emergency cabin evacuation/egress demonstration using a re-configurable 

evacuation facility

• Emergency water ditching demonstration using an indoor water egress 

facility

• Little Rock AFB, AR

• Moody AFB, GA

• Peterson AFB, CO

• Randolph AFB, TX

• Shaw AFB, SC

• Tyndall AFB, FL

• Vance AFB, OK

Evacuation research
• 86 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

During 2009, CAMI provided safety-related training to more then 6,000 students 

and implemented the following new capabilities: 1) A portable multi-place 

normobaric hypoxia demonstration facility to support user requests for hypoxia 

training anywhere across the U.S., 2) Portable fixed-based flight simulators (fixedwing and rotary-wing) to support user requests for practical demonstrations on 

the effects of hypoxia and/or alcohol consumption during flight, 3) A Night 

Vision Goggle (NVG) facility to provide NVG familiarization workshops of civil 

aerospace personnel, and 4) An aerospace medicine/physiology/human factors 

course curriculum in support of commercial space transportation stakeholders.

National Aerospace Training and Research 

(NASTARTM) Center 

The National Aerospace Training and 

Research (NASTARTM) Center’s (NASTAR) 

equipment and training curriculum can 

accommodate a range of training and research 

requirements. Academic instruction is provided 

by experienced industry professionals and 

incorporates advanced simulation technology 

for interactive, “hands on” training. NASTAR 

Center can offer the services of its inhouse Institutional Review Board and can 

provide human test subjects. The NASTAR Center facilities include: classroom, 

control room, theatre room, VIP/observation lounge, high performance human 

centrifuge with interchangeable cockpits, spatial disorientation / upset recovery 

simulator, general aviation trainer, 4+2 degrees of freedom flight simulator, 

hypobaric chamber, hyperbaric chamber, ejection seat simulator, advanced disaster 

management simulator, and a night vision and night vision goggle trainer. 

The NASTAR Center is the Official Space Training Provider to commercial space 

flight company Virgin Galactic, having trained over 150 space flight passengers 

since 2007.5

 NASTAR 

hosts “Orange Flag” events 

where international and 

domestic military pilots can 

fly simulated air combat 

engagements. The NASTAR 

Center’s AeroMedical 

Training Institute (AMTI) 

conducts training for 

international physicians 

and aeromedical instructors 

and has provided training 

to 87 countries worldwide. 

NASTAR Center has 

performed upset recovery 

research in contracts for the 

Location Southampton, Pennsylvania

Company 

Description

The National AeroSpace Training And Research (NASTAR) Center (www.

nastarcenter.com) is a non-government aerospace training facility that houses 

high performance simulation equipment and offers training courseware and 

professional services to support the research and educational needs of the 

aerospace industry. 

Overview of 

Services

1. Flight Training: Rapid & Sustained G Acceleration (Multi-axis), Medical 

Screening, Sub-Orbital Space Flight Training, Spatial Disorientation Training, 

Aircraft Upset Recovery (Loss of Control) Training, Tactical Flight Simulation 

& Training, Motion Desensitization, High Altitude Exposure and Rapid 

Decompression Training, Ejection Seat / Emergency Egress Training, Night 

Vision and Night Vision Goggle Training, Land/Water Survival Training, and 

the Space Training System Model 400 (STS-400).

2. Human Factors & Component Research: Research can be supported on all 

equipment including Medical Monitoring, Flight Profile Development & Test, 

Combined Environments Testing (Sustained G with Vibration) for HF and 

Component, and Hyperbaric Research Lab.

3. Educational and Entertainment programs are available for all ages.

Spaceflight simulation
• 87 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Training

FAA and NASA. NASTAR is the first spaceflight training organization to apply 

for an FAA Safety Approval. The FAA is evaluating this application for NASTAR’s 

Space Training Simulator (STS-400). NASTAR Center has introduced science, 

technology, engineering, and math programming for K-12 local school districts and 

has launched new space education courses with the International Space University.

Orbital Commerce Project

Orbital Commerce Project (OCP) 

has three pilots on staff, one who 

is in the process of receiving a 

trainer’s certificate, one who is a 

commercial pilot, and one who 

is a private pilot. OCP has not 

determined its final location 

for operations. It had preliminary discussions with Mojave Air and Space Port 

and is considering the use of a federal range. Orbital Commerce Project plans 

to use a piston aircraft, a rocket-powered aircraft, a suborbital reusable launch 

vehicle, simulators, a $5-million centrifuge, and a hypobaric chamber for their 

comprehensive training program. Training is predicted to start in 2010. The 

company has developed preliminary prototype simulators and has an airframe 

use agreement, but no other hardware and minimal funding. In 2008, Orbital 

Commerce Project developed an agreement with Masten Space Systems to license 

Masten engine technology.6

 In February of 2009, OCP completed all requirements 

of the RocketShip Tours Space Tourism University and will be offering tickets for 

flights on the XCOR Aerospace-developed Lynx suborbital rocket vehicle.7

Project Odyssey – Space Florida and Andrews Institute

Space Florida and the Andrews Institute for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine 

announced a partnership in December 2008 to offer medical diagnostic and training 

services to private spaceflight passengers and crewmembers.8

 This partnership is 

an integral component of Project 

Odyssey, a human spaceflight 

research and training program 

that leverages evidence-based 

medicine, world-class facilities, 

state-of-the-art technology, 

and resort-style environs to 

deliver high-quality results and a strong customer experience. The roadmap for 

implementing Project Odyssey was detailed in a study prepared by the Haas Center 

for Business Research and Economic Development at the University of West 

Florida.9

 The list of organizations that are now cooperating in support of Project 

Odyssey currently includes the Florida Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade, and 

Economic Development; the Andrews Institute; Space Florida; Enterprise Florida; 

the University of West Florida; the National Flight Academy; the U.S. Navy; and 

the Gulf Coast Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Various other public 

and private entities have expressed interest in participating in Project Odyssey.

Location Oviedo, Florida

Company 

Description

Orbital Commerce Project (OCP) was created in 2004 specifically as a training 

provider for commercial suborbital spaceflight. 

Overview of 

Services

Physiological Training, Altitude Chamber (hypobaric), Unusual, Attitude Training, 

High-g (gravity), High Altitude Flight, Pressure, Suit Training, High Performance 

Glider, and High Performance Jet.

Location Gulf Breeze, Florida

Company 

Description

In December 2008, the Andrews Institute and Space Florida announced a 

partnership to develop a personal spaceflight medical program..

Overview of 

Services Biomedical, physiological, and psychological diagnostics and training.
• 88 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

The vision for Project Odyssey is for the program to be recognized as the 

definitive world leader in optimizing human performance in both orbital and 

suborbital spaceflight environments. The mission of Project Odyssey is to capture 

a large share of the international market for educating and training the passengers 

and crewmembers of commercial and civil space flight participants in the orbital 

and suborbital space flight markets. This would include gold-standard biomedical, 

physiological, and psychological assessment and conditioning, as well as exposure 

to certain environmental factors that are intrinsic to human spaceflight. According 

to a Space Florida representative, there are no major updates for Project Odyssey 

in 2009.10

Space Medicine Associates

Location Belcamp, Maryland

Company 

Description

An organization of medical professionals offering space medicine and 

bioastronautics consultation, training and oversight services.

Overview of 

Services

Comprehensive medical and bioastronautics expertise, operations training 

and support, risk management and mitigation techniques, medical project 

management, and assistance for all aspects of commercial and industrial space 

activities, from space tourism to space-based solar power. Space Medicine 

Associates plans to use client-based facilities. In 2009, Space Medicine Associates 

worked to establish relationships with organizations within the commercial 

human spaceflight industry.11

Starfighters Aerospace

Starfighters Aerospace (a flight services corporation), operates a fleet of former 

military aircraft, notably the two-seat Lockheed Martin F-104 Starfighter and twoseat Northrop - Grumman T-38 Talon, both airframes NASA used for astronaut 

space flight training that total more than 80 years of service.12

For 15 years, Starfighters Aerospace has 

operated high performance aircraft, totaling 

some 3,000+ sorties with a 99.3% Fully Mission 

Capable (FMC) rate during contract flights for 

the United States Navy, Air Force, and NASA. 

The flight services corporation are subject 

to both annual and bi-annual flight reviews 

by the Federal Aviation Administration, the 

Department of Defense, NASA’s Kennedy 

Space Center in Florida, Johnson Space 

Center in Texas, and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.13 Starfighters Aerospace’s 

commitment to safety has ensured 4,500+ flight hours have remained incident free.

In October 2009, Starfighters Aerospace and Space Florida announced the formal 

signing of a Space Act Agreement with NASA enabling Starfighters to use the 

Shuttle Landing Facility to conduct daily flight operations for commercial purposes. 

The agreement also generally supports research and development, test, and 

Starfighters trainer
• 89 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Training

engineering to benefit the emerging 

commercial space industry and 

to advance aerospace and space 

related technology in Florida.14

Starfighters Aerospace currently 

offers a four-day commercial 

space flight training program at 

Kennedy Space Center. The course 

consists of two days of classroom 

instruction and safety briefings 

using modern training equipment 

to prepare and qualify students 

for a supersonic training flight in the F-104 Starfighter on day three. The F-104 

flight profile is designed to simulate a journey to the edge of space and includes a 

maximum performance vertical climb and maneuvers that replicate the mid range 

g-forces (Gz and Gx) and weightlessness of space travel.

United Space Alliance LLC and USA Space Operations 

LLC

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, United Space Alliance (USA) 

was established in 1996 as a limited liability company. USA employs 

10,000 people at facilities in Texas, Florida, Alabama, and the 

Washington, D.C. area. USA is NASA’s primary industry partner 

in human space operations associated with the Space Shuttle, 

International Space Station (ISS), and Exploration programs. 

