SpaceDev Begins Development Small Launch Vehicle

[yree]

http://www.vcall.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=96260&CID=

 

[yree]

SpaceDev Closes $2.5 Million Financing<br /><br />http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-spacedev-closes-25-million-financing-/2005/nov/1200824.htm

 

[yree]

SpaceDev Introduces Low Cost Modular Microsatellite<br /><br />PRESS RELEASE<br />Date Released: Monday, November 7, 2005<br />Source: SpaceDev, Inc.<br />http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=18196

 

[yree]

bump<br />

 

[yree]

SpaceDev Reports Third Quarter Net Income<br /><br />Successful Execution on Current Contracts Leads to Eleventh Consecutive Quarter of Revenue Growth <br />http://www.spacedev.com/newsite/templates/subpage_article.php?pid=539

 

[vision3]

Hi folks, <br />I need some help for my project on designing a LEO satellite, simulator? Where should i look for help? Who is the best desinger of these simulators, satellites?

 

[yree]

SpaceDev Announces SpaceDev Dream Chaser(TM) Space Transport System<br /><br />POWAY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 2005--SpaceDev (OTCBB: SPDV) announced today its concept for the SpaceDev Dream Chaser(TM) vehicle, a six-passenger human space transport system based on the ten-passenger HL-20 Personnel Launch System developed by NASA Langley. SpaceDev believes its SpaceDev Dream Chaser(TM) can meet the needs of the rapidly emerging commercial space tourism market, and NASA needs for routine, safe and affordable crew access to the International Space Station. SpaceDev believes SpaceDev Dream Chaser(TM) will be much faster and far less expensive to develop than a new crew launch vehicle as proposed by large aerospace companies.<br /><br />The design concept for the SpaceDev Dream Chaser(TM), which is the same size but lighter than the ten-passenger NASA HL-20 vehicle, is also suitable for safe, affordable sub-orbital space tourism applications. The long-term SpaceDev Dream Chaser(TM) design plan includes a scaled-up version of SpaceDev's non-explosive, rubber-burning hybrid rocket motors. SpaceDev's proprietary hybrid rocket motor technology successfully powered Paul Allen's SpaceShipOne on its historic X Prize winning flights to space last year. To lower risk and cost, the SpaceDev Dream Chaser(TM) system is anticipated to combine existing and proven designs and technologies.<br /><br />"When our focus was on supporting the development of suborbital space tourism two years ago, SpaceDev engineers selected the NASA X-34 vehicle design which was good for suborbital," said Jim Benson, SpaceDev's founding chairman and chief executive. "Since then, national focus has changed to a Shuttle replacement, and we believe that our new SpaceDev Dream Chaser(TM) vehicle concept is ideal for both suborbital and orbital applications. However, funding is needed if we are going to be able to pursue this exciting new concept."<br /><br />In 2004, SpaceDev signed a Space Act agreement with

 

[yree]

emill ???<br /><br />Hi folks,<br />I need some help for my project on designing a LEO satellite, simulator? Where should i look for help? Who is the best desinger of these simulators, satellites?<br />http://www.orbithangar.com/contact.cfm<br />

 

[yree]

SpaceDev Dream Chaser:<br />http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8335

 

[mlorrey]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>If they are big enough. The ISP is pretty close to most solids so it's only a matter of scale. A hybrid version, with the same capability as the Shuttle SRB, wouldn't have to be a whole lot bigger. <p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Not exactly. An SRB alone with no payload could reach a maximum velocity of Mach 18 at 350,000 ft. This is why the NASA Exploration Launcher needs a liquid fuelled upper stage.<br /><br />However, SpaceDev is not intending this vehicle to be an SSTO, either. As a single stage, it would be merely a suborbital vehicle. It will require a larger booster stage to boost it to higher velocity and altitude in order for it to reach orbit.<br /><br />With an SRB as a first stage, it likely would still not be able to reach orbit without at least 50-100 secs higher Isp or a fifth fuel segment in the SRB. A four segment SRB with the Dreamchaser payload would likely peak out at about Mach 12. Dreamchaser is going to have to take up the rest of the slack, or have more SRB fuel.

