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XCOR Aerospace Announces Significant Propulsion Milestone on Lynx Suborbital Vehicle
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28.03.2013
The XCOR® Lynx® rocket propulsion system is tested under full piston pump power.
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March 26, 2013, Mojave, California - XCOR Aerospace today announced a first in aviation and space history, the firing of a full piston pump-powered rocket engine. This breakthrough is the foundation for fully reusable spacecraft that can fly multiple times per day, every day. It is a game changing technology that has the power to fundamentally alter the way we as a society view, visit, and utilize the abundant resources around our planet and in our solar system.
The initial portion of XCOR's pump test program culminated in a 67-second engine run with the propulsion system mated to the flight weight Lynx fuselage. After the installation of the flight sized liquid oxygen tank, the next test sequence will extend the engine run duration to the full powered flight duration of the Lynx Mark I suborbital vehicle.
“Through use of our proprietary rocket propellant piston pumps we deliver both kerosene and liquid oxygen to our rocket engines and eliminate the need for heavy, high-pressure fuel and oxidizer tanks. It also enables our propulsion system to fly multiple times per day and last for tens of thousands of flights,” said XCOR Chief Executive Officer Jeff Greason. “This is one more step toward a significant reduction in per-flight cost and turnaround time, while increasing overall flight safety.”
Boeing provided additional funding to complete the XCOR test sequence and advance low-cost rocket propulsion technology. The demonstrated results of the full pump fed engine firing for extended periods helps to ensure the technology migrates into broader global applications.
“Unlike the expensive and finicky turbopumps on today’s rocket propulsion systems, XCOR’s piston pumps are designed to be as powerful in their thrust class as turbines, but as easy to manufacture, maintain and operate as an automotive engine,” said XCOR Chief Operating Officer Andrew Nelson. “This is the culmination of a 12 year program to develop this unique technology. The kerosene piston pump has been successfully flight-proven during our 40-flight test program on the X-Racer aircraft. We’ll be entering another flight test program soon with Lynx and these pumps and engines will power XCOR and the industry to the next level.”
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About XCOR Aerospace: XCOR Aerospace is on the verge of becoming the most active spaceflight company in the world based on our safer, reliable and reusable rocket-powered vehicles, propulsion systems, advanced non-flammable composites and rocket piston pumps. XCOR is building Lynx, a piloted, two-seat, fully reusable liquid rocket-powered vehicle that takes-off and lands horizontally. The Lynx-family of vehicles serves three primary missions depending on their specific type including: research & scientific missions, private spaceflight, and micro satellite launch (only on the Lynx Mark III). Lynx production models (designated Lynx Mark II) are designed to be robust, multi-mission (research / scientific or private spaceflight) commercial vehicles capable of flying to 100+ km in altitude up to four times per day. Lynx vehicles are available to customers in the free world on a wet lease basis. XCOR also works with aerospace prime contractors and government customers on major propulsion systems development. XCOR Aerospace is based in Mojave, California and is creating a new Research and Development Center in Midland, Texas.
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Quelle: XCOR
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Update: 5.04.2014
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XCOR Aerospace Announces Brian Binnie as Newest Test Pilot
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Commercial Astronaut Brian Binnie
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Celebrated Aviator, Commercial Astronaut and Engineer Adds to XCOR’s Depth and Experience Base
Mojave, CA – XCOR Aerospace announced today that celebrated aviator, test pilot, engineer and commercial astronaut Brian Binnie has joined the company as Senior Test Pilot.
As Senior Test Pilot, Binnie will be working with another celebrated pilot and astronaut, XCOR Chief Test Pilot and former Space Shuttle Pilot and Commander, US Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Richard (Rick) Searfoss.
“Brian and I have been friends and colleagues for many years and I have always wanted to work together in a flying environment,” noted Searfoss. “Combining our backgrounds as government and commercial astronauts and our broad experience across a number of rocket powered craft, I feel this builds on XCOR’s strong culture that emphasizes safety and professionalism.”
“Brian, Dan DeLong and I worked together at Rotary Rocket,” said XCOR Founder and CEO Jeff Greason. “He was a consummate professional and leader there, and we’ve stayed in close contact over the years, so I know he will make a great contribution to our efforts at XCOR and getting the Lynx flying soon.”