Astronaut training is divided into two categories: astronaut 

candidate/generic training and flight assigned training. The 

astronaut candidate/generic training focuses on generic operations 

and vehicle systems training and selected specialized non-flight specific training 

(land and water survival, generic extravehicular activity (EVA), etc.). The flight 

assigned training focuses on activities associated with the astronaut’s flight 

assignment. The flight assigned training begins 12 to 24 months before the flight 

(depending on the complexity of the flight). The phased training begins with 

task training and advances to fully-integrated spacecraft/Mission Control Center 

simulations. All of this training typically ends three to four weeks before the flight. 

The flight assigned training includes all crew training associated with the following 

mission phases/activities:

• Pre-launch

• Launch and abort

• Rendezvous, prox ops, docking

• Normal on-orbit activities

• Payload operations

Location NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Company 

Description

Starfighters Aerospace is a flight services organization that conducts training 

flights in supersonic former military aircraft for the Department of Defense and 

both commercial and private industry. 

Overview of 

Services

Commercial services: High Performance Jet (Supersonic Flight), High Altitude 

Flight, High-G Flight (Gravity), Unusual Attitude / Upset Recovery Training, 

Micro-Satellite Air Launch, Aerospace Medical Evaluation, Flight Physiology 

Training, Altitude Chamber (Hypobaric), Aircrew Life Support & Egress / Ejection 

Systems Training, Parachute Training, Pressure Suit Training.

Department of defense services: Offensive & Defensive Counter Air, Advanced 

Electronic Jamming, WIC Support, NSAWC / Top Gun / SFTI, Large Force Exercise 

Participation (Flags), High Altitude Interception, Carrier Battle Group Threat 

Simulation / Ship Self Defense Targeting.

Flight crew training

• EVA and IVA

• Undocking , deorbit, and entry

• Complex on-orbit assembly 

and repair

• Landing and post-landing
• 90 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

USA and its wholly-owned subsidiary, USA Space Operations, LLC, have the 

following capabilities:

• Mission, manifest, and trajectory planning and analyses

• On-orbit assembly, payload deployment, and servicing

• EVA planning and execution

• Rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking

• Space logistics/supply chain management and operations

• Space operations software engineering

• Ground system design engineering

• Advanced spaceflight technology

• Launch and recovery operations

• Launch vehicle, spacecraft, and cargo processing

• Mission control operations

• Space operations and systems training

• Sustaining engineering

• Flight crew equipment preparation and maintenance

• Large scale integration

USA has an extensive classroom facility used to train USA personnel and selected 

NASA personnel including astronauts. The other facilities and equipment currently 

used to train the astronauts and flight controllers are owned by the government. 

However, these facilities and equipment could be used to train commercial 

spaceflight crews and other personnel on a non-interference basis with required 

NASA training.15

In addition to USA 

training facilities and 

equipment, USA continues 

to develop QuestusTM, 

a new and innovative 

technology designed to 

improve productivity and 

lower overall life cycle costs. QuestusTM is an integrated web-based tool-set that 

implements or facilitates end-to-end ground and flight operations, including those 

associated with training. One tool, INSTRUTM, is specifically aimed at training. It 

is an immersive, multidimensional tool designed to improve training efficiency and 

effectiveness. In addition, it will allow training to be “owned” by the individuals 

(including crew) responsible for executing the mission. 

Significant 2009 training related accomplishments include: (1) training of all 

astronauts, flight controllers, and ground support personnel assigned to shuttle and 

ISS missions that flew in 2009 and will fly in 2010, (2) training of flight controllers 

and ground personnel assigned to the successful Ares-1X test flight, (3) deployment 

of the QuestusTM INSTRUTM scheduling tool in support of the NASA Desert Rats 

training and simulation exercise in Arizona, and (4) extensive training support 

(plans, capabilities development, and implementation) to the NASA human 

Exploration Program via the Integrated Mission Operations Contract (IMOC) and 

the Facilities Development Operations Contract (FDOC).16

Location HQ in Houston, Texas

Company 

Description

The United Space Alliance (USA) is the prime NASA contractor for all astronaut, 

flight controller, and ground support personnel training, except medical training.

Overview of 

Services

Generic Skills/Proficiency, Documentation (Mission Rules, etc.), Simulator 

Operations (Task and Vehicle), Ground Operations, Mission Operations, 

Microgravity/EVA, Pressure Suit, Land and Water Survival, Parachute Training, and 

Flight Crew Equipment Training.
• 91 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Training

Location San Antonio, Texas

Company 

Description

Wyle’s Integrated Science and Engineering Group in Houston, Texas, has 35 years 

experience in life science research, space medical operations, and engineering for 

the enhancement of human performance and safety in air and space. 

Overview of 

Services

Human Centrifuge Training and Medical Screening, Altitude Chamber Training 

and Medical Screening, Oxygen Systems Safety Services, and Decompression 

Sickness Assessments.

Wyle

Wyle’s specific commercial spaceflight training courses are offered at their facilities 

at Brooks City-Base in San Antonio. Wyle is currently under contract to Virgin 

Galactic, providing Chief Medical Officer and medical operations and training 

services.17 Wyle has also supported several of the Space Adventures clients who have 

flown to the International Space Station.

Wyle is the prime contractor for NASA’s Bioastronautics contract. In this 

capacity, Wyle provides medical operations, ground and flight research, space 

flight hardware development and fabrication, science and mission integration for 

flight, and habitability and environmental factors in support of the Space Shuttle, 

International Space Station, Constellation, and Human Research programs.

Wyle is also part of NASA’s Occupational Medicine and Occupational Health 

contract, under which Wyle offers clinical and occupational health care for NASA 

personnel and the astronaut corps. In San Antonio, Wyle supports the Air Force 

Research Laboratory to conduct research and develop technologies to enhance the 

performance and safety of U.S. Air Force combat pilots.

Wyle is the current provider 

of all U.S. medical operations 

and crew health care systems 

training for NASA’s astronauts 

and flight controllers under the 

Bioastronautics contract. Under 

this contract, Wyle also provides 

physical training and rehabilitation 

to prepare the astronauts for the 

rigors of spaceflight. Acceleration training for all first-time Shuttle crewmembers is 

performed on the centrifuge operated by Wyle in San Antonio. Wyle also provides 

training in microgravity operations for medical and life science activities using 

NASA’s C-9 microgravity simulation flights. Wyle facilities include an altitude, 

thermal, and humidity chamber; 20-man hypobaric altitude chamber; man-rated 

centrifuge; oxygen systems safety of flight evaluation equipment; instruction and 

mission simulation facilities; and integrated medical simulation facility. In 2009, 

NASA exercised a $201-million second option on its bioastronautics contract with 

Wyle. The option is an extension of the previous contract until April 30, 2013. The 

extension assumes that Space Shuttle will be retired and no longer supported.18

Zero Gravity Corporation

ZERO-G offers a unique opportunity for 

individuals to experience true “weightlessness” 

without going to space. ZERO-G flies a 

specially modified Boeing 727 and has a Space 

Act Agreement with NASA to operate from 

any NASA center as well as use of NASA 

G-FORCE ONE Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility 
• 92 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

and Visitors Center complex. ZERO-G’s aircraft has gone through additional 

modifications to meet NASA’s requirements and has since conducted over 30 

flights for NASA’s research.

In 2009, ZERO-G teamed up with Northrop Grumman Foundation for the fourth 

consecutive year to provide its education program to more than 120 educators 

in four cities. To date, the program has provided its training to more than 1000 

educators from 50 states and 22 countries.19

Location Vienna, Virginia

Company 

Description

Founded in 1993, Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G) is a privately held space 

entertainment and tourism company whose mission is to make the excitement 

and adventure of space accessible to the public. ZERO-G has since flown more 

than 6,000 passengers aboard 240 flights.

Overview of 

Services

ZERO-G was awarded a contract by NASA to conduct research and training 

on board its Boeing 727-200. ZERO-G provides variety of programs including 

education, research, corporate incentives, and promotion. ZERO-G has astronauts 

and former NASA KC-135 employees on staff.
• 93 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Regulatory Developments

Regulatory and Legislative

Developments

The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation has accepted the challenge 

of two new programs in 2009. These programs will allow a new level of 

encouragement and facilitation that the office can offer the commercial space 

transportation industry.

The two programs are:

• Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation

• Commercial Space Grant Program

Center of Excellence for Commercial Space 

Transportation

Background

On August 18, 2009, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt approved the creation 

of a Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation (COE CST). 

The office of primary interest for COE CST is the FAA Office of Commercial 

Space Transportation (AST). The goal for this COE is to create a cost sharing 

partnership of academia, industry, and government that will focus research areas 

of interest to the FAA and the U.S. commercial space transportation industry as a 

whole. AST had proposed research in four major commercial space transportation 

areas: space traffic management and operations, launch vehicle systems, private 

human space flight, and space commerce.

Based on the FAA COE structure, the COE CST is planned to be funded at a 

level of $1 million annually for 10 years. According to the FAA COE authorizing 

legislation, COE members are required to match the federal grant funding from 

industry sources to support their COE research activities.

Research Areas

The four major research areas for the COE CST will address specific topics:

Space Traffic Management and Operations

• Emergency Response

• Ground Safety

• Spaceports

• Space Traffic Control

• Training

• Space Environment

Launch Vehicle Systems

• Safety Management and Engineering
• 94 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

• Flight Safety Analysis

• Avionics

• Flight Safety Systems

• Materials

• Sensors

• Software Safety

• Testing

• Vehicle Design

Human Space Flight

• Aerospace Physiology

• Environmental Control and Life Support Systems and Habitability

• Human Factors

• Personnel Training

• Space Medicine

Space Commerce

• Business

• Law

• Regulation

• Policy

• International Competitiveness

Commercial Space Grant Program

A core mission of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) is “to 

encourage, facilitate, and promote U.S. commercial space transportation.” In the past, 

the office has addressed this mission in a variety of ways. However, Congress recently 

appropriated funding for the FAA to facilitate the commercial space transportation 

industry through a grant program. The intent is to provide Federal funding to 

encourage the development of commercial space infrastructure and capabilities.

