UP Aerospace's SpaceLoft vehicle

One of the goals of the U.S. military is to be able to quickly build and launch payloads into space in order to respond to situations that might arise. The military took a step toward that goal with an experiment earlier this month in New Mexico.

ORS PRESS RELEASE

The Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office participated in the successful launch of the UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL rocket from Spaceport America carrying a payload built in less than one week. The launch took place on May 4 at approximately 6:45 a.m. MDT.

“I applaud the launch and payload teams and am pleased that the ORS payload provided yet another demonstration of our enablers of rapid spacecraft build, integration, test and launch,” said Dr. Peter Wegner, Director, ORS Office. “This launch proved to be a very cost effective way to demonstrate key ORS enabling models of rapid development and build of a payload, integration and test of the payload, and identification and assurance of payload technical readiness. We continue to address the military’s need for responsive, affordable and flexible space systems by using off the shelf components to support a variety of future missions,” added Wegner.

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SPACEPORT AMERICA PRESS RELEASE

New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) officials announced a successful launch today for aerospace manufacturing company Moog-FTS at Spaceport America. The launch was a test of a ground-launched UAV prototype. All test objectives were met during the vehicle’s low altitude suborbital trajectory.

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UP Aerospace Spaceloft XL rocket lifts off from Spaceport America in New Mexico on May 2, 2009.

Leonard David at Space.com reports that an incorrect flight parameter caused UP Aerospace’s SpaceLoft XL rocket to fail during a launch from Spaceport America on Saturday:

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UP Aerospace Spaceloft XL rocket lifts off from Spaceport America in New Mexico on May 2, 2009.

Officials are investigating why a suborbital UP Aerospace rocket launched on Saturday from New Mexico failed to reach space.

The SpaceLoft XL rocket – packed with experiments and the ashes of 16 people – failed to reach its 70-mile target altitude. It’s not clear what altitude the vehicle reached. The payload did separate from the booster and landed by parachute.

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SPACEPORT AMERICA PRESS RELEASE

Today’s successful launch of the UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL rocket for the SL-3 Education launch is another successful step in developing the world’s first commercial spaceport. Spaceport America and the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium created history with this first annual Education Launch that provided New Mexico students the opportunity to design and launch scientific experiments into space.

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PRESS RELEASE

The New Mexico Spaceport Authority is planning to webcast Saturday’s SL-3 Education launch live on Saturday, May 2. The UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL rocket is scheduled for launch at 8 a.m. MDT, and can be seen live on the Internet at the Spaceport America website (www.SpaceportAmerica.com).

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Ralph White

BASED ON A CELESTIS PRESS RELEASE

Award-winning cinematographer Ralph White, who documented the wreck of the Titanic, will be among 16 people who will have their ashes launched into space on May 2.

UP Aerospace’s Spaceloft XL suborbital rocket will carry the remains to an altitude of 70 miles above New Mexico’s Spaceport America. The payload will land by parachute for recovery.

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PRESS RELEASE

Spaceport America and the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium will conduct the first annual education launch from Spaceport America at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2009. This historic SL-3 mission will utilize a SpaceLoft XL launch vehicle provided by participating sponsor UP Aerospace and will include 11 multi-sensor experiments designed and created by students from New Mexico schools. The launch is open to the public by RSVP via coach transportation at $10 per person. No private vehicles are allowed to the launch site.

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UP Aerospace founder Eric Knight has come up with a novel idea for what to do with the space shuttles after they are retired next year: send them on a one-way trip to Mars.

His plan:

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Indie Space Ventures Blast Off CNN Money “There’s not much to see at the future home of Spaceport America, touted as ground zero for commercial rocket traffic. Deep in the New Mexico desert, you’ll find shrubs, scorpions – and Jerry Larson. His company, Up Aerospace, has signed on as the first tenant of the $220 million spaceport, where construction will begin in 2009…. “Larson’s former employer, Lockheed Martin, got the […]