 

[yree]

http://www.space.com/news/051121_spacedev.html<br />

 

[yree]

http://www.spacedev.com/newsite/images/ILOHSM/HSM5a%20800.wmv

 

[mlorrey]

Apparently SpaceDev has released photos now of its proposed launch stack for the orbital version. As I suspected, it requires significant size for minimal payload. The hybrid boosters are each about 75% the size of an SRB, and there are three of these in the SpaceDev launch stack in a two stage configuration, PLUS a smaller hybrid motor as the third stage, PLUS a bunch of smaller motors on the Dreamchaser itself as a fourth stage as well as for orbital insertion/extraction thrust.<br /><br />Having lots of stages isn't necessarily a bad thing. Its a bit of misnomer for people to think its bad because it makes it 'more complex'. Launchers are actually rather simple machines, most of the time (the Shuttle being the exception that proves the rule), so stacking several together isn't excessively complex compared to, say, a 747 transport or an aircraft carrier. If they can make all or most of the stages reusable, more power to them. If they can operate that way while refusing to adopt the huge-standing-army operational strategy of NASA, then they should be able to significantly reduce launch costs. Particularly if they avoid the mass-equals-dollars costing methodology of NASA, they should do well.<br /><br />However, I can't avoid thinking that the system looks very kludgy.

 

[enricofermi]

I'll be most interested in learning about abort plans, should 1,2,3 not light or malfunction. Since it is hybrid, we all know it is non-explosive, but I'd like to see studies showing why this is safer. Other than just cost, they should push the safety of this system. That will be what wins it, if anything else.<br /><br />Obviosly the DreamChaser craft itself is air/entry-worthy, and can be quite safe to land. The HL-20 and BOR were very well designed vehicles and can land about anywhere.<br /><br />While this initial study is visual, which I like, the actual details of the study would be interesting to see. I undertand that ILO has to give approval. but the DreamChaser is technically "their" craft, right? <br /><br />Where's the "beef" so to speak.

 

[nacnud]

I wonder what the pad abort modes for the Dream Chaser are?

 

[chriscdc]

Probably the orbiters main engines would fire. Seeing how the hybrid fuels aren't themselves explosive, and mixing the fuel and oxidizer fast enough for an explosion, would be very unlikely, would this burn rather than explode?

 

[yree]

boup<br />

 

[yree]

NASA Seeks Proposals for Commercial Space Services<br />By Brian Berger<br />Space News Staff Writer<br />posted: 08 December 2005<br />01:35 pm ET<br /><br />WASHINGTON — NASA intends to spend $500 million over the next four years subsidizing the development of commercial services for delivering cargo and possibly people to the international space station (ISS).<br /><br />NASA hopes the investment will allow one or more firms to demonstrate by 2010 — if not sooner — that they are capable of delivering cargo and perhaps even crew members to the international space station. NASA would then competitively award flexible service contracts to the qualified firms to provide the services.<br /><br />NASA kicked off the so-called Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Demonstration effort Dec. 5 with the release of a draft announcement spelling out how the competition will be structured. A final announcement is due out Jan. 9, with proposals due a month later on Feb. 10.<br /><br />NASA expects to award one or more contracts in May.<br /><br />According to the 33-page draft announcement posted on NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Web site, the space agency is looking for services that can deliver up to 7,000 kilograms of cargo and provide transport for up to three crew members.<br /><br />NASA intends to spend $40 million on the demonstration effort in 2006, $130 million in 2007, $200 million in 2008 and $130 million in 2009. NASA has not said what it would be willing to pay for actual delivery services, which it intends to handle under separate contracts.<br /><br />Companies that have expressed interest in the demonstration effort include: Constellation Services International of Woodland Hills, Calf.; SpaceDev of Poway, Calif.; Space Exploration Technologies of El Segundo, Calif.; and t/Space of Reston, Va.<br /><br />Also taking a look at the program are more traditional NASA contractors including Houston-based Spacehab, Chicago-based Boeing, Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed M

 

[yree]