Background

In July 1994, the United States Congress authorized expending up to $10,000,000 

to support the development of non-federal commercial spaceports. The vehicle for 

this support is specified as a Space Transportation Infrastructure Grant under the 

auspices of the Federal Aviation Administration. While a program was authorized 

by Congress, funding was never appropriated.

Congress took no further action until passage of the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriation 

bill, which identified $500,000 to begin funding this effort.

The authorization falls under Title 49 USC, Subtitle IX – Commercial Space 

Transportation – Chapter 703 – Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching 

Grants, Section 70305, Authorization of appropriations.
• 95 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Regulatory Developments

Under current law, not more than $10,000,000 may be appropriated to the 

Secretary of Transportation to make grants under this chapter. Amounts 

appropriated under this section remain available until expended. (Source: Pub. L. 

103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1345.)

A Grant Program

On December 13, 2009, Congress passed appropriations legislation (P.L. 111-117) 

that launched the Commercial Space Grant program with $500,000 appropriated 

for the first year. The legislation was signed into law on December 16, 2009.

States and public agencies may now submit applications to the FAA AST to 

propose projects that the appropriation might fund. There are some conditions 

attached to this funding. The FAA may make a project grant only if:

• At least 10 percent of the total cost of the project will be paid by the private 

sector, and

• The grant will not be for more than 50 percent of the total cost of the 

project

In addition, the authorizing legislation directs that the FAA consider: 

• The contribution of the project to industry capabilities that serve the 

United States Government’s space transportation needs

• The extent of industry’s financial contribution to the project

• The extent of industry’s participation in the project

• The positive impact of the project on the international competitiveness of 

the United States space transportation industry

• The extent of State local government, or non-profit agency contributions to 

the project

• The impact of the project on launch operations and other activities at 

Government launch ranges

The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation will publish a notice in 

the Federal Register announcing the establishment of this grant program and the 

availability of grant application information and resources. The notice also will 

outline the application process. An informational guide on the process for applying 

for a grant and a handbook outlining the program will be published to the AST’s 

website: faa.ast.gov.

For further information on the program, questions on the application process 

please contact the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space 

Transportation Suite 331, 800 Independence Ave S.W., Washington D.C. 20591
• 96 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation
• 97 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Endnotes

Endnotes

Space Competitions

1. Google Lunar X PRIZE Competition Rules & Guidelines webpage. X PRIZE Foundation. 

Accessed 9 November 2009. http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/lunar/about-the-prize/

rules-and-guidelines.

2. Google Lunar X PRIZE Press Releases. X PRIZE Foundation. Accessed 9 November 2009. 

http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/lunar/media-center/press-releases.

3. “MoonBots Challenge Parent-Child Teams to Conduct Google Lunar X PRIZE Missions 

with Lego Robots.” 4 August 2009. X PRIZE Foundation. Accessed 10 November 2009. 

http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/media-center/press-release/%E2%80%9Cmoonbots%

E2%80%9D-challenges-parent-child-teams-to-conduct-google-lunar-x-prize-. 

4. America’s Space Prize webpage. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Accessed 10 November 2009. 

http://www.astronautix.com/craftfam/ameprize.htm.

5. Communication with Michael N. Gold, 9 November 2009.

6. Centennial Challenges: Green Flight Competition webpage. Updated 24 September 2009. 

NASA. Accessed 10 November 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_

incubator/centennial_challenges/general_aviation/index.html. 

7. Centennial Challenges: Lunar Lander Competition webpage. Updated 6 November 2009. 

NASA. Accessed 11 November 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_

incubator/centennial_challenges/lunar_lander/index.html.

8. Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. X PRIZE Foundation. Accessed 11 November 2009. http://space.xprize.org/lunar-lander-challenge. 

9. “NASA and X Prize Announce Winners of Lunar Lander Challenge.” 2 November 2009. 

NASA. Accessed 10 December 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/nov/

HQ_09-258-Lunar_Lander.html. 

10. Centennial Challenges: Regolith Excavation webpage. Updated 24 October 2009. NASA. 

Accessed 10 November 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_incubator/

centennial_challenges/regolith/index.html. 

11. Centennial Challenges: Tether Challenge webpage. Updated 6 October 2009. NASA. 

Accessed 10 November 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_incubator/

centennial_challenges/tether/index.html. 

12. “Contemplating 5 m/s.” 8 November 2009. The Space Elevator Games webpage. Accessed 

10 November 2009. http://www.spaceelevatorgames.org/. 

13. The 2009 Astronaut Glove Challenge. Updated 13 October 2009. Spaceflight America. 

Accessed 10 November 2009. http://www.astronaut-glove.us/. 

14. “NASA Awards $350,000 in Prizes in Astronaut Glove Challenge.” 23 November 2009. 

NASA Centennial Challenges. Accessed 10 December 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_incubator/centennial_challenges/cc_ag_feature_11_20_09.html. 

15. “FY 2010 Budget Estimates.” NASA President’s Fiscal Year 2010 NASA Budget Request. 

CASP-43. Accessed 10 November 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/about/budget/index.html.
• 98 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Expendable Launch Vehicles

1. United Launch Alliance. “Atlas Product Card.” http://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/

product_sheet/AtlasProductCardFinal.pdf. Accessed 30 October 2009.

2. United Launch Alliance. “Atlas Launch System Mission Planner’s Guide.” http://www.

ulalaunch.com/docs/product_sheet/Atlas_Mission_Planner_14161.pdf. Accessed 30 

October 2009.

3. Reuters. “United Launch Alliance 600th Atlas Mission Successfully Launches DMSP F18.” 

18 October 2008. http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS50795+18-

Oct-2009+PRN20091018. Accessed 30 October 2009.

4. Communication with United Launch Alliance, 6 November 2009.

5. United Launch Alliance. “Delta II Payload Planner’s Guide.” http://www.ulalaunch.com/

docs/product_sheet/DeltaIIPayloadPlannersGuide2007.pdf. Accessed 30 October 2009.

6. Communication with United Launch Alliance, 6 November 2009.

7. Clark, Stephen. “NASA Looking to Solve Medium-Lift Conundrum.” Spaceflight Now. 22 

August 2009. http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0908/29mediumlift/. Accessed 

30 October 2009.

8. United Launch Alliance. “Delta IV Payload Planners Guide.” 2009 Version, Forthcoming.

9. SpaceX. “Falcon 1 Overview.” http://www.spacex.com/falcon1.php. Accessed 26 October 

2009.

10. SpaceX. “SpaceX Launch Manifest.” http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php. 

Accessed 26 October 2009.

11. SpaceX. “Falcon 1 Overview.” http://www.spacex.com/falcon1.php. Accessed 26 October 

2009.

12. Satellite Today. “SpaceX Wins Orbcomm Contract to Launch 18-Satellite Constellation.” 

September 4, 2009. http://satellitetoday.com/st/topnews/SpaceX-Wins-Orbcomm-Contract-to-Launch-18-Satellite-Constellation_31968.html. Accessed 5 November 2009.

13. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Minotaur I Fact Sheet.” http://www.orbital.com/

NewsInfo/Publications/Minotaur_I_Fact.pdf. Accessed 29 October 2009.

14. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Minotaur Mission History.” http://www.orbital.com/

SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/I/minotaur_history.shtml. Accessed 26 October 2009.

15. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Pegasus User’s Guide.” January 2007. http://www.orbital.

com/NewsInfo/Publications/peg-user-guide.pdf. Accessed 30 October 2009.

16. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Pegasus Mission History.” http://www.orbital.com/

SpaceLaunch/Pegasus/pegasus_history.shtml. Accessed 26 October 2009.

17. Orbital Science Corporation. “Taurus Fact Sheet.” http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/

Publications/Taurus_fact.pdf. Accessed 30 October 2009.

18. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Taurus Mission History.” http://www.orbital.com/

SpaceLaunch/Taurus/taurus_history.shtml. Accessed 26 October 2009.

19. NASA. “Orbiting Carbon Observatory Webpage.” http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/

oco/main/index.html. Accessed 30 October 2009.

20. Sea Launch, LCC. “Sea Launch Vehicle Page” http://www.sea-launch.com/sllaunch_

vehicle.htm. Accessed 29 October 2009.
• 99 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Endnotes

21. Sea Launch, LLC. “Land Launch Homepage.” http://www.sea-launch.com/land-launch/

index.html. Accessed 29 October 2009.

22. Communication with Sea Launch, LLC, 27 October 2009.

Sea Launch, LLC. Press Release. “Land Launch Successfully Deploys Intelsat 15 Satellite to 

Orbit.” http://www.boeing.com/special/sea-launch/news_releases/2009/nr_091130.html. 

Accessed 14 December 2009.

23. Reuters. “Sea Launch Files for Chapter 11 Protection.” 22 June 2009. http://www.reuters.

com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSBNG17593820090623. Accessed 

29 October 2009.

24. Sea Launch, LLC. “Internet Homepage.” http://www.sea-launch.com. Accessed 29 October 2009.

25. Satnews Daily. “Sea Launch Company.... Financially Speaking...” 3 December 2009. http://

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26. San Francisco Chronicle. “Boeing Expected to Dump Sea Launch Stake.” 12 November 2009. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/11/12/financial/

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27. Communication with Sea Launch, LLC, 27 October 2009

28. Page, Lewis. “NASA Inks Commercial ISS Cargo Deals.” The Register. 24 December 2008. 

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29. Government Accountability Office. “Decision: B-401016; B-401016.2, PlanetSpace, Inc.” 

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30. Couvalt, Craig. “Boeing Joins Commercial Athena III Program.” Aviation Week and 

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31. Purifoy, Darren C. et. Al. “E’Prime Aerospace Corporation Presentation at the Technology Forum on Suborbital Missions and the Small Unit Space Transport & Insertion 

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32. E’Prime Aerospace Corp. press release. “E’Prime Aerospace Corporation Receives Launch 

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33. SpaceX. “Falcon 9 User’s Guide 2009.” http://www.spacex.com/Falcon9UsersGuide_2009.

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35. SpaceX. “SpaceX Launch Manifest.” http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php. 

