South Korean Space Center Selects XCOR's Lynx For Suborbital
Operations
The Yecheon Astro Space Center has announced that it has
selected XCOR Aerospace as its preferred supplier of suborbital
space launch services. Operating under a wet lease model, XCOR
intends to supply services to the Center using the Lynx Mark II
suborbital vehicle, pending United States government approvals to
station the vehicle in the Republic of Korea.
XCOR is committed to working with the US Department of State,
Department of Defense, Department of Commerce and other agencies of
the US government to comply with relevant laws, regulations,
policies and procedures. XCOR has engaged specialized export
control consultants from the Commonwealth Consulting Group of
Arlington, Virginia, and legal counsel from the Washington, D.C.
office of the international firm Bingham McCutchen, to assist in
this first of a kind effort.
"This is a ground breaking opportunity for our company, our
industry and a very good opportunity for the U.S. to set an example
of responsible international commerce in space transportation,"
said XCOR CEO Jeff Greason.
"To our knowledge, this is the first time that a US commercial
suborbital launch vehicle will undergo the export licensing and
approval process. We believe there is no better pathfinder than
with our partners at the South Korean Yecheon Astro Space
Center."
Yecheon Astro Space Center is a non-profit entity that operates
multiple space related activities including: aerospace training
center; astronomy research center; planetarium; a commercial space
camp with centrifuge; and commercial helicopter tourism operation
in the South Korean State of Gyeongsangbuk-do, approximately 240
kilometers (150 miles) southeast of Seoul.
Working closely with its partners, Yecheon Astro Space Center
has formed a broad coalition of regional and national entities to
fund the approximately $30 Million project to bring the Lynx to
Yecheon for space tourism, educational, scientific and
environmental monitoring missions, making it the early leader in
commercial manned space flight in Asia. Under the envisioned
arrangement, Yecheon will be the exclusive Lynx operational site in
Korea.
"As part of our long term strategic plan, we have performed an
extensive review of the suborbital vehicle suppliers over the past
18 months, and found XCOR's Lynx to be the best mix of safe design,
reliable clean propulsion, skilled team members, full reusability,
ease of operation, turn around time, upfront cost and long term
cost to operate," said Mr Jo Jae-Seong, Founder and Chief Executive
Director of Yecheon Astro Space Center. "We look forward to a long
term relationship with XCOR and Lynx!"
"This is an incredibly important development for the New Space
industry charting a course for other innovative US companies to
flourish here and abroad. It will produce high paying manufacturing
jobs, and allow the innovative spirit of America to take root and
grow a new industry before international participants can catch
up," said XCOR Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Nelson, adding, "I
think the wet lease model is an innovative means to safely operate,
maintain and provide physical security for the Lynx while ensuring
that US export control issues are addressed completely."
XCOR Aerospace 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.
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