Spacedev to challenge SpaceX after USAF deal<br /><br />Microsatellite and hybrid rocket motor manufacturer Spacedev has won a $2.7 million US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) contract that will help it develop a launcher to compete with Space Exploration Technologies’ (SpaceX) Falcon 1.<br /><br />Spacedev, which provided the engine for Scaled Composites’ SpaceShipOne, is to develop a 130,000lb-thrust (578kN) hybrid rocket motor for the AFRL. It is a hybrid because it uses a gas or a liquid oxidiser with a solid fuel.<br /><br />For Spacedev, the motor will form part of its in-development 1t-to-low-Earth-orbit Streaker launcher, and would be the third stage for its proposed vertically launched six-passenger Dream Chaser manned vehicle, which resembles the NASA HL-20 lifting body.<br /><br />The AFRL motor will be test fired next year. “Its performance will be better than a pressure-fed liquid oxygen [LOX]/kerosene engine, but not as good as a pump-fed LOX/kerosene engine,” says Spacedev chief executive Jim Benson.<br /><br />Benson wants to develop Streaker to compete with Falcon 1. However, Benson last week placed an open-ended contract for multiple micro-satellite payload launches on Falcon 1 with SpaceX.<br /><br />The first launch, scheduled for May 2008, could be for the first of three US Defence Department satellites Spacedev is building. The micro-satellite is to fly on a Boeing Delta booster and the Falcon 1 launch would be a fall-back launch.<br /><br />ROB COPPINGER/LONDON

 

[yree]

SpaceDev Announces Microsatellite Bus and Launch Package<br /><br /> <br /><br />SpaceDev Mission XceleratorTM Solution includes SpaceDev’s MMB-100 Satellite Bus, Payload Integration, Launch and One Year Of Support, All for Less Than $20 Million In Less Than 20 Months<br /><br /> <br /><br />POWAY, CA – December 12, 2005--SpaceDev (OTCBB: SPDV) has made commercial launches of microsatellites and nanosatellites available for less than $20 million in less than 20 months with the introduction of the SpaceDev Mission Xcelerator™ Solution Program. <br /><br /> <br /><br />“We are committed to providing rapid, reliable, low-cost access to space, as reinforced by the price and performance standards embodied in our recently announced SpaceDev Modular Microsatellite Bus (the SpaceDev MMB-100),” said Jim Benson, founding chairman and chief executive officer of SpaceDev. “Our new Mission Xcelerator™ Solution Program combines the MMB-100 and a rocket launch vehicle with payload integration services, launch management services and one year of mission support services at a price never before offered – less than $20 million, with an inception to launch target of 20 months.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />“This is an exciting development for the emerging low-cost space market,” said Bill McCoy, CEO of New Galaxy Enterprises and an aerospace industry analyst. “SpaceDev is developing a reputation for aggressively attacking the traditional barriers to space: high cost, complexity and long lead times. Their novel hybrid rockets and innovative microsatellite designs have provided functionality at a fraction of the historical cost. They are extending their aggressive approach to satellite and rocket design into payload integration, launch services and mission operations.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />SpaceDev recently announced that it signed a contract with SpaceX of El Segundo, CA for the purchase of a Falcon I launch vehicle that SpaceDev intends to use to launch multiple microsatellite payloads and nanosatelli

 

[yree]

http://www.thespaceshow.com/detail.asp?q=427

 

[yree]

A Match Made in Heaven?<br /><br />By Michael Jaffe<br />January 3, 2006<br /><br />Before the scribing of the English-Klingonese dictionary, before the United Federation of Planets was a franchised marketing behemoth, I was a proud Trekkie. Even so, I've been peeved at the Star Trek universe since the fourth movie, when Cap -- I mean, Admiral -- Kirk revealed that money won't exist in the 23rd century. Since then, the franchise has exhibited an oft-revisited anti-capitalist bent. (Just run a Google search on "Ferengi.")<br /><br />Well, I'm betting that history in this universe will record that stodgy, old capitalism eventually transformed earthlings into a space-faring species. A small but growing R&D company may profit from this in a big way.<br /><br />Out of this world?<br />SpaceDev (OTC BB: SPDV), previously profiled by Fools Tim Beyers, Seth Jayson, and (long ago) Bill Mann, designs and builds microsatellite and hybrid rocket propulsion systems. The company has a penchant for reducing costs by utilizing off-the-shelf components rather than custom manufacturing. SpaceDev earned some laurels during the summer of 2004, when its hybrid motor (fueled by a mixture of laughing gas and rubber) propelled SpaceShipOne to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize as the first nongovernmental-crewed vehicle to reach space, land, and then return to the heavens within 14 days.<br /><br />The company is amassing a catalog of (relatively) low-cost applied technologies as it develops solutions to fill government contracts. The business plan depends on growing private-sector space utilization and travel. Will it succeed as a one-stop-shop for space mission discount components? Shares of JDS Uniphase (Nasdaq: JDSU), the one-time one-stop-shop for the optics market, have languished for four years, waiting for a revival of its sector.<br /><br />On Oct. 26, SpaceDev announced its intent to acquire Starsys Research. Starsys provides various mechanical systems, structures, and mechanisms that open