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36. Space News. “SpaceX Targets February for Falcon 9 Maiden Flight.” 2 November 2009.

37. SpaceX. “NASA Select’s SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Booster and Dragon Spacecraft for Cargo 

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php?page=20081223. Accessed 6 November 2009.
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38. SpaceX. “SpaceX Successfully Completes First Stage 9-Engine Rocket Firing.” http://www.

spacex.com/press.php?page=20091021. Accessed 14 December 2009.

39. Amos, Jonathan. “Broadband Satellite Jumps Rocket.” BBC News. 23 July 2009. http://

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8164236.stm Accessed 6 November 2009.

40. SpaceX. “SpaceX Signs Argentina’s Space Agency for Two Falcon 9.” http://www.spacex.

com/press.php?page=20090416. Accessed 14 December 2009.

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6 November 2009.

42. Communication with Garvey Spacecraft Corporation, 12 December 2009 .

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46. Interorbital Systems website. “Neptune Modular Series Launch Vehicles.” http://www.

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50. Interorbital Systems website. “TubeSat Personal Satellite Kit.” http://www.interorbital.

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51. Communication with Interorbital Systems, 23 December 2009.

52. R.U. Sirius. “The 8k Personal Satellite (and Other Space Adventures): An Interview 

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Accessed 24 November 2009.

53. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Minotaur IV Fact Sheet.” http://www.orbital.com/

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54. Klamper, Amy. “Minotaur 4 Concerns Delay Launch of Space-Based Space Surveillance 

Sat.” Space News. 6 October 2009. http://www.spacenews.com/launch/sbsslaunch-pushed-into-2010.html. Accessed 2 November 2009.

55. DARPA. “Falcon Technology Demonstration Program HTV-3X Blackswift Test Bed.” http://

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Ball Aerospace. “Ball Aerospace Completes STPSat-2 Satellite Pre Shipment.” 13 October 

2009. http://www.ballaerospace.com/page.jsp?page=30&id=355. Accessed 2 November 

2009.

56. Orbital Sciences Corporation Press Release. “Orbital Awarded New Minotaur IV Mission 

by U.S. Air Force.” http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/release.asp?prid=668. Accessed 7 

November 2008.
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Endnotes

57. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Minotaur V Fact Sheet.” http://www.orbital.com/

NewsInfo/Publications/Minotaur_V_Fact.pdf. Accessed 2 November 2009.

58. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Orbital Awarded New Minotaur V Mission By U.S. Air 

Force and NASA.” 14 September 2009. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/release.

asp?prid=704. Accessed 2 November 2009.

59. Communication with Air Launch LLC, 4 November 2009.

60. AirLaunch LLC website. New Images and Videos. http://www.airlaunchllc.com/index.

htm#. Accessed 7 November 2008.

61. Communication with Air Launch LLC, 6 November 2008.

62. Lunar Rocket and Rover Company website. “Shadow IIIA Space Launch Vehicle.” 

http://www.lunar-rocket.com/flash.html. Accessed 18 December 2009.

63. Communication with Lunar Rocket and Rover Company, 4 December 2009.

64. Lunar Rocket and Rover Company website. “Shadow IIIA Space Launch Vehicle.” 

http://www.lunar-rocket.com/flash.html. Accessed 18 December 2009.

65. Orbital Sciences Corporation Press Release. “NASA Selects Orbital To Demonstrate New 

Commercial Cargo Delivery System For The International Space Station.” 19 February 2008.

66. Orbital Sciences Corporation Press Release. “Taurus II Homepage.” http://www.orbital.

com/TaurusII/ Accessed 19 November 2009.

67. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Orbital Selected by NASA For $1.9 Billion Space Station 

Cargo Delivery Contract.” 23 December 2008. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/release.

asp?prid=680. Accessed 2 November 2009.

68. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “COTS/CRS Fact Sheet.” http://www.orbital.com/

NewsInfo/Publications/COTSCRS_Fact.pdf. Accessed 2 November 2009.

69. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Taurus II Brochure”. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/

Publications/TaurusII_bro.pdf. Accessed 2 November 2009.

70. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Taurus II Brochure”. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/

Publications/TaurusII_bro.pdf. Accessed 2 November 2009.

71. Orbital Sciences Corporation. “Taurus II Microsite.” http://www.orbital.com/TaurusII/. 

Accessed 14 December 2009.

72. NASA. “Constellation Program: America’s Fleet of Next-Generation Launch Vehicles - 

The Ares l Crew Launch Vehicle” http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/366590main_Ares_I_FS.pdf. 

Accessed 29 October 2009.

73. Bergin, Chris. “ATK Win CLV Contract”. NASAspaceflight.com. 7 December 2005 

http://www.NASAspaceflight.com/2005/12/atk-win-clv-contract/. Accessed August 5, 

2009.

74. NASA press release. “NASA Awards Upper Stage Engine Contract for Ares Rockets”. 16 

July 2007. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/jul/HQ_C07030_J2X_Contract.

html. Accessed 7 November 2008.

75. NASA press release. “NASA Selects Ares I Upper Stage Production Contractor.” 28 August 

2007. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/aug/HQ_C07040_Ares_1_

Upper_Stage_Contract.html. Accessed 7 November 2008.

76. Boeing press release. “Boeing Selected to Build Instrument Unit Avionics for NASA’s Ares 

I Crew Launch Vehicle.” 12 December 2007. http://www.boeing.com/news/

releases/2007/q4/071212d_nr.html. Accessed 7 November 2008.
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77. NASA press release. “NASA’s Ares I-X Rocket Completes Successful Flight Test.” 

28 October 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/oct/HQ_09-252_

Ares_I-X_Success.html. Accessed 29 October 2009.

78. NASA press release. “NASA’s Ares I-X Rocket Completes Successful Flight Test.” 28 October 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/oct/HQ_09-252_Ares_I-X_

Success.html. Accessed 29 October 2009.

79. Harwood, William. “NASA Assessing Parachutes and Dented Ares 1-X Booster.” Spaceflight Now. 29 October 2009. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ares1x/091029dent/. 

Accessed 19 November 2009.

80. Coppinger, Rob. “NASA Sets Out Ares V Launch Vehicle Development Plan.” 

11 December 2008. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/12/11/319979/nasa-setsout-ares-v-cargo-launch-vehicle-development-plan.html. Accessed 24 December 2008.

81. NASA Website. “Overview: Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle.” http://www.nasa.gov/

mission_pages/constellation/ares/aresV/index.html. Accessed 29 October 2009.

82. Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee. “Final Report: Seeking A Human 

Spaceflight Program Worthy Of A Great Nation.” 22 October 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/

pdf/397898main_HSF_Cmte_FinalReport_High.pdf. Accessed 15 December 2009.

83. NASA. “Code 810: Sounding Rockets Program Office: Internet Homepage.” http://sites.

wff.nasa.gov/code810/index.html, Accessed 5 November 2009.

84. Communication with Magellan Aerospace Corporation, 9 November 2007.

85. NASA. “Sounding Rockets Program Missions Page.” http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/

missions.html. Accessed 5 November 2009.

86. NASA. “Sounding Rockets Program Missions Page.” http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/

missions.html. Accessed 5 November 2009.

87. UP Aerospace press release. “UP Aerospace, Inc. Successfully Flies Multi-faceted Space 

Mission.” 2 May 2007.

88. UP Aerospace. “Message from UP Aerospace: SpaceLoft SL-3 Mission Summary.” 7 May 

2009. http://www.upaerospace.us.com/pressreleases/spaceloftsl3mission.html. Accessed 5 

November 2009.

89. Spaceport America. “Successful Launch From Spaceport America by UP Aerospace, 

MOOG-FTS.” 4 August 2009. http://www.spaceportamerica.com/news/press-releases/

253-successful-launch-spaceport-america-upaerospace-moog-fts.html. 

Accessed 5 November 2009.

90. Spaceport America. “Press Release: UP Aerospace, Lockheed Martin Launch from Spaceport America.” 12 October 2009. http://www.spaceportamerica.com/news/

press-releases/264-up-areospace-lockheed-martin-launch-from-spaceport-america.html. 

Accessed 5 November 2009.

91. Communication with Lunar Rocket and Rover Company, 4 December 2009.

92. Communication with Lunar Rocket and Rover Company, 4 December 2009.

93. NASA Sounding Rockets Operations Contract (NSROC). “NSROC Online: The Stable” 

http://www.nsroc.com/front/html/mmframe.html. Accessed 2 November 2009. 

94. NASA Wallops Flight Facility. “Mission Planning Lab: Capability Catalog.” http://sites.

wff.nasa.gov/mpl/catalog_intro.html. Accessed 5 November 2009.

95. NASA. “Sounding Rockets Program Missions Page.” http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/

missions.html. Accessed 5 November 2009.
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Endnotes

Reusable Launch Vehicles

1. Armadillo Aerospace News Archive. “2009 Lunar Lander Challenge: Level 2 -- Done!” 

14 September 2009. http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/

News?news_id=367. Accessed 23 November 2009.

2. Foust, Jeff. “Playing the Waiting (and Winning) Game.” The Space Review. 14 September 

2009. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1467/1. Accessed 23 November 2009.

3. NASA Press Release. “NASA and X Prize Announce Winners of Lunar Lander Challenge.” 

2 November 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/nov/HQ_09-258-Lunar_

Lander.html. Accessed 23 November 2009.

4. Armadillo Aerospace News Archive. “Engine Work.” 2 April 2008. http://armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/News?news_id=357. Accessed 23 November 2009.

5. Foust, Jeff. “A Wild Finish for the Lunar Lander Challenge.” The Space Review. 9 November 

2009. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1506/1. Accessed 23 November 2009.

6. Blue Origin website. “Updates.” http://blueorigin.com/letter.htm. Accessed 23 November 

2009.

7. Bezos, Jeff. “The Charlie Rose Show: A Conversation With Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com.” 

26 February 2009. http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10105. Accessed 10 

December 2009.

