XCOR + Masten for NASA landers

[docm]

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=30887

XCOR and Masten Announce Strategic Relationship for NASA Landers Business

PRESS RELEASE
Date Released: Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Source: XCOR Aerospace

XCOR Aerospace and Masten Space Systems, two of the leaders in the New Space sector, have announced a strategic business and technology relationship to pursue jointly the anticipated NASA sponsored unmanned lander projects. These automated lander programs are expected to serve as robotic test beds on Earth, on the lunar surface, Mars, near Earth objects and other interplanetary locales, helping NASA push the boundaries of technology and opening the solar system for future human exploration.

Masten's award winning automated vertical take off, vertical landing (VTVL) flight vehicles combined with XCOR’s strong experience in liquid oxygen (LOX) / methane powered propulsion systems and nonflammable cryogenically compatible composite tanks, brings to NASA a powerful and competitive combination of innovative talent with a proven record of producing exceptional results quickly and affordably.

Last October, Masten won the $1 million first prize for Level II of NASA's Lunar Lander Challenge, beating out a host of New Space rivals, and demonstrating they are the leading VTVL development group in the country. In 2007 XCOR Aerospace’s LOX/methane engine, developed for NASA, was named by Time Magazine as one of the "Inventions of the Year", recognizing XCOR's successive advancement in the state of the art of both pump and pressure fed reusable, throttle-able rocket propulsion systems. XCOR and Masten have also demonstrated the ability to rapidly take from concept to live fire, new propulsion and control system designs using innovative rapid prototyping techniques that surpass client requirements in much shorter periods of time than traditional aerospace methods.
Dave Masten, founder and President of Masten Space Systems commented "Masten Space and XCOR are next door neighbors here in Mojave. We've worked together on many tactical problems over the years and our corporate cultures mesh well. Working together on something like this simply made too much sense. We can’t wait to start working with Jeff, Dan, and the XCOR team to help NASA build affordable and responsive landing platforms."

"Our company work ethic and styles are very compatible, and with XCOR propulsion and Masten VTVL technology, we can solve problems of national interest, and I am excited about the possibilities," said Jeff Greason, CEO and Founder of XCOR.

Andrew Nelson, Chief Operating Officer of XCOR added, "It's a no brainer, Dave's team is the absolute best New Space company when it comes to VTVL and autopilot unmanned operations - they demonstrated that in October by winning NASA's lander challenge. And we feel our LOX/methane engines are unsurpassed in the trade space today by anyone. We should bring this tandem set of best in class capabilities to NASA, it just makes sense for them and for us."

XCOR and Masten will be jointly marketing their skill sets and services to the NASA community as prime contractors, and as joint teaming partners for larger systems integrators and prime contractors servicing the NASA community.

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XCOR Aerospace is a California corporation located in Mojave, California. The company is in the business of developing and producing safe, reliable and reusable rocket powered vehicles, propulsion systems, advanced non-flammable composites and other enabling technologies for responsive private space flight, scientific missions, upper atmospheric research, and small satellite launch to low earth orbit. The Lynx is a piloted, two seat, fully reusable, liquid rocket powered vehicle that takes off and lands horizontally. The Lynx production models (designated Lynx Mark II) are designed to be robust, multi-commercial mission vehicles capable of flying to 100+ km in altitude up to four times per day. XCOR's web address is:www.xcor.com.

Masten Space Systems is a Mojave, CA based aerospace company developing fully reusable vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) launch vehicles, rocket-related products, and engineering services. The company's 6000 square foot production facility and 200,000 square foot testing facility is located on the Mojave Air and Space Port. The company designs and builds aerospace solutions that focus on durability, long operational lifetimes, and minimal per-flight maintenance. For more information on the company see http://masten-space.com

 

[EarthlingX]

Related thread :
SDC : Masten Space Systems Completes NGLLC Level One

masten-space.com : Masten Space Re-Lights Rocket Engine in Flight

MOJAVE, Calif., May 26 /PRNewswire/ — Masten Space Systems, a leader in vertical take off, vertical landing (VTVL) rocket vehicles, successfully demonstrated in-air engine re-light capability today at the company’s test facility in Mojave, CA. Xombie, Masten’s most-flown vehicle, carried out the test Wednesday and became the first VTVL vehicle to successfully re-light a rocket engine in flight.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01FcUEjwDkk[/youtube]

 

[nimbus]

It's borderline off-topic, so if you don't want it in this thread, say so and I'll delete & ask elsewhere.

Can someone remember what company it was that had done some bad deeds for space industry (vague memory of it being new space people) a few years back? Something typically old school, shafting some guys or company and having the insolence of refusing the blame for it because they knew they could get away with it?.. Was it XCOR, or ATK, or... ? This was around the time of the X-Prize, or some other very early development in New Space beginnings.

 

[docm]

Sounds like Rocketplane, later to become Rocketplane-Kistler (RpK) during the COTS competition. Lamers.

 

[nimbus]

That's right. Thank you.

 

[EarthlingX]

Some news about Rocketplane :

http://www.okgazette.com : Rocketplane, which received $18 million in Oklahoma tax credits, filed for bankruptcy last month

Wednesday, July 07, 2010
By Scott Cooper and Ben Fenwick

What started out as a dream of rockets in the Oklahoma sky and money flowing from space enthusiasts has finally ended.

George French Jr., owner of Rocketplane Global, decided a mountain of debt and expectations of the same altitude were too much to burden and filed for bankruptcy. He filed the Chapter 7 bankruptcy papers in his home state of Wisconsin, but Oklahomans are suffering the loss.

 

[docm]

LONG overdue. Even bigger lamers.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.onorbit.com : Video: Xombie Goes For Another Smooth Ride

Submitted by keithcowing
on Fri, 07/30/2010 - 19:28.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J19n3bcc4Jw[/youtube]

mastenspace | July 28, 2010

28 July 2010 was nice day for flying rockets. This video is what you might see if you were strapped to one of the landing gear legs of our rocket Xombie. No, you cannot book rides. This is mostly a training flight for new employees starting at Masten Space. We also just plain like flying rockets, so we make excuses such as needing regular flights to "stay proficient". The management buys it, so we get out of the office. We are working hard on some really cool stuff that we won't talk about yet. Do I make you shiver with antici,,,,,,,,,,,,,,pation?