MOJAVE, CA, June 30, 2014 (XCOR PR) — XCOR Aerospace announced today that it has closed the acquisition of all operational subsidiaries of Space Expedition Corporation, the previously independent Dutch company also known as SXC. SXC served as XCOR’s general sales agent for XCOR® Lynx® flight sales and as their lead wet lease customer. The new sales entity, XCOR Space Expeditions, will continue to focus on sales, commercial partnerships and participant (customer) training on a global level, and will serve as an open sales channel available for all future XCOR Lynx wet lease clients.

The acquisition signals XCOR’s commitment to being “the most active space flight company in the world” through a marked increase in integrated sales activities and multiple wet lease operations. As the most active spaceflight company in the world, XCOR is poised to become the company which delivers the most value for the price. With its high frequency of flights, XCOR will learn the most the quickest in the emerging commercial spaceflight industry and more customers will benefit from Lynx’s incredible in-the-cockpit experience.

(more…)

AMSTERDAM, June 27, 2014 (SXC PR) – Should the Dutch soccer team win the World Cup, the Dutch space travel company SXC would give them an actual spaceflight, allowing each player to claim the official title ‘Astronaut’ for the rest of his life.

SXC Co-Founder Michiel Mol: “Being a Dutch firm, we feel extremely proud of our team’s current achievements in Brazil. The breathtaking goal of Robin van Persie, and all newspaper headlines about ‘The Flying Dutchman’ have inspired us to also do something extra. We will literally try to take them to the next level; 103 km. The whole selection of 23 players and of course Louis van Gaal.

(more…)

Lynx cockpit view. (Credit: XCOR)

CFIUS Approval Clears XCOR Aerospace’s First Close of Series B Financing

MOJAVE, CA, May 27, 2014 — XCOR Aerospace announced today that the United States Treasury Department’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) has approved the Series B lead investment by Dutch investors. The first closing of XCOR’s new round of finance issued $14.2 million of Series B preferred shares. XCOR will use the funds to bring the XCOR^® Lynx^® suborbital spaceplane to market.

The Series B financing was led by Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) of The Netherlands. Michiel Mol and Mark Hoogendoorn of SXC will join the current five members on the XCOR Board of Directors. The first round also included many existing and new investors including: board member Esther Dyson, Pete Ricketts (co-owner of the Chicago Cubs), and a number of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and early-stage investors. A smaller second closing is scheduled over the summer.

(more…)

Elisa Mallis

Meet Founder Astronaut: Elisa Mallas

SXC May 2014 Mission Report

Tell us a bit about your background.

Growing up between countries, from early childhood I had a strong desire to explore the world and to support the positive evolution of humanity. My journey so far has taken me to work and live in 16 difference countries, including China, where I have been based for the last 7 years with my husband and our two amazing boys. Throughout my career my focus has always been on supporting people to transform toward their full potential. In China I am know as a top authority on Executive Coaching and Developing a Global Mindset, often invited as a speaker at large human capital conferences and business events. I have coached and consulted to numerous managers and senior leaders across the United States, Europe and Asia over the last 14 years, and am currently the Head of Executive Coaching at MDS, a leadership development and executive coaching company with offices in several major cities in Asia – www.mdsbeijing.com From 2011 to 2013, I also served as the European Chamber of Commerce in China’s HR Forum Chair, successfully launching several large events which brought a more holistic and strategic undestanding of people development to the multi-national busienss community in China.

(more…)

TITUSVILLE, Fla. (Astronauts for Hire PR) – Astronauts for Hire is pleased to announce that it is a participating nonprofit organization in the Ticket to Rise campaign. Ticket to Rise is a 90-day fundraising initiative from the Urgency Network that gives anyone a chance to win a trip to space by donating to one of over 100 participating nonprofit organizations. A donation of $10 or more to a participating nonprofit […]

SpaceShipTwo ignites its engine above Koehn Lake on its third powered flight. (Credit: Virgin Galactic)

It was a great story while it lasted, one full of spies, technological espionage, Cold War-style fears, and super power rivalry. And then the story turned into something far stranger.

The news broke two weeks ago that Virgin Galactic is turning away would-be space tourists from China. The reason: strict U.S. export restrictions known as ITAR that are designed to prevent the transfer of sensitive technologies to hostile foreign nations. Visions of Chinese spies signing up for flights and stealing the secrets to this new technology filled numerous news stories in the week that followed.

There was only one problem: the story appears to be only half true.

(more…)

An update on SXC’s expansion into Asia, where it is targeting the growing number of wealthy Chinese adventure travelers: Chinese travellers will be able to undertake space trips by 2014 end following an agreement signed here Friday between a Chinese travel agency and Netherlands-based space tourism firm. Travellers will have to pay a minimum of 580,000 yuan (about $95,000) to board the Lynx Mark I spacecraft produced by the US […]

The 23 winners with Buzz Aldrin. (Credit: SXC)

ORLANDO, Fla. (SXC PR) — Early December an epic event was organized by AXE in Orlando, Florida. Over a 100 participants from all over the world competed a 3-day space academy to win a ticket to space with SXC.

(more…)

Video Caption: Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is launching what no reality TV show has done before with the Milky Way Mission. This format is a competition with local celebrities in which the winner will fly into space with us. Nederland 1, a Dutch broadcaster, has commissioned a season of the reality serie, created by Tuvalu Media and Simpel Media. Sony will focus on spreading the show to the international market.

AMSTERDAM, 13 December 2013 (SXC PR) — Earlier this month, Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) moved its headquarters to Spaces, the flexible office building at Amsterdam Zuidas. From here, the young Dutch company coordinates its worldwide marketing and sales efforts. SXC is currently preparing for the first test flights with the XCOR Lynx spacecraft, which are scheduled halfway into the next year. Michiel Mol (CEO): “Our previous office in Amsterdam Zuid […]