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Xprize runner IOS: Forget 2008 - Private Space flights in 2006!
Dec 13, 2004 18: 15 EST
Previously published Nov 2, 2004 16: 50 EST
The X Prize is gone, but Interorbital Systems are still around, pushing to open the space frontier for you and me...and to grab another, even juicier, award!
Raised stakes
Interorbital is currently constructing two new rockets: the Nano, which will send tiny satellites into orbit, and the Neptune, a rocket capable of ferrying up to eight people into orbit.
The team plans to compete for the 50 million America's Space Prize offered by entrepreneur Bob Bigelow (that's right - the Las Vegas Budget Suites) for a private vehicle that can carry passengers to Earth orbit. "The fact that this orbital prize has come up is really interesting to us," team co-leader Randa Milliron told MSNBC.com.
Privately funded
Interorbital Systems (IOS), founded in 1996, is a privately funded aerospace corporation based in Mojave, California. The company develops, manufactures, and tests liquid rocket engines, space launch vehicles, and spacecraft. In addition, IOS provides end-to-end space launch services for its own vehicles.
Private space flights next year!
IOS was working on a two stage vertical launched roket, the Solaris X, to run for the the Ansari price. Now the development team has readjusted their agenda and targets the Neptune space craft, the chosen one for an ambitious aim: To begin the world’s first scheduled orbital tourism space flights in late 2006! The company has even ‘promotional fare’ tickets available.
Seven astronaut-tourists
The Neptune vehicle is expected to be certified for orbital tourism operations in 2006, according to IOS website. “It will be capable of placing one astronaut-pilot and seven astronaut-tourists into a twenty-one degree, 250-mile altitude low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) for a period of up to seven days. The spacecraft in designed with the highest regards for safety and comfort.”
"...and the rest of the Solar System!"
CEO Randa Milliron assures that “Interorbital Systems’ goal is to carry both cargo and humans between Earth and Moon and eventually to the rest of the Solar System!”
Roderick Milliron is IOS’ Rocket Systems Engineer, Chief Scientist, and President. With over twenty years of aerospace experience, Mr. Milliron is an expert in the design of liquid rocket engines, propellant delivery hardware, and rocket guidance systems. He is also responsible for the complete launch vehicle design specifications.
Randa Relich Milliron is the IOS Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Milliron is in charge of all IOS rocket hardware component testing, as well as the coordination of promotion, sales and marketing. Randa also handles regulatory, export, and launch licensing matters with the FAA, AST (Office of Commercial Space Transportation), and State Department.
Image of Randa and Roderick courtesy of X Prize
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