Rocketplane Kistler
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Rocketplane Kistler is an umbrella enterprise consisting of two private aerospace firms dedicated to establishing a reusable spacecraft industry; Rocketplane Limited, Inc. and Kistler Aerospace.
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[edit] NASA launch partnership
On August 18, 2006, NASA announced that Rocketplane Kistler had been chosen, along with SpaceX[1], to develop crew and cargo launch services, aka Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS), for the International Space Station. The plan calls for demonstration flights between 2008 and 2010. Rocketplane Kistler may receive up to $207 million if they meet all NASA milestones.[2][3][4]
On November 8, 2006 Rocketplane Kistler and Alliant Techsystems announced that Alliant Techsystems will become the lead contractor for Rocketplane Kistler’s K-1 launch vehicle.[5]
[edit] About Rocketplane
"Rocketplane Limited, Inc. (RLI) was founded in 2001 as an Oklahoma Corporation with a vision to be a driving force in the future of commercial space flight. Rocketplane opened its first office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in May 2004, with three employees and a dialup web connection. In less than 2 years, RLI has grown to over 60 highly skilled employees, three facilities either in operation or under development, and is well underway in developing our first vehicle, the XP. Rocketplane’s strongest asset is our skilled team of engineers, analysts, managers, and support staff. Our combined vision is to create a series of highly reusable and safe space vehicles to serve the markets in the suborbital, point-to-point, orbital regions and beyond. Our spaceplane designs push the boundaries of conventional aerospace thinking as we strive for high reusability and reliability, aircraft-like operations, and flexibility to serve a variety of military and commercial applications. Rocketplane’s philosophy is built on the dreams of a combined number of people committed to making space travel a reality in our lifetime. With a number of strategic partnerships both contractually and via networking Rocketplane is strategically advanced with government and public entities all across the United States and internationally. Rocketplane works very closely with Space Explorers, Inc, located in Green Bay Wisconsin to further educational opportunities toward the development of space flight. Space Explorers, Inc. is committed to bringing the excitement and challenges of space exploration into classrooms worldwide. Space Explorers promotes discovery, inquiry, and analysis by offering standards-based curricula, mission simulations, and experiments that incorporate actual NASA data. Through these Internet-based programs, the company strives to inspire a new generation of explorers to pursue careers in science, math and technology. If you would like more information please visit their website at: http://www.space-explorers.com." [1]
[edit] References
- ^ Jones, Thomas D. (2006), "Techwatch-Resident Astronaut", Popular Mechanics 183(12): 31, ISSN 0032-4558
- ^ NASA selects crew, cargo launch partners. Spaceflight Now (August 18, 2006).
- ^ NASA Selects Crew and Cargo Transportation to Orbit Partners. SpaceRef (August 18, 2006).
- ^ Alan Boyle. "SpaceX, Rocketplane win spaceship contest", MSNBC, August 18, 2006.
- ^ ROCKETPLANE KISTLER AND ATK ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT FOR K-1 LAUNCH VEHICLE AND COTS PROGRAM.
