Rocketplane Updates

Rocketplane Limited, Inc., working out of their offices located in Oklahoma City, has taken time out of their busy schedules and Space Grant conferences to send www.xprizenews.org some of their latest team updates:

Here are the new company phone numbers, yet to be updated on the www.xprize.org team page.

-Oklahoma City Office-

Local Number: 405-488-1200

Fax Number: 405-488-1204

Toll Free Number: 877-238-0057

 
The Oklahoma Tax Commision has recently named Rocketplane Limited, Inc. as a qualified space transportation provider under the guidelines specified in SB 817. For more information, read the RedNova article discussing the news here.

The corporation has also begun working on their engineering test bed. The first stress tests are scheduled to take place sometime in September at Burns Flat, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Agency plans on using these test results and the future tests of the Rocketplane XP engines and components to license the site at Burns Flat as an official reusable launch vehicle site of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Rocketplane XP will be using the ORBITEC reusable rocket engine. This engine will enable the rocket to reach an altitude of over 60 miles while traveling at speeds in excess of 2,000 feet per second (4,100 miles per hour). At apogee, occupants will experience 3-4 minutes of zero gravity before returning to the landing strip in Burns Flat.

As long as testing and development continue at the current pace, Rocketplane plans to begin flights in early 2007.

More information will be coming soon, as www.xprizenews.org plans to stay in touch with Rocketplane representatives.

*Special thanks to Team Pioneer Rocketplane at Rocketplane Limited, Inc. and to their Public Relations representative, Chrissy Paape, for their time and information*