Rocketplane Kistler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rocketplane Kistler (RpK), based in Oklahoma City, is an umbrella enterprise consisting of two private aerospace firms dedicated to establishing a reusable spacecraft industry. The enterprise was formed in 2006 by Rocketplane Limited, Inc. and its newly acquired subsidiary, Kistler Aerospace.
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[edit] K-1 launch vehicle
Rocketplane Kistler's primary project is the K-1 launch vehicle, a reusable launch system which is intended to get as high as geosynchronous orbit, and is hoped to compete with NASA's relatively expensive, one-shot rockets for servicing of the International Space Station.
[edit] Corporate history
Kistler Aerospace was a private company attempting to develop fully reusable vehicles capable of earth orbit at a minimal price.
In February 2006, Kistler was purchased by the majority owner of Rocketplane, a competing reusable, private spacecraft firm. Kistler Aerospace will continue to operate, but using the name Rocketplane Kistler. The two companies apparently will continue to exist separately, but will work together[citation needed].
[edit] NASA launch partnership
In August 2006, NASA announced that Rocketplane Kistler had been chosen, along with SpaceX,[1] to develop crew and cargo launch services, aka Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS), for the International Space Station. The plan calls for demonstration flights between 2008 and 2010. Rocketplane Kistler would receive up to $207 million if they met all NASA milestones.[2][3][4]
In November 2006, Rocketplane Kistler and Alliant Techsystems announced that Alliant Techsystems will become the lead contractor for Rocketplane Kistler’s K-1 launch vehicle.[5]
[edit] Unmet financial milestones
In September 2006, Rocketplane Kistler began to miss financial milestones associated with the COTS agreement, and requested and received from NASA a 30-day extension on the milestone for completing its $40 million initial financing round.[6] In February 2007 RpK renegotiated its COTS agreement, agreeing to raise the $500 million of required private financing before the end of May.
By August 2007, RpK had failed to obtain that financing, forcing them to cut their workforce.[7]
On September 7, 2007, NASA notified Rocketplane Kistler that the COTS agreement would be terminated in 30 days due to continued inability to meet its financial milestones.[8] NASA announced in October 2007 that it had terminated funding for the project. [9]
[edit] References
- ^ Jones, Thomas D. (December 2006). "Techwatch-Resident Astronaut". Popular Mechanics 183 (12): 31. ISSN 0032-4558.
- ^ NASA selects crew, cargo launch partners. Spaceflight Now (18 August 2006). Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ NASA Selects Crew and Cargo Transportation to Orbit Partners. SpaceRef (18 August 2006). Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ Boyle, Alan (18 August 2006). SpaceX, Rocketplane win spaceship contest. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ Rocketplane Kistler (8 November 2006). "Rocketplane Kistler and ATK Announce Agreement for K-1 Launch Vehicle and COTS Program". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ Berger, Brian. "NASA Shows Patience as Private Spaceflight Firm Hunts Financing", Space.com, 1 August 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ Pasztor, Andy. "Rocketplane Cuts Workforce As Financial Woes Mount", Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on 2007-09-02.
- ^ Berger, Brian. "NASA Gives Rocketplane Kistler Termination Notice", Space.com, September 7, 2007.
- ^ Dickey, Beth. "NASA to Open New Competition for Space Transportation Seed Money", NASA, October 17, 2007.
[edit] External links
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