8. Blue Origin website. “Update on Opportunities for Research.” http://www.blueorigin.

com/nsresearch.html. Accessed 24 November 2009.

9. Masten Space Systems. http://www.masten-space.com/nasa.html. Accessed 23 November 

2009.

10. Masten Space Systems. http://www.masten-space.com/nasa.html. Accessed 23 November 

2009.

11. NASA. “Masten Space Systems Qualifies for Level One Prize in Lunar Lander Challenge.” 

8 October 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_incubator/centennial_

challenges/cc_masten_level_1_prt.htm. Accessed 23 November 2009.

12. Foust, Jeff. “A Wild Finish for the Lunar Lander Challenge.” The Space Review. 9 November 

2009. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1506/1. Accessed 23 November 2009.

13. NASA. “Lunar Lander Competition.” 2 November 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/

ipp/innovation_incubator/centennial_challenges/lunar_lander/index.html. Accessed 23 

November 2009.

14. Masten Space Systems Blog. “Masten Space Systems Qualifies for $1 Million Prize.” 

30 October 2009. http://masten-space.com/blog/. Accessed 23 November 2009.

15. Malik, Tariq. “Orbital Dreams: New Launch Site in Hand for Private Spaceflight Firm.” 

Space.com. 21 August 2006. http://www.space.com/news/060821_planetspace_

capebreton.html. Accessed 13 November 2009.

16. PlanetSpace. “Internet Homepage.” http://www.planetspace.org/lo/index.htm. 

Accessed 13 November 2009.

17. PlanetSpace. “UAV- SilverDart.” http://www.planetspace.org/lo/uav.htm. 

Accessed 13 November 2009.
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18. Cooper, Scott and Fenwick, Ben. “After $18 Million Rocketplane Only Launched Empty 

Promise for Oklahoma.” Oklahoma City Gazette. 15 July 2009. http://www.okgazette.

com/p/12776/a/4300/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=LwBEAGUAZgBhAHUAbAB0AC4AY

QBzAHAAeAAslashAHAAPQAxADIANwAyADkA. Accessed 30 November 2009. 

19. Scaled Composites Press Release. “Branson and Rutan Form ‘The Spaceship Company’ To 

Jointly Manufacture and Market Spaceships for the new Sub-Orbital Personal Spaceflight 

Industry.” 25 July 2005. http://www.scaled.com/news/2005-07-27_branson_rutan_

spaceship_company.htm. Accessed 13 November 2009.

20. Virgin Galactic website. “News.” http://www.virgingalactic.com/htmlsite/news.php. 

Accessed 13 November 2009.

21. Aabar Investement and Virgin Galactic. “Aabar Investments and Virgin Group Agree 

Equity Investment Partnership in Virgin Galactic” 28 July 2009. http://www.virgingalactic.com/partnershipandbransonaboardvmseve/content/other/Virgin%20Galactic%20

Aabar%20release%20-%20approved%20by%20Aabar%20n%20Virgin%20Eng.DOC. 

Accessed 13 November 2009.

22. Scaled Composites. “White Knight Two Flight Test Summaries.” http://www.scaled.com/

projects/t1b/logs-WK2.htm. Accessed 13 November 2009.

23. Virgin Galactic press release. “Successful Spaceship Two Rocket Motor Testing.” 28 

May 2009. http://www.virgingalactic.com/rocketmotor/content/other/Virgin%20

Galactic%20Rocket%20Test%20Stage%201%20Complete%20Media%20Release%20

-WITH%20LINKS%20_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 13 November 2009.

24. Coppinger, Rob. “Also Sprach SpaceShipTwo?” 15 October 2009. Hyperbola. http://www.

flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2009/10/also-sprach-spaceshiptwo.html. Accessed 13 

November 2009.

25. Virgin Galactic. “Galactic at a Glance.” July 2009. http://www.virgingalactic.com/

partnershipandbransonaboardvmseve/content/other/GALACTIC%20AT%20A%20

GLANCE%20JULY%202009.pdf. Accessed 13 November 2009.

26. SpaceDev Press Release. “SpaceDev Signs Space Act Agreement with NASA for Development of Commercial Access to Space.” 18 June 2007. http://www.spacedev.com/press_

more_info.php?id=205. Accessed 13 November 2008.

27. SpaceDev Press Release. “SpaceDev and United Launch Alliance to Explore Launching the 

Dream Chaser Space Vehicle on an Atlas V Launch Vehicle.” 10 April 2007. http://www.

spacedev.com/press_more_info.php?id=5. Accessed 13 November 2008.

28. SpaceDev Website. “SpaceDev Advanced Space Systems.” http://www.spacedev.com/

spacedev_advanced_systems.php. Accessed 24 November 2009.

29. Coppinger, Rob. “WhiteKnightTwo Could Air Drop Dream Chaser Prototype.” Flightglobal. 20 October 2009. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/20/333603/

whiteknighttwo-could-air-drop-dream-chaser-prototype.html. Accessed 16 November 2009.

30. SpeedUp. “News.” http://www.speedupworld.com/news.html. Accessed 24 December 

2008.

31. Communication with SpeedUp. 3 November 2009.

32. Communication with TGV Rockets, 31 December 2008.

33. X Prize Foundation press release. “Four Private Space Companies Vie for $1+ Million Prize 

in the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge Presented by X PRIZE Foundation” 

27 October 2009, http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=29502. Accessed 

16 November 2009
• 105 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Endnotes

34. Unreasonable Rocket Blogspot. http://unreasonablerocket.blogspot.com/. Accessed 13 

November 2008.

35. Foust, Jeff. “A Wild Finish for the Lunar Lander Challenge.” The Space Review. 9 November 

2009. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1506/1. Accessed 16 November 2009.

36. Unreasonable Rocket Blogspot. http://unreasonablerocket.blogspot.com/. Accessed 16 

November 2009.

37. Communication with XCOR Aerospace, 7 January 2009.

38. XCOR Aerospace Press Release. “Desert Sky Holdings Makes First Institutional Investment in XCOR.” 20 August 2008. http://www.xcor.com/press-releases/2008/08-08-19_

Desert_Sky_Invests_in_XCOR.html. Accessed 13 November 2008.

39. XCOR Aerospace Press Release. “XCOR Aerospace Test Lynx Aerodynamic Design in 

USAF Wind Tunnel.” 24 July 2009. http://www.xcor.com/press-releases/2009/09-07-24_

XCOR_tests_lynx_aerodynamics_in_USAF_wind_tunnel.html. Accessed 16 November 

2009

40. XCOR Aerospace Press Release. “XCOR Reaches Significant Milestones on Lynx Engine 

Program.” 2 September 2009. http://www.xcor.com/press-releases/2009/09-09-02_

XCOR_reaches_significant_milestones_in_lynx_engine_program.html. Accessed 16 

November 2009.

41. XCOR Aerospace Press Release. “XCOR Aerospace Suborbital Vehicle to Fly Within Two 

Years.” 26 March 2008. http://www.xcor.com/press-releases/2008/08-03-26_Lynx_

suborbital_vehicle.html. Accessed 13 November 2008.

Reentry Vehicles and In-Space Technologies 

1. Malik, Tariq. “NASA’s New Spaceship to Carry Fewer Astronauts.” Space.com. 29 April, 

2009. http://www.space.com/news/090429-orion-crew-slashed.html. Accessed 

30 November 2009.

2. Orion Crew Vehicle webpage. Updated 13 November 2009. NASA Constellation Program. 

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/orion/index.html. Accessed 29 November 2009.

3. Altair Conceptual Design Contract. NASA. http://procurement.jsc.nasa.gov/altair/

schedule.htm. Accessed 30 November 2009.

4. “Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Rocket Engine Technology That Could Enable 

Return of U.S. Astronauts to Moon.” GlobalSecurity.org. 29 June 2009. http://www.

globalsecurity.org/space/library/news/2009/space-090629-northrop-grumman01.htm. 

Accessed 13 November 2009.

5. NASA press release. “Orion Main Parachute Testing Technique Demonstrated.” NASA. 8 

October 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/orion/chute_test.html. 

Accessed 29 November 2009.

6. NASA press release. “Orion Launch Abort System Attitude Control Motor Test-fired.” 

NASA. 16 December 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/orion/

acm_test.html. Accessed 3 January 2010.

7. European Space Agency press release. “Successful re-entry marks bright future for ATV.” 

European Space Agency. 29 September 2008. http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_41_2008_p_

EN.html. Accessed 18 November 2008. 

8. European Space Agency press release. “Second ATV named after Johannes Kepler.” 

European Space Agency. 19 February 2009. http://www.esa.int/esaMI/ATV/

SEMGNHWX3RF_0.html. Accessed 23 November 2009. 
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9. HTV-1 Mission, JAXA Website, http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/mission/htv-1/. Accessed 30 

November 2009.

10. “COTS Phase I, Round 2 Selection.” 19 February, 2008. NASA Commercial Crew and 

Cargo Program Office website. http://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/home/cots_phase1_

round2.html. Accessed 6 November 2008.

11. NASA press release. “NASA Awards Space Station Commercial Resupply Services 

Contracts.” NASA. 23 December 2008. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/

HQ_C08-069_ISS_Resupply.html. Accessed 24 December 2008.

12. Communication with SpaceX, November 27, 2007.

13. SpaceX press release. “Spacex Manufactured Heat Shield Material Passes High Temperature 

Tests Simulating Reentry Heating Conditions of Dragon Spacecraft.” 23 February, 2009. 

http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090223. Accessed 29 November 2009.

14. DragonLab Data Sheet. SpaceX. http://www.spacex.com/DragonLab_DataSheet.pdf. Accessed 11 November 2008.

15. “Space Act Agreement, Amendment Two Between National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation for Commercial Orbital 

Transport Services Demonstration (COTS).” 28 February 2008. NASA. http://www.nasa.

gov/centers/johnson/pdf/216459main_spacex_amend_2.pdf. Accessed 22 December 

2008.