 

[yree]

paceDev Closes $5.2 Million Financing<br />Tuesday January 17, 9:51 am ET<br />New and Existing Institutional Investors Fund SpaceDev<br /><br />POWAY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2006--SpaceDev (OTCBB: SPDV - News) raised gross proceeds of approximately $5.2 million through the sale of convertible preferred stock and warrants to a small syndicate of new and existing institutional investors. The proceeds of this financing will be used to pay certain transaction expenses incurred in connection with SpaceDev's acquisition of Starsys, to pay the cash consideration to Starsys shareholders, to repay certain outstanding indebtedness of Starsys and to fund the working capital needs of the combined company.<br /><br />ADVERTISEMENT<br />On October 26, 2005, SpaceDev and Starsys Research Corporation announced the signing of a merger agreement whereby SpaceDev would acquire Starsys as a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceDev. The companies filed a combined registration statement relating to the transaction that was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 2005. Each company has scheduled a meeting of its shareholders to be held on January 30, 2006, and is currently soliciting proxies to vote for approval of the transaction. The transaction is subject to a number of other conditions, but if approved by shareholders, each company expects the transaction to be completed by early February 2006.<br /><br />"This is an exciting time for SpaceDev because this financing gives us the capital needed to complete the merger with Starsys and provides additional working capital to grow the much larger combined company," said Richard Slansky, president and chief financial officer of SpaceDev. "As we embark on the next phase of growth for SpaceDev, we are very pleased to welcome several new institutional investors to our growth story, as well as, renew support from valued existing institutional investors."<br /><br />Mark Sirangelo, chief executive officer and vic

 

[yree]

SpaceDev Completes Acquisition of Starsys Research Corporation<br /><br />Starsys Becomes Subsidiary of SpaceDev After Stockholders Overwhelmingly Approve Merger<br /><br /> <br /><br />POWAY, CA –February 2, 2006--SpaceDev (OTCBB: SPDV) has completed the acquisition of Starsys Research Corporation after each company obtained approval from over 98% of shares voting on the merger and unanimous approvals from both companies’ Board of Directors. The combined company is headquartered in California and maintains operating centers in California, Colorado and North Carolina, with over 50 active projects. It will have almost 200 employees dedicated to the design and manufacture of affordable and innovative space products for commercial, military and civilian government use. <br /><br /> <br /><br />“The merger of SpaceDev and Starsys represents a major milestone for our company and for our industry, and brings us to a new plateau in our corporate development” said Mark N. Sirangelo, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of SpaceDev. “By combining the broad range of high tech space product development and production capabilities of Starsys with SpaceDev’s capabilities for designing and building high performance, low cost satellites, spacecraft and propulsion systems, we are creating a dynamic mid-sized company focused on filling the expanding need for affordable and rapid access to space.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />Starsys designs, engineers and manufactures mechanical systems, structures, and mechanisms that open, close, release, and move components on spacecrafts. This includes motion-control actuators, cover systems, deployment systems, and separation systems. Starsys’ components have been utilized with 100% operational success on over 200 missions, including the Mars Rover, Cassini, and Deep Impact. Starsys’ quality is exemplified by the Mars Rover missions, in which Starsys provided 25 mechanisms for each rover controlling almost everything that moves, including cameras, scienc

 

[yree]

hi <br /> Form 8-K for SPACEDEV INC<br /><br />16-Feb-2006<br /><br />Other Events<br /><br /><br />ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS.<br /><br />On February 15, 2006, the SEC declared effective our registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-131778), Amendment No. 1, which we filed with the SEC on February 14, 2005. We filed this registration statement to register the resale of shares of common stock issued pursuant to a securities purchase agreement entered into in October 2005 with an accredited investor, and shares that may be issued upon exercise of warrants granted in connection with that financing. In addition, the registration statement included shares of common stock that may be issued upon conversion or redemption of shares of our Series D Preferred Stock, which were issued pursuant to a securities purchase agreement entered into in January 2006 with selected accredited investors, shares of common stock that may be issued as dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock or otherwise in connection with the terms applicable to the Series D Preferred Stock and shares of common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of warrants granted in connection with that financing. Our company will not receive any proceeds from sales of common stock by the selling stockholders, but may receive proceeds upon the exercise of warrants held by the selling stockholders.