Will Potentially Assemble And Fly The Lynx II Reusable Suborbital Vehicle From A Florida Spaceport

XCOR Aerospace has officially announced its intent to establish an East Coast U.S. operational base in Florida and as market demand dictates, establish a manufacturing and assembly center for XCOR Lynx Mark II suborbital reusable launch vehicles as well.

With the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex as a backdrop, dignitaries from the space industry, Florida elected officials, XCOR senior executives and the general public gathered to celebrate XCOR’s plans to bring a Lynx suborbital vehicle to Florida to fly from Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility, the Cecil Field Spaceport, or other suitable Florida locations in the next two years. Should the full business plan of XCOR be realized, they will also commence assembly and factory test of Lynx production models - designed Lynx Mark II - on Florida’s Space Coast, starting with Tail #3. Direct job creation through late 2018 is estimated at just over 150.

“As chair of Space Florida, this is the type of investment the Space Florida Board has been working on to attract high-tech, high-wage jobs to Florida,” said Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll. “We are very pleased to welcome XCOR to Florida as a prime example of how utilizing Florida’s existing infrastructure and leveraging our talented workforce capabilities can attract new and growing business to our state.”

“The suborbital marketplace has significant potential and will serve as a key contributor to Florida’s growth in the coming years,” noted Space Florida President Frank DiBello. “We are pleased to be working with XCOR on their operations and manufacturing capabilities here and look forward to watching their Florida-based operations grow.”

“Looking over the KSC Visitor Complex grounds and seeing the history of U.S. human spaceflight and realizing that soon XCOR will be a part of the fabric of the Space Coast is very exciting to me personally and our company” said Jeff Greason, XCOR CEO. “When we started the company back in 1999, we could only have dreamt about the possibility of flying the person on the street or the citizen scientist to space from such an important place.”

“Aerospace is a targeted sector for Florida’s economic growth, therefore, XCOR’s new base, manufacturing operation and subsequent jobs represent a significant win for our state,” said Gray Swoope, president & CEO of Enterprise Florida Inc., the state’s lead economic development organization.  “This project also is the result of strong and effective teamwork between private and public sector partners on the local to state levels who are committed to helping businesses meet their needs and improving Florida’s economy.”

Plans call for XCOR to commence initial operations from a Florida location in 2014 when they plan on bringing the Lynx Mark I prototype for demonstration and pathfinder flights. This will be followed by the basing of a Lynx Mark II production vehicle in Florida, and eventually production of Lynx vehicles and other XCOR products should market demand materialize and the emerging commercial space industry maintain its current momentum.

XCOR’s Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson noted, “The Space Coast has seen a slow wind down of legacy space operations in the past few years, but the new commercial space industry will return high paying aerospace jobs and human spaceflight back to Florida in the very near future, with several scheduled flights a day! We foresee significant positive impacts on the creation of technology clusters and educational opportunities for K-12 and college students.”

The assembled group was addressed by Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll, Space Florida President Frank DiBello, KSC Director Robert Cabana, NASA Chief of Staff David Radzanowski, EDC of Florida’s Space Coast President Lynda Weatherman, KSC Visitor Complex COO Bill Moore, Jacksonville Aviation Authority Sr. Manager of Aviation Planning and Spaceport Development Todd Lindner, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, and XCOR executives including President and Co-Founder Jeff Greason, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson, as well as former Space Shuttle Commander and XCOR Chief Test Pilot, Richard Searfoss.

State Senator and Astronauts Memorial Foundation President Thad Altman, State Representatives Steve Crisafulli and Tom Goodson, Brevard County Commissioners and other notables were in the audience.

In a separate news release, officials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center said they welcome the potential partnership. "We look forward to discussing with XCOR Aerospace and other space companies how Kennedy's unique capabilities may be made available for use," said Kennedy's Center Director Bob Cabana. "This is further evidence that the Space Coast is preparing for the next era of space exploration."

"The next era in space exploration is under way, and the Space Coast of Florida is ground zero," said NASA Chief of Staff David Radzanowski. "The region continues to be a key strategic location for companies, like XCOR, who want to build on our nation's great legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship."

A dynamic infrastructure is taking shape, one designed to host many kinds of spacecraft and rockets sending people on America's next adventures. Negotiations are taking place with other commercial users for Orbiter Processing Facility Bays 1 and 2, as well as with potential commercial users of the Launch Complex 39 launch pads. These and other partnerships will cement Kennedy as a true multiuser spaceport as envisioned by our nation's leadership.

(Images: Top, artist's concept Lynx II, Center, Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Bottom, KSC Shuttle landing facility)

FMI: www.xcor.com, www.nasa.gov