16. SpaceX press release. “Spacex introduces DragonLab.” SpaceX. 3 November 2008. http://

spacex.com/press.php?page=20081103. Accessed 18 November 2008.

17. SpaceX press release, “SpaceX Adds Two DragonLab Missions to Manifest.” SpaceX. 1 December 2008. http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20081202. Accessed 16 December 

2008.

18. Cygnus Spacecraft Factsheet. Orbital Sciences website. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Cygnus_fact.pdf. Accessed 30 November 2009.

19. Dutch Space Climbs Aboard Orbital Sciences’ Cygnus Project. Satnews Daily. 13 November 2009. http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=733530654. Accessed 16 

November 2009.

20. PlanetSpace press release. “PlanetSpace Adds Boeing to Lockheed Martin/ATK team for 

NASA ISS Commercial Resupply Services Bid.” PlanetSpace. October 22 2008. http://

www.planetspace.org/pdf/PressRelease102208.pdf. Accessed 11 November 2008.

21. David, Leonard. “Air Force’s Secretive Space Plane Nears Maiden Voyage” Space.com. 22 

October 2009. http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/091022-x37b-testlaunch.html. 

Accessed 27 November 2009. 

22. “USAF To Launch First Spaceplane Demonstrator” 3 August 2008. Aviation Week. www.

aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/aw080408p2.xml&headline=USAF%20

To%20Launch%20First%20Spaceplane%20Demonstrator&channel=awst. Accessed 13 

November 2008.

23. Commercial Crew Development program synopsis. NASA Acquisition Internet Service 

website. http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/synopsis.cgi?acqid=136839. Accessed 3 

January 2010.

24. Klamper, Amy. “NASA, Industry Begin Discussions on Commercial Crew Development 

Dollars.” Space News International. 13 November 2009. http://www.spacenews.com/

civil/091113-discussions-commercial-crew-development-dollars.html. Accessed 3 January 

2010.
• 107 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Endnotes

Enabling Technologies

1. Doupe, Cole, et al. “Fully Reusable Access to Space Technology FAST”. 13 March 2007. 

http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA467945&Location=U2&doc=GetT

RDoc.pdf. Accessed 13 November 2008.

2. Andrews Space press release. “Andrews Space to Work with US Air Force on FAST Program”. 19 March 2007. http://www.andrews-space.com/news.php?subsection=MjMw. 

Accessed 13 November 2008.

3. Lockheed Martin Michoud Operations. “Lockheed Martin Awarded $14 Million Contract on U.S. Air Force Research Lab FAST Program.” 12 November 2007. http://www.

lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/ssc/michoud/PressReleases/LOCKHEEDMARTINAW

ARDED$14MILLIONCONTRACTONU.S.AIRFORCERESEARCHLABFASTPROGRAM11-12-07.pdf. Accessed 13 November 2009.

4. Northrop Grumman Corporation. “Northrop Grumman to Help Air Force Develop, 

Demonstrate Technologies for Reusable Launch Vehicles”. 10 December 2007. http://

www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=132818. Accessed 13 November 2008.

5. NetComposites.com. “Lockheed Martin Successful In Composite Tank Test”. http://www.

netcomposites.com/news.asp?5256. Accessed 8 January 2008.

6. Andrews Space press release. “Andrews Space Delivers Composite Liquid Oxygen Tank 

to the Air Force Research Lab.” 21 July 2009. http://www.andrews-space.com/news.

php?subsection=MzI0. Accessed 24 November 2009.

7. Warwick, Graham. “USAF Seeks Reusable Booster Ideas” Aviation Week. 14 May 

2009. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/Reuse051409.

xml&headline=USAF%20Seeks%20Reusable%20Booster%20Ideas&channel=space. Accessed 24 November 2009.

8. SpaceX Press release. 23 February 2009 http://www.spacex.com/press.

php?page=20090223. Accessed 25 November 2009.

9. Communication with Microcosm Inc, 10 November 2008.

10. Communication with Microcosm, 12 November 2009.

11. Communication with Microcosm, 22 December 2008.

12. The Register Online. Plasma Rocket Test Drive in Key Milestone.” http://www.theregister.

co.uk/2008/10/28/vasimr_plasma_first_stage_test/, Accessed October 28 2008.

13. Ad Astra Rocket Company press release, December 12, 2008. http://www.adastrarocket.

com/AdAstra-NASA_PR12Dec08.pdf. Accessed december 15, 2008.

14. Communication with SpeedUp, 3 November 2009.

15. Communication with ATK, Inc., 3 January 2008.

16. NASA Ares 1-X press kit. October 20009. http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/396682main_

Ares_I-X-pk.pdf Accessed November 27, 2009.

17. ATK press release. “ATK and NASA successfully Test Ares First Stage Development 

Motor.” 10 September 2009. http://atk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=118&item=956 

Accessed November 27, 2009.

18. Communication with Firestar, December 18, 2009.

19. Garvey Spacecraft Corporation email. 6 November, 2009.
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Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

20. NASA Facts Sheet. “The J–2X Engine”. Doc. #FS–2007–08–111–MSFC8–328472, 

2007. http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/187393main_j-2x_fact_sheet.pdf. 

Accessed 27 November 2007. 

21. NASA press release. “NASA’s J-2X Powerpack Testing Status Report #1” NASA. 19 December 2007. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2007/07-143.

html. Accessed 20 December 2007.

22. Space News International. “Ares J2-X Engine passes Critical Design Review.” Vol. 19. 

Issue 45. November 7 2008.

23. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne press release. “Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Awarded $1.2 

Billion NASA Contract for J-2X Ares Rocket Engine”. 18 July 2007. http://www.pw.utc.

com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2e35288d1c83c010VgnVCM100000088

1000aRCRD&prid=e480c230314d3110VgnVCM100000c45a529f. 

Accessed 20 November 2007.

24. SpaceX press release. “SpaceX Completes Development of Merlin Regeneratively Cooled 

Rocket Engine.” SpaceX, 12 November 2007. http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/

google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071112005019&newsLang=en. 

Accessed 13 November 2007.

25. SpaceX press release. “SpaceX Completes Development of Merlin Regeneratively Cooled 

Rocket Engine.” SpaceX, 12 November 2007. http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/

google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071112005019&newsLang=en. 

Accessed 13 November 2007.

26. Communication with Space Exploration Technologies, 27 November 2007.

27. SpaceX press release. “SpaceX falcon 9 upper stage engine successfully completes full mission duration firing.” 10 March 2009. http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090310 

Accessed 27 November 2009.

28. Spacex press release. “SpaceX successfully completes first stage 9-engine rocket firing.” 21 

October 2009. http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20091021 Accessed 27 November 2009.

29. Communication with Microcosm Inc. 11 November, 2009.

30. Orbital press release. “Orbital To Provide Launch Abort System For NASA’s Orion Crew 

Exploration Vehicle” 1 September 2006. http://www.orbital.com/newsinfo/release.

asp?prid=570. Accessed 26 November 2007.

31. Orbital fact sheet. “Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle Launch Abort System (LAS)” Orbital 

Sciences Corporation. 2006. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/LAS_Fact.

pdf#search=”launch abort system. Accessed 26 November 2007.

32. NASA Press Release “NASA To Test Motor For Orion Crew Capsule’s Launch Abort 

System.” November 10 2008. http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/nov/HQ_

M08225_ORION_LAS_TEST.html Accessed November 18 2008.

33. AviationWeek.com. “Orion Pad Abort Test Slips Into 2010.” 17 August 2009. http://www.

aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/orion08179.

xml Accessed 27 November 2009.

34. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne press release. “Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne’s Revolutionary Scramjet Engine Successfully Powers First X-51A Simulated Flight” Pratt & Whitney 

Rocketdyne. 30 April 2007. http://www.pw.utc.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgne

xtoid=2e35288d1c83c010VgnVCM1000000881000aRCRD&prid=0c8381dc89e22110

VgnVCM100000c45a529f____. Accessed 13 December 2007.
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Endnotes

35. Aviation Week Online. “X-51A Scramjet Engine Complete Ground Tests.” http://www.

aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/aw110308p1.

xml&headline=X-51A%20Scramjet%20Engine%20Completes%20Ground%20Tests. 

Accessed 11/3/2008.

36. NASA press release. “Success for Second Ares Main Parachute Test” 15 November 2007. 

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/multimedia/photos07-126_2.html. 

Accessed 20 December 2007.

37. Ares Quarterly Video update. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/

aresl/index.html Accessed 11/19/2008.

38. Floridatoday.com. “Live At KSC: Ares I-X Parachutes Fail During Flight.” 29 October 

2009. http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2009/10/live-at-ksc-ares-i-xparachutes-fail.shtml Accessed 27 November 2009.

39. SpaceX press release. “SpaceX’s Dragoneye navigation sensor successfully demonstrated on 

space shuttle.” 24 September 2009. http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090925 

Accessed 27 November 2009.

Spaceports

1. Space Florida Press Release. “Space Florida Hosts the Commercial Spaceflight Federation’s 

Spaceport Executive Summit.” 24 July 2009. http://www.spaceflorida.gov/news/7_24_09.

php Accessed 8 December 2009.

2. Gedmark, John. “Commercial Spaceflight Federation Announces Creation and Initial 

Membership of Spaceports Council.” 23 November 2009. http://www.commercialspaceflight.

org/?p=903 Accessed 8 December 2009.

3. Blue Origin website. http://www.blueorigin.com/nsresearch.html. Accessed 4 December 

2009.

4. Communication with California Spaceport, 10 December 2008.

5. Orbital Sciences Press Release. “Orbital Completes Minotaur IV Launch Vehicle Pathfinder 

Operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base”. 16 September 2008. http://www.orbital.com/

NewsInfo/release.asp?prid=667. Accessed 25 November 2008.

6. Boeing. “Boeing Satellite Launch Schedule.” 7 December 2009. http://www.boeing.com/

defense-space/space/bss/launch/launch_sched.html Accessed 8 December 2009.

