Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) was a reusable spacecraft firm originally based in Oklahoma[1] before moving to Wisconsin.[2] Formed in 2006 by Rocketplane Limited, Inc. after it acquired Kistler Aerospace, it closed its doors and filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2010.[3]
Contents |
Rocketplane Kistler's primary project was the K-1 launch vehicle, a reusable launch system which was intended to get as high as geosynchronous orbit, and was hoped to compete with NASA's relatively expensive, one-shot rockets for servicing of the International Space Station.
Founded in Kirkland, Washington by Walter Kistler and Bob Citron in 1993, Kistler Aerospace was a private company attempting to develop fully reusable vehicles capable of earth orbit at a minimal price.[4]
In February 2006, Kistler was purchased by the majority owner of Rocketplane Limited, Inc, a competing reusable, private spacecraft firm. Kistler Aerospace continued to operate until its closure under the name Rocketplane Kistler. Meanwhile Rocketplane Limited, Inc. changed its name to Rocketplane Global, Inc., with a third company, Rocketplane, Inc. set up as a parent company for the two.[5]
In August 2006, NASA announced that Rocketplane Kistler had been chosen, along with SpaceX,[6] 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 would receive up to $207 million if they met all NASA milestones.[7][8][9]
In November 2006, Rocketplane Kistler and Alliant Techsystems announced that Alliant Techsystems will become the lead contractor for Rocketplane Kistler’s K-1 launch vehicle.[10]
In September 2006, Rocketplane Kistler began to miss financial milestones associated with the COTS agreement, and requested and received from NASA a 30-day extension on the milestone for completing its $40 million initial financing round.[11] In February 2007 RpK renegotiated its COTS agreement, agreeing to raise the $500 million of required private financing before the end of May.
By August 2007, RpK had failed to obtain that financing, forcing them to cut their workforce.[12]
On September 7, 2007, NASA notified Rocketplane Kistler that the COTS agreement would be terminated in 30 days due to continued inability to meet its financial milestones.[13] NASA announced in October 2007 that it had terminated funding for the project. [14]
Due to financial difficulties, the company had laid off most of its employees by February 2009, and consolidated business operations in Wisconsin, the home state of the company president.[2]
Rocketplane Inc., along with its subsidiaries, Rocketplane Kistler and Rocketplane Global, failed to deliver on promises to Oklahomans and — financially broke — left the state in 2009. "The company collected $18 million in state tax breaks, but its Rocketplane XP spacecraft never materialized. [The] company closed its Oklahoma City headquarters and relinquished its hangar at Burns Flat."[15]
On June 15th, 2010 Rocketplane Inc., as well as its subsidiaries and its CEO, George French, filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy. After 17 years of attempted development,the bankruptcy paperwork for Rocketplane Kistler listed $108,250 in assets including hardware and tooling for the K-1 rocket as well as many unvalued patents and trademarks pertaining to the rocket. Secured liabilities were claimed at $3.7 million, with unsecured liabilities listed at just under $3.7 million, as well.[5]
|
|||||||||||||||||||