Starchaser Industries
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Starchaser Industries is a commercial space company based in Manchester, United Kingdom. The name Starchaser first emerged in 1992 when the project was started by the present managing director Steve Bennet with the aim of developing an inexpensive means of delivering small scientific payloads to high altitudes. Since the launch of the first rocket, Starchaser 1, in 1993 fifteen further launches have taken place with each new rocket being bigger and more powerful than the previous. These initial flights were powered by Aerotech hobby rocket motors and while the company is currently developing other propulsion systems these have yet to see flight tests. The largest rocket in the current Starchaser fleet (Nova) was powered by a cluster of 19 M (Model rocket motor classification) class Aerotech motors. Starchaser has taken legal proceedings against a number of news outlets which have published articles critical of the company and its products, for example the BBC article "PRIVATE ROCKET LAUNCH IS 'SUICIDAL'". Today Starchaser is developing two rockets, SKYBOLT and Thunderstar/Starchaser 5, in an endeavour to restart Britain's space program at the forefront of the commercial space industry. As Starchaser receives no government backing the project is financed by private investors, the supporters group, educational outreach program and online shop. In early 2005, Starchaser Industries expanded into the US mrket by incorporating in the State of New Mexico. Starchaser Industries Inc. has established offices and purchased land in Southern New Mexico, near Las Cruces.
[edit] X Prize Participation
During Starchasers involvement in the X Prize competition many new systems were developed and tested, including engines, capsules and parachutes. The largest engine built and fired by the team during the X Prize was the Churchill mk2 bi liquid rocket engine. This motor produces 3000Kg of thrust and is fuelled with liquid oxygen and kerosene. During the test firings in 2003, the Churchill mk2 knocked tiles off house roofs three miles away and turned part of the concrete test stand that it was mounted on into glass and smeared it down the side of a hill. Since this test Starchaser has built two new engines, the STORM 7000Kg and Churchill mk3 15000Kg bi liquid rocket engines.