7. Ecliptic Enterprises. “RocketCamTM and RocketPodTM Mission and Project Schedule”. http://

www.eclipticenterprises.com/newsinfo_launchschedule.php Accessed 29 October 2009.

8. Communication with Cecil Field Spaceport, 20 November 2007.

9. Communication with Cecil Field, 7 January 2009.

10. Communication with Kodiak Launch Complex. 9 November 2009.

11. “Taurus II Home page” Orbital Sciences Corporation. http://www.orbital.com/TaurusII/

index.shtml Accessed 14 January 2010.

12. Spaceports Blog. “Virginia Approves $10-Million for Spaceport.” 1 March 2009. http://

spaceports.blogspot.com/2009/03/virginia-approves-10-million-for.html#links Accessed 

10 December 2009.

13. Communication with Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. 10 December 2009.

14. Communication with Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. 10 December 2009.
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Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

15. NASA website. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/tacsat3.html. 

Accessed 4 December 4 2009.

16. Communication with Mojave Air and Space Port. 10 December 2008.

17. Mojave Desert News. “In May 2008 Mojave hanger made history three times - 

Figured in John DeLorean drug bust”. 5 May 2008.

18. Communication with Mojave Air and Space Port. 10 December 2008.

19. Deaver, Bill. “EDAD plans major flightline upgrade.” Mojave Desert News. 23 July 2009. 

http://www.mojaveairport.com/news/article-090723-mdn-EKAD_plans_major_

flightline_upgrade.htm Accessed 10 December 2009.

20. Masten Space Systems website. “Masten Space Systems Qualifies for $1 Million Prize.” 

30 October 2009. http://masten-space.com/blog/?p=485 Accessed 10 December 2009. 

21. Cooper, Scott. “Despite Rocketplane’s Woes, Oklahoma Spaceport Remains Operational.” 

OKGazette.com. 28 July 2009. http://www.okgazette.com/p/12776/a/4386/Default.

aspx?ReturnUrl=LwBEAGUAZgBhAHUAbAB0AC4AYQBzAHAAeAAslashAHAAP

QAxADIANwAyADkA. Accessed 8 December 2009.

22. Cooper, Scott. “Despite Rocketplane’s Woes, Oklahoma Spaceport Remains Operational.” 

OKGazette.com. 28 July 2009. http://www.okgazette.com/p/12776/a/4386/Default.

aspx?ReturnUrl=LwBEAGUAZgBhAHUAbAB0AC4AYQBzAHAAeAAslashAHAAP

QAxADIANwAyADkA. Accessed 8 December 2009.

23. OSIDA website. http://www.okspaceport.state.ok.us/spaceflightactivites.html. Accessed 

25 November 2008.

24. Spaceport America PR. “Governor Bill Richardson Announces Spaceport America and 

Virgin Galactic Sign Historic Lease Agreement”. 31 December 2008. http://www.

spaceportamerica.com/news/press-releases/190-governor-bill-richardson-announcesspa-virgin-galactic-lease-agreement.html. Accessed 3 November 2009.

25. Spaceport America PR. “Runway Construction Makes Progress at Spaceport America.” 

18 September 2009. http://www.spaceportamerica.com/news/press-releases/

260-runway-construction-makes-progress-at-spa.html. Accessed 9 December 2009.

26. Space News. “Lockheed Martin Launches Secret Rocketplane Prototype”. 19 October 

2009.

27. Alba, Diana, M. “Albuquerque Firm Gets Spaceport Contract.” Las Cruces Sun-News. 

27 November 2009. http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_13876468. 

Accessed 9 December 2009.

28. Spaceport America PR. “More Contracts Awarded for Spaceport Construction.” 

10 July 2009.

29. Patrick Air Force Base PR. “45th Space Wing Supports Successful Shuttle Launch .” 

16 November 2009. http://www.patrick.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123177973. 

Accessed 10 December 2009.

30. Messier, Doug. “Edwards Receives First X-51A WaveRider Vehicle.” 1 July 2009. Parabolic 

Ark.com http://www.parabolicarc.com/2009/07/01/edwards-receives-x51a-waveridervehicle. Accessed 13 January 2010.

31. USAF, “NASA flight tests unique jumbo jet with opening in side.” 29 December 2009. 

http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123183763 Accessed 13 January 2010.

32. Communication with KSC. 9 December 2008.
• 111 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Endnotes

33. Space Politics. “Florida state incentives and spaceports”. 7 April 2008. http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/04/07/florida-state-incentives-and. Accessed 25 November 2008.

34. Space News. “NASA Marks Ares Progress, Could Delay Orion Review. 12 May 2008.

35. Space News. “KSC Expectin High Worker Losses with Shuttle Retirement”. 7 April 2008.

36. Dean, James. “Live at KSC: Ares I-X Launch Pad Changes Displayed.” FloridaToday.com. 

14 October 2009. http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2009/10/liveat-ksc-ares-i-x-launch-pad-changes.shtml Accessed 10 December 2009.

37. Communication with Reagan Test site. 9 November 2009.

38. Air Force Print News Today. “Vandenberg Prepares for first Atlas V Launch”. 

3 February 2008.

39. Communication with Vandenberg AFB. 13 November 2008.

40. Space News, “New GPS-Guided Rocket System Downs its Targets”. 2 June 2008.

41. Space News, “NASA, Contractor Test Methane-Fueled Engine”. 8 September 2008.

42. Newton, Kim. “Orion Launch Abort Team Designs With Confidence.” NASA 

Press Release. 4 September 2009. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/

orion/09-068.html Accessed 10 December 2009.

43. Hampton, Jeff. “Commercial Spaceports Eyed for Eastern N.C.” The Virginian-Pilot. 15 

November 2009, http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/commercial-spaceports-eyedeastern-nc Accessed 15 January 2010.

44. Communication with Cape Canaveral Spaceport, 9 November 2009.

45. Communication with Cape Canaveral Spaceport, 9 November 2009.

46. Communication with Cape Canaveral Spaceport, 9 November 2009.

47. Communication with Cape Canaveral Spaceport, 9 November 2009.

48. Communication with Cape Canaveral Spaceport, 9 November 2009.

49. http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20080508_5B_budget_relies_on_tax_hikes_and_

federal_funds.html

50. http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/September-2009/SpaceHawaii-039s-Final-Frontier/

51. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/specialstudies/aerospace/24.%20Chuck%20Lauer.pdf

52. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/specialstudies/aerospace/24.%20Chuck%20Lauer.pdf

53. Space Port Indiana Website. “About Space Port Indiana.” http://www.spaceportindiana.

com/Index/about_tmg.php. Accessed 10 December 2009.

54. Commercial Spaceflight Federation PR. “Commercial Spaceflight Federation Announces 

Creation and Initial Membership of Spaceports Council.” 23 November 2009.

55. Sheboygan Press Staff. “Spaceport supporters tout project in Washington, 

D.C.” 3 December 2009. http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20091203/

SHE0101/912030471/1973/SHE0205/Spaceport-supporters-tout-project-in-W

ashington-D.C. Accessed 8 December 2009.

56. Communication with Spaceport Sheboygan. 12 January 2010.
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Commercial Human Spaceflight Training

1. Communication with Aurora Aerospace. 5 November 2009. 

2. Communication with Barrios. 19 November 2008.

3. Communication with CASTA. 11 November 2009.

4. Communication with Executive Aerospace. 11 November 2008.

5. Communication with NASTAR. 30 October 2009.

6. Communication with Orbital Commerce Project. 20 November 2008.

7. Orbital Commerce Project. “OCP is now an accredited Space Tourism Specialist.” 

February 2009. http://www.orbitalcommerceproject.com/ (Accessed 7 December 2009).

8. Space Florida Press Release. “Personal Spaceflight Medical Program Announced.”

4 December 2008. http://www.spaceflorida.gov/news/12_04_08.php

(Accessed 16 December 2008).

9. Harper, Rick. “Project Odyssey: Training the Astronaut in Everyone.” Haas Center for 

Business Research and Economic Development, University of West Florida. 

http://spaceflorida.gov/news/haasstudy.pdf (accessed 15 December 2008).

10. Communication with Space Florida. 9 November 2009.

11. Communication with Space Medicine Associates. 23 November 2009.

12. Communication with Starfighters. 30 December 2009.

13. Communication with Starfighters. 30 December 2009.

14. Robinson, Mike “Starfighters Signs Space Act Agreement with NASA-KSC.” Starfighters and Space Florida Joint Press Release. 22 October 2009. http://www.starfighters.net/

News_-_SAA/Press%20Release.pdf (accessed 3 December 2009).

15. Communication with United Space Alliance. 17 November 2008.

16. Communication with United Space Alliance. 19 November 2009.

17. Communication with Wyle. 13 November 2008.

18. Wyle Press Release. “NASA Extends Bioastronautics Contract with Wyle for Total Value of 

$976 Million.” 27 July 2009. http://www.wylelabs.com/news/2009/07-27-09.html 

(accessed 7 December 2009).

