Martin Aircraft seeks funding to get Jetpack off the ground

The New Zealand-based Martin Aircraft Company is continuing test flights and is now seeking investors to help bring the manned Jetpack to market in mid 2013.

Last year, Martin Aircraft entered an intensive flight period that saw an unmanned version reach an altitude of 5,000 feet at a climb rate (which was limited to allow the chase helicopter to keep up) of 800 ft/min (4 m/s) and also involved the first test of its ballistic parachute system.

Additional remote control test flights expanded the flight envelope and the company now reports that the unmanned version is now regularly being flown at speeds of 50 km/h (31 mph) in winds of 15 km/h (9 mph).

A manned flight demonstration that is likely to take place in Auckland, has also been planned for later this year.

To get the Jetpack to market, Martin Aircraft is seeking 100 investors willing to put in US$20,000 each.

The company hopes this will allow it to release a manned Jetpack aimed at search and rescue, law enforcement and other Government services by mid 2013, with the personal version launching about a year later.

The company also plans an IPO later this year or early next year.



Source: Martin Aircraft

Sierra Nevada Corp Dream Chaser begins test flights for NASA

The Dream Chaser Space System (DCSS) spacecraft, being developed by US space company Sierra Nevada Corporation to carry cargo and astronauts, has begun its test flight program with a successful captive carry flight.

May 29 2012 saw the craft have its first captive carry flight that met all the pre-established flight test goals.

The Dream Chaser is being developed under NASA's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) Program whereby commercial space businesses will transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

The test flight marked the 12th milestone under the CCDev Program. The development program will continue building up towards an autonomous Approach and Landing Test later in the summer, to be conducted at the Edwards Air Force Base.

Steve Lindsey, an astronaut who commnaded five Space Shuttle missions, was appointed by SNC in 2011 to run the Dream Chaser's flight operations.

Commenting on the captive carry flight Lindsey said: "The successful Captive Carry flight test of the Dream Chaser full scale flight vehicle marks the beginning of SNC's flight test program; a program that culminates in crewed missions to the International Space Station for NASA."

The Dream Chaser is a reusable spacecraft that launches vertically and lands horizontally on a conventional runway.

The Dream Chaser is being designed to carry up to 7 astronauts, as well as cargo, into orbit, in particular to and from the International Space Station.

SNC are aiming for the Dream Chaser to be ready to enter operational service by 2016.
With the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011 NASA’s strategy is to use commercial businesses to service low-Earth orbit.


Read More of this article here: Dream Chaser begins test flights

NASA Agree SpaceX Dragon can Make First Private Flight to Space Station

A "milestone" in spaceflight is expected Feb. 7, when Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will launch its second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services demonstration flight, with NASA agreeing to fly SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station.

This launch will make SpaceX the first private company ever to launch an unmanned cargo flight to the ISS. The vehicle will dock with the station, carrying a payload of supplies.

"SpaceX has made incredible progress over the last several months preparing Dragon for its mission to the space station," said William Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate.

According to Gerstenmaier, while there is still critical work to be done before launch, the teams are ready to complete it and are prepared for unexpected challenges.

"As with all launches, we will adjust the launch date as needed to gain sufficient understanding of test and analysis results to ensure safety and mission success," he said.

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will conduct a series of check-out procedures during the flight that will test and prove its systems in advance of the rendezvous with the station, including the operation of its sensors and flight systems necessary for a safe rendezvous, NASA said.

"SpaceX is on the forefront of demonstrating how a partnership between the government and private industry can lead to new capabilities and provide a large return on investment," said Alan Lindenmoyer, program manager for COTS at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA's COTS program aims to stimulate efforts within the private sector to develop and demonstrate safe, reliable and cost-effective space transportation. According to NASA, this program will spur the innovation and development of new spacecraft and launch vehicles from commercial industry, creating a new system of delivering cargo to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station.

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell commended NASA's support on the project.

"SpaceX is excited to be the first commercial company in history to berth with the International Space Station. This mission will mark a historic milestone in the future of spaceflight."

NASA has announced the launch target for SpaceX's spacecraft pending completion of final safety reviews, testing and verification.

Moon Express Lander Development - The Prequel - YouTube

In this prequel to the Moon Express Lander Development webisodes, company co-founder & CEO Bob Richards narrates an overview of his Phoenix Mars Lander experience and the very different challenges of landing on the Moon.

The company is executing a technical strategy of developing and testing new landing technologies utilizing a rapid-prototyping Lander Test Vehicle platform in the adaptation of NASA's Common Spacecraft Bus to a lunar lander.

For the first time, Bob gives a public peak inside the project and the Hover Test Facility located a the NASA Research Park in Silicon Valley, California.

Video Myles o'Brian - What's Next for NASA?

Veteran space news reporting team takes you inside the world's space programs: private, public, military and civilian