Less Expensive Space Travel? Sign Us Up!

On Tuesday, XCOR Aerospace will unveil its General Sales Agent for ticket sales on flights onboard its upcoming 2-seat Lynx rocket-powered suborbital launch vehicle, and will announce a price it claims will be substantially lower than prices quoted by its competitors.

XCOR will introduce its new partner -- "a well-known and established travel entrepreneur with extensive experience in high-end adventure travel," according to XCOR -- who will outline the total Lynx flight experience, from initial screening, to training, and finally, the flight itself.

The first commercial Lynx suborbital space flight participant will also attend the conference, a European adventurer who aims to be the first person from his country to make a suborbital flight.

Three-time shuttle pilot and commander, Col. Rick Searfoss (USAF-Ret) will describe the Lynx flight experience from the point of view of a test pilot and astronaut.

XCOR CEO Jeff Greason and COO Andrew Nelson will also attend. They will discuss design features that allow the Lynx to minimize its environmental impact: non-toxic propellants, clean-burning efficient engines, and a fully reusable system.

Chris Gilman, Founder and Chief Designer of Orbital Outfitters, a NASA spacesuit contractor, will join the press conference wearing the special spacesuit to be worn by all who fly aboard the Lynx. Gilman is also a renowned special effects expert who won an Academy Award for the "Cool Suit" climate control system used by actors in heavy costume.

Announced earlier this year, the Lynx will not rely on a separate launch vehicle to ascend skyward... but will instead take off like a conventional, albeit rocket-powered, aircraft, then climb skyward. Following approximately five minutes in weightlessness, Lynx will glide down to Earth, and land in a similar manner to NASA's space shuttle.

FMI: www.xcor.com