19. Communication with Zero Gravity Corporation. 28 October 2009.
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2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Photo Credits

Photo Credits

Cover art lower image: 

Inside Spaceport Terminal, courtesy of URS/Foster+Partners

Page 9 Google Lunar X PRIZE LEGO MINDSTORMS challenge poster, courtesy of 

Google Lunar X PRIZE

Page 10 Masten Team’s qualifying level 2 completion, courtesy of X PRIZE Foundation

Page 11 Winning teams at NGLLC awards ceremony, courtesy of X PRIZE Foundation

Page 11 A view of the excavators awaiting their opportunity to perform, courtesy of NASA

Page 12 KC Space Pirates prepare to launch their climber, courtesy of NASA

Page 12 Torque test being performed on the glove designed by Ted Southern, courtesy of 

NASA

Page 13 Atlas V, courtesy of United Launch Alliance

Page 15 Delta II, courtesy of United Launch Alliance

Page 15 Delta IV, courtesy of United Launch Alliance

Page 16 Falcon 1, courtesy of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)

Page 16 Minotaur I, courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation

Page 17 Pegasus XL rocket and Stargazer carrier aircraft, courtesy of Orbital Sciences 

Corporation

Page 17 Taurus, courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation

Page 18 Zenit 3SL lifts off from Odyssey Launch Platform, courtesy of Sea Launch 

Company, LLC

Page 19 Cutaway view of Eaglet and Eagle, courtesy of E’Prime Aerospace

Page 20 Falcon 9, courtesy of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)

Page 22 Prospector-13A Test Flight, courtesy of Garvey Spacecraft Corporation

Page 23 NEPTUNE design concept, courtesy of Interorbital Systems

Page 24 Minotaur IV, courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation

Page 25 Horizontal Test Stand (HTS-2), courtesy of AirLaunch LLC 

Page 26 Taurus II in flight (artist’s rendering), courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corporation

Page 27 Ares 1-X Launch, October 2009, courtesy of NASA

Page 28 Artist conception of Ares V, courtesy of NASA

Page 29 Black Brant V sounding rocket, courtesy of Bristol Aerospace Limited

Page 30 Oriole sounding rocket, courtesy of DTI Associates

Page 31 Spaceloft XL, courtesy of UP Aerospace

Page 31 A Shadow I sounding rocket launches from a French naval vessel, courtesy of Lunar 

Rocket and Rover Company

Page 32 Terrier Orion sounding rocket, courtesy of DTI Associates
• 114 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Page 33 Scorpius Super Mod, courtesy of Armadillo Aerospace

Page 34 Blue Origin’s Goddard prototype vehicle on launch pad in 2006, courtesy of Blue 

Origin

Page 35 The XA0.1E Xoie vehicle after completing one leg of the Level Two NGLLC, 

courtesy of 2009 Nothroup Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge

Page 36 SilverDart quarter-scale prototype, courtesy of PlanetSpace

Page 36 Artist’s conception of RocketplaneXP, courtesy of Rocketplane Global

Page 37 SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo, courtesy of Virgin Galactic

Page 38 DreamChaser and Atlas V, design concept, courtesy of SpaceDev

Page 39 Laramie Rose, courtesy of SpeedUp

Page 39 MICHELLE-B Concept, courtesy of TGV Rockets

Page 40 Unreasonable Rocket’s Silver Ball prototype, courtesy of Unreasonable Rocket

Page 40 Lynx windtunnel model with U.S. quarter (for scale), courtesy of XCOR Aerospace

Page 41 Space Shuttle on launch pad, courtesy of NASA

Page 43 Artist rendition of the Ares V departure stage in orbit with the Orion capsule 

docked with the Altair lander, courtesy of NASA/MSFC

Page 44 Concept of the abort flight tests of the Orion crew exploration vehicle’s launch 

abort system at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, courtesy of NASA

Page 46 The SpaceX Dragon Lab vehicle in orbit, courtesy of SpaceX

Page 47 Artist rendition of Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft approaching the ISS, courtesy of 

Orbital Sciences

Page 48 Artist’s concept of an X-37 vehicle, similar to the X-37B in development, courtesy 

of NASA/MSFC

Page 49 Artist rendition of Bigelow’s planned space complex in orbit, courtesy of Bigelow 

Aerospace

Page 51 Display model of a proposed FAST booster, courtesy of Air Force Research Lab

Page 52 Testing of SpaceX’s PICA heat shield material, courtesy of SpaceX

Page 52 Microcosm’s composite propellant tank, courtesy of Microcosm

Page 53 The VASIMR engine, courtesy of AdAstra

Page 54 SpeedUp’s Laramie Rose prototype vehicle, courtesy of SpeedUp

Page 54 ATK’s September 10 test of the 5-segement solid rocket booster Courtesy of ATK

Page 55 Test runs of the Firestar monoprop engine, courtesy of Firestar

Page 55 Garvey Aerospace’s P-13 rocket, courtesy of Garvey Spacecraft Corp.

Page 56 The J-2X engine, courtesy of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.

Page 57 The Merlin 1C Vaccum engine on the test stand, courtesy of SpaceX

Page 57 Microcosm’s ablatively-cooled engine, courtesy of Microcosm

Page 58 ATK’s November 20, 2008 test of the launch abort system, courtesy of ATK
• 115 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Photo Credits

Page 58 Artist concept of the X-51A in flight, courtesy of USAF

Page 59 Damage to the first stage of the Ares 1-X following the parachute malfunction, 

courtesy of NASA

Page 59 DragonEye’s test aboard STS-127, courtesy of SpaceXPage 55

Page 63 SLC-8, courtesy of California Spaceport

Page 64 RPT Lift-off from LP 1 at Kodiak, courtesy of Kodial Launch Complex

Page 65 Pad 0-B, courtesy of MARS

Page 66 Mojave Air and Space Port, courtesy of Mojave Air and Space Port

Page 67 Oklahoma Spaceport, courtesy of Oklahoma Spaceport

Page 68 Runway construction, courtesy of Bob Martin, KQRE TV

Page 69 Delta IV Heavy on SLC 37B, courtesy of ULA; photo by Pat Corkery

Page 70 Atlantis takes off from EAFB, courtesy of NASA; photo by Carla Thomas

Page 71 Ares I-X rocket on pad 39B, courtesy of Kennedy Space Center

Page 72 Falcon 1 launch from Omelek, courtesy of SpaceX

Page 73 Tower roll back at SLC-2, courtesy of Air Force; photo by Senior Airman Stephanie 

Longoria

Page 74 Wallops Flight Facility, courtesy of Wallops Flight Facility

Page 74 Orion launch abort test pad, courtesy of U.S. Army

Page 75 RLV hangar, Space Florida Spaceport, courtesy of Space Florida Spaceport

Page 81 A zero-gravity flight, courtesy of Aurora Aerospace

Page 82 Wilderness training helicopter, courtesy of Rocket Ranch Academy

Page 85 Evacuation research, courtesy of the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Page 86 Spaceflight simulation, courtesy of the NASTAR Center

Page 88 Starfighters trainer, courtesy of Starfighters Aerospace

Page 89 Flight crew training, courtesy of United Space Alliance

Page 91 G-FORCE ONE, courtesy of Zero Gravity Corporation
• 116 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation
• 117 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Acronyms

List of Acronyms

AADC Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation

ACES Air Collection and Enrichment System

AFB Air Force Base

AGL Above Ground Level

AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory

ALV ATK Launch Vehicle

ARCTUS Advanced Research and Conventional Technology Utilization Spacecraft

AST Office of Commercial Space Transportation (within the FAA) 

ATK Alliant Techsystems

ATV Automated Transfer Vehicle

AWOS Automated Weather Observing System

BLS Boeing Launch Service

BRAC Base Realignment and Closure

BSC Benson Space Company

CALVEIN California Launch Vehicle Initiative

CCAFS Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

CEV Crew Exploration Vehicle

CONUS Continental United States

COTS Commercial Orbital Transportation Services

CSIA Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark

CSULB California State University, Long Beach

CSLAA Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act

DARPA Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

DoD U.S. Department of Defense

EAFB Edwards Air Force Base

EELV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle

ELTR Eastern Launch and Test Range

ELV Expendable Launch Vehicle

ESA European Space Agency

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

FALCON Force Application and Launch from CONUS

FAST Fully-Reusable Access to Space Technology

FASTT Freeflight Atmospheric Scramjet Test Technique

GEM Graphite-Epoxy Motor

GEO Geosynchronous Earth Orbit

GPS/INS Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System

GSC Garvey Spacecraft Corporation

GSLV Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle

GTO Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
• 118 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

HTHL Horizontal Takeoff, Horizontal Landing

HTP High-Test Peroxide

HTPB Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene

HTR Hybrid Test Rocket

HTS Horizontal Test Stand

HX Hydrocarbon X

HYSR Hybrid Sounding Rocket

ICBM Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

IPD Integrated Powerhead Demonstration

IPF Integrated Processing Facility

ISS International Space Station

ISRO Indian Space Research Organization

ITAR International Traffic in Arms Regulations

JAA Jacksonville Aviation Authority

LAS Launch Abort System

KLC Kodiak Launch Complex

KSC Kennedy Space Center

LAP Launch Assist Platform

LAS Launch Abort System

LASR Large Array of Small Rockets

LC Launch Complex

LEO Low Earth Orbit

LOX Liquid Oxygen

MARS Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport

MDA Missile Defense Agency

MEMS Microelectromechanical Systems

MEO Medium Earth Orbit

MRTFB Major Range and Test Facility Base

MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center

MTA Mojave Test Area

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NG-LLC Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge

NLV Nanosat Launch Vehicle

NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

NRO National Reconnaissance Office

O/M Oxygen-Methane

ONR Office of Naval Research

ORS Operationally Responsive Spacelift

OSIDA Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority

OSP Orbital/Suborbital Program

OTV Orbital Test Vehicle
• 119 •

2010 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts • Acronyms

OV Orbital Vehicle

PDR Preliminary Design Review

PSLV Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle

PWR Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

R&D Research and Development

RCS Reaction Control System

RFP Request for Proposals

RLV Reusable Launch Vehicle

RP-1 Rocket Propellant 1

RSRM Reusable Solid Rocket Motor

RSTS Range Safety and Telemetry System

RTS Reagan Test Site

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research

SLC Space Launch Complex

SLF Shuttle Landing Facility

SLV Small Launch Vehicle 

SSI Spaceport Systems International

SS/L Space Systems / Loral

SSME Space Shuttle Main Engine

SSO Sun-synchronous Orbit 

STEREO Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatories

STS Space Transportation System

t/LAD Trapeze-Lanyard Air Drop

TBD To Be Determined

TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

ULA United Launch Alliance

USAF United States Air Force

VAB Vehicle Assembly Building

VAFB Vandenberg Air Force Base

VaPaK Vapor Pressurization

VTS Vertical Test Stand

VCSFA Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority

WAA Wisconsin Aerospace Authority

WIRED Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development

WFF Wallops Flight Facility

WSMR White Sands Missile Range

XA eXtreme Altitude
• 120 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation