National Aeronautics and Space Administration

SPACE TECHNOLOGY MISSION DIRECTORATE

A Guide to Commercial 

Suborbital Flight Providers for 

Flight Opportunities
[ 2 ]

About Flight Opportunities

Flight Opportunities facilitates rapid demonstration of promising technologies 

for space exploration, discovery, and the expansion of space commerce 

through suborbital testing with industry flight providers, thereby maturing 

capabilities needed for NASA missions and commercial applications while strategically 

investing in the growth of the U.S. commercial spaceflight industry.

About this Document

In this document you will find information about commercial flight providers who have conducted successful flights 

for research payloads supported by Flight Opportunities. Some of these companies are contracted by NASA 

to provide commercial suborbital flight testing for NASA-developed technologies. Others have been chosen by 

academic, research, and industry organizations using funds awarded through NASA’s Space Technology Research, 

Development, Demonstration and Infusion (SpaceTech-REDDI) Tech Flights solicitation or previous solicitations. 

Awardees receive a grant or enter into a collaborative agreement that allows them to purchase flights directly from 

a U.S. commercial flight vendor that best meets their needs for flight testing a promising space technology. 

While the flight providers highlighted in this document have been selected by Tech Flights grantees in recent 

years, other commercial flight providers not covered herein may also be eligible under the criteria set forth in 

the Tech Flights solicitation. Interested organizations and principal investigators should read the full eligibility 

criteria for flight providers in the Tech Flights solicitation available on NASA’s NSPIRES website.

More information about the flight profiles featured in this document can be found in the 

respective Payload User Guides, which are available from individual flight providers. 
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Types of Suborbital Flight Providers

Rocket-Powered Vehicles

This category includes both suborbital 

reusable launch vehicles (sRLVs) 

that reach high altitudes and may 

include periods of microgravity, as 

well as lander vehicles that specialize 

in entry, descent, and landing (EDL) 

technologies. Both of these classes of 

vehicles are typically recoverable and 

reusable after launch. They can be 

used for testing: 

l EDL and navigation systems

l Atmospheric and surface sampling

l Biological experiments

l Robotic systems

l In-space manufacturing methods

l Electronics and information 

technology systems 

High-Altitude Balloons

Large balloon systems reach a 

nominal altitude of 30 km and can 

also typically sustain the longest 

duration of the suborbital vehicles—

hours, days, or even weeks at a time. 

This makes them ideal for payloads 

that benefit from extended periods 

of data collection. These systems are 

ideal for testing:

l Sun-sensitive and 

solar instruments

l Earth-observation instruments

l Other instruments and 

technologies that may benefit 

from high-altitude observations 

(both to ground and into space) 

and drop tests 

Parabolic Aircraft

These airplanes achieve brief periods 

of reduced gravity through a series 

of maneuvers called parabolas. 

These aircraft can be used for testing 

technologies that need to operate in 

the absence of gravity, such as:

l Space-based medical experiments

l Biological experiments

l Robotic systems

l In-space manufacturing methods

l Electronics and information 

technology systems 

LABS, UNIVERSITIES, ETC.

GROUND SUBORBITAL FLIGHTS ORBITAL MISSIONS

PARABOLIC 

AIRCRAFT

HIGH-ALTITUDE 

BALLOONS

INTERNATIONAL SATELLITES

SPACE STATION

ROCKET-POWERED

VEHICLES

FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES MOON

MARS
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Blue Origin

www.blueorigin.com

New Shepard is prepared for flight on the Blue Origin launch platform in West Texas. Credit: Blue Origin

New Shepard

This fully reusable, high-fidelity 

space vehicle offers fast turnaround 

times from launch to payload 

recovery and the next flight.

l Target duration: 15 minutes

l Target altitude: 100+ km

l Target microgravity 

duration: 3 minutes

l Payload capacity: 11.3 kg 

for a single locker (custom 

solutions may be available for 

larger payloads, including 

22.7 kg-capacity double lockers 

and custom solutions for 

payloads of up to 100.5 kg)

l Payload mounting: Internal 

or external

New Shepard’s crew capsule (with payloads inside) separates from the propulsion module and is 

recovered by parachute. Credit: Blue Origin

Payload lockers are located inside the New Shepard crew capsule. Credit: Blue Origin
[ 5 ]

Masten Space Systems

www.masten.aero

This low-altitude testbed is 

ideal for testing precision entry, 

descent, and landing methods 

as well as evaluating planetary 

surface exploration payloads.

l Target duration: 180 seconds

l Target altitude: 2 km

l Target microgravity duration: N/A

l Divert range: 800 m

l Payload capacity: 50 kg

l Payload mounting: Internal 

or external

Xodiac

Tether tests are performed prior to free flight. 

Credit: Honeybee Robotics

Payloads can be attached to the lander’s legs for performance evaluation, as shown here. 

Credit: Honeybee Robotics

Xodiac is prepared for a demonstration in Mojave, 

California. Credit: Honeybee Robotics

Payloads can also be mounted to the side of 

Xodiac, as shown here, to the top of the vehicle, 

or internally. Credit: NASA
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Near Space Corporation

www.nsc.aero

Small Balloon System

The Small Balloon System (SBS) 

is ideal for payloads needing 

additional mission services, 

including real-time command and 

control, and payload telemetry.

l Target duration: 2+ hours

l Target altitude: 30+ km

l Target microgravity duration: N/A

l Payload capacity: Nominal 10 

kg (custom options available 

for larger payloads)

l Payload mounting: Internal 

or external

NSC’s SBS carries a payload near the company’s 

headquarters in Tillamook, Oregon. Credit: Near 

Space Corporation

A payload hangs below the SBS, with Earth seen 

below. Credit: Near Space Corporation

Nano Balloon System

The Nano Balloon System (NBS) is 

an option for small payloads with 

minimal integration requirements. 

l Target duration: 2+ hours

l Target altitude: 30+ km

l Target microgravity duration: N/A

l Payload capacity: Nominal 

1 kg for standard services 

l Payload mounting: Internal 

or external

A payload is prepared for integration on the SBS in Madras, Oregon. Credit: Near Space Corporation

High-Altitude 

Shuttle System

This balloon-borne, autonomously 

piloted shuttle aircraft enables 

rapid payload recovery.

l Target duration: 2+ hours (based 

on mission requirements)

l Target altitude: 30 km

l Target microgravity duration: N/A

l Payload capacity: 10 kg 

l Payload mounting: Internal
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Raven Aerostar

www.ravenaerostar.com

Zero-Pressure 

Balloon System

Several classes of balloons 

are available for long-duration 

and navigational missions, 

stratospheric missions for 

scientific, engineering, and 

communication advances, gathering 

meteorological data, and more.

l Target duration: 1–8 hours

l Target altitude: 30+ km (33 km 

for payloads less than 5 kg)

l Target microgravity duration: N/A

l Payload capacity: Nominal 45 kg 

(heavier payloads can be 

accommodated as a 

non-standard service)

l Payload mounting: Internal/

external (the payload envelope is 

open to the external environment) A payload is released from a balloon flight with parachute assistance. Credit: NASA

A Zero-Pressure balloon from Raven Aerostar is prepared for flight in Baltic, South Dakota. Credit: NASA
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Stratodynamics

www.stratodynamics.ca

HiDRON Hybrid 

Glider/Balloon System

This uncrewed stratospheric glider is 

designed to release from a sounding 

balloon at near-space altitude, 

enabling a controlled descent and 

landing for technology payloads 

aboard. The glider achieves higher 

velocity than a balloon flight alone 

and operates well in the cold 

temperatures of the stratosphere. 

l Target duration: 5-6 hours

l Target altitude: 30+ km

l Target microgravity 

duration: 0-30 seconds

l Payload capacity: 1 kg

l Payload mounting: 

Internal or external

The HiDRON is suspended from a sounding 

balloon before release on June 6, 2021. 

Credit: Stratodynamics, Inc./UAVOS 

The HiDRON stratospheric glider from Stratodynamics is seen over New Mexico on June 6, 2021 carrying 

turbulence detection technologies supported by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. 

Credit: Stratodynamics, Inc./UAVOS

Stratodynamics CEO Gary Pundsack carries the HiDRON glider off the runway at Spaceport America after 

a successful controlled landing on June 6, 2021. Credit: Stratodynamics, Inc./UAVOS
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UP Aerospace

www.upaerospace.com

SpaceLoft XL

This rocket is suitable for both 

scientific and technology payload 

testing and includes a payload 

ejection option (as a non-standard 

service) for experiment recovery. 

l Target duration: ~13 minutes 

l Target altitude: 115 km

l Target microgravity 

duration: ~4 minutes

l Payload capacity: Nominal 36 kg

l Payload mounting: Internal/

external (Payload Transportation 

System modules are enclosed in 

aluminum but feature windows 

that provide direct access to 

the space environment)

A payload ejection option enables payload recovery after flight. Credit: U.S. Army

A payload canister is prepared for integration onto 

the SpaceLoft rocket. Credit: UP Aerospace

SpaceLoft XL is shown here prepared for launch. 

Credit: UP Aerospace
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Virgin Galactic

www.virgingalactic.com

VSS Unity

This piloted, high-fidelity suborbital 

space plane features high 

payload-carrying capacity and 

fast payload recovery options.

l Target duration: ~1 hour

l Target altitude: 80+ km 

l Target microgravity 

duration: 2–3 minutes

l Payload capacity: 22.7 kg 

for a single locker, 45.4 kg for 

double, 68 kg for triple, 90.7 

kg for quad (custom solutions 

may be available for larger 

payloads up to 450 kg)

l Payload mounting: Internal

A payload is loaded into the cargo bay of VSS 

Unity. Credit: Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic’s space plane as seen from inside the cockpit. Credit: Virgin Galactic

The space plane comes in for a smooth landing on the runway at Mojave Air and Space Port. 

Credit: Virgin Galactic
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World View Enterprises

www.worldview.space

Stratollite

This navigable system with stationkeeping capabilities is suitable 

for payloads requiring data 

acquisition over long durations. 

l Target duration: Up to weeks

l Target altitude: 15-23 km 

(to enable long-duration or 

long-dwell missions) 

l Target microgravity duration: N/A

l Payload capacity: Nominal 

50 kg (custom options 

available for larger payloads) 

l Payload mounting: External

Z-Class

This fixed-altitude balloon system 

is designed for payloads requiring 

short-duration data acquisition. 

l Target duration: 2+ hours

l Target altitude: 30+ km 

l Target microgravity duration: N/A

l Payload capacity: < 1 to 1,000 kg 

l Payload mounting: External

A payload is loaded into the 

cargo bay of VSS Unity. Credit: 

Virgin Galactic

Flights can be scheduled for different times of day and over different types of terrain, depending on payload testing requirements. Credit: Earth Science Systems

A World View balloon is shown prepared for flight outside the company’s launch facility in Tucson, Arizona. 

Credit: World View Enterprises
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Zero Gravity Corporation

www.gozerog.com

G-FORCE ONE

This Boeing 727-200F three-engine 

aircraft is modified for reducedgravity crewed flights. The flights 

offer a minimum of 25 parabolas with 

a combination of Martian and lunar 

gravities as well as microgravity. 

l Target duration: 2 hours 

l Target altitude: 9 km

l Target microgravity duration:

30 seconds per parabola

l Payload capacity: 

~ 3m x 3m in-flight test area 

(per research section)

l Payload mounting: Internal

Payloads are set up in the main cabin before takeoff. Credit: Zero Gravity Corportation

G-FORCE ONE is shown on the runway at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida. 

Credit: Zero Gravity Corporation

Research teams are briefed on flight logistics prior to takeoff. Credit: Zero Gravity Corporation
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Armstrong Flight Research Center 

Edwards, California 93523

www.nasa.gov/flightopportunities

www.nasa.gov

NP-2020-06-61-AFRC