"I'm very pleased to be part of the XCOR Team and look forward to working with friends and colleagues on many of the exciting development efforts at XCOR including the family of Lynx vehicles," noted Binnie, “I look forward to seeing the Lynx flying soon and making a contribution to the program.”
Brian Binnie is a decorated aviator having piloted the Ansari X-Prize award winning flight that broke the winged aircraft altitude record previously held by the X-15. He also was the pilot of a unique prototype of a single stage to orbit system, the Roton Rocket Atmospheric Test Vehicle, from Rotary Rocket. Binnie has over 5300 hours of flight time in 85 different aircraft types and 29 years experience as a test pilot. A former Naval Aviator, he is a retired Commander having flown the A-7 Corsair, the A-6 Intruder, the F/A-18 Hornet and the AV-8B Harrier. He is a 1988 Graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School, received his Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering and Masters in Thermodynamics from Brown University and received a second Masters Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Princeton University.
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Left to right: Engineers Mike Valant and Brandon Litt prepare to test fit a custom titanium beam into the Lynx strake.
Quelle: XCOR Aerospace
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Update: 10.04.2014
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XCOR Aerospace Receives Lynx Mark I Cockpit
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The XCOR® Lynx® Mark I cockpit in its shipping cradle; in the background the fuselage and liquid oxygen tank being prepped for integration and testing
Vehicle Integration Commences
09 April 2014, Mojave, CA – XCOR Aerospace announced today that the XCOR® Lynx® Mark I cockpit has been delivered. AdamWorks engineers, along with XCOR engineers, performed several successful pressure tests before it was packed and shipped to XCOR .
The cockpit is the principal major subassembly XCOR needs to begin assembly of the Lynx suborbital spaceplane.
“The successful pressure testing of the Lynx cockpit and its delivery is a major milestone for us,” said XCOR Founder and CEO Jeff Greason. “This will enable us to accelerate toward integration, ground testing and first flight over the rest of this year.”
Andrew Nelson, Chief Operating Officer of XCOR added, “Our clients and partners are very happy to see this significant sign of progress. I could not be more happy with our designers, engineers and team who have worked so hard on this major accomplishment. We are that much closer to suborbital operations.”
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Update: 14.08.2014
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XCOR Lynx Spacecraft Lands at Monterey Jet Center
Full-scale Lynx Mockup to be On Display Tonight at Gordon McCall Motorworks Revival
Full-scale Lynx Mockup to be On Display Tonight at Gordon McCall Motorworks Revival
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August 13, 2014, Monterey, California - XCOR Aerospace presents its XCOR® Lynx® spacecraft full scale MODEL as part of tonight’s Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival 2014, at the Monterey Jet Center. Dubbed a “Space Corvette” by Popular Mechanics, Lynx is a two-seat, fully reusable spaceplane DESIGNED to rocket XCOR customers to the edge of space in five minutes. Piloted by NASA Space Shuttle Commander Rick Searfoss, Lynx is currently under construction at the XCOR hangar in Mojave, California.
Participants in tonight’s festivities “will step into Lynx and experience firsthand what life will be like 62 miles above Earth.” said XCOR representative Greg Claxton. Lynx engineers are present to discuss the spacecraft and answer any questions participants may have.
Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival founder, Gordon McCall, noted that the event’s deep links with aviation history led to collaboration with XCOR Aerospace. “This is truly a first in the intersection between the future of space exploration and luxury AUTOMOBILES. It’s the natural next step for us. As the first to merge both aviation and automotive into one event at Monterey Car Week, we are honored to reach new heights with XCOR.”
“As the SPORTS CAR of spacecraft, XCOR Lynx is being built with the same care and craftsmanship found under the hoods of the best cars here this week.” added Claxton. “That itself is a revolution in design.”
Quelle; XCOR Aerospace, Inc.
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Update: 19.12.2014
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Die XCOR Lynx® suborbitalen Raumsonde macht rasche Fortschritte in Richtung Endmontage
Mojave, CA, Dec 18, 2014 – The XCOR Lynx® suborbital spacecraft continues to make rapid progress towards final assembly. Immediately after bonding the cockpit to the fuselage the shop crews set up for the delicate and precise operation of bonding the carry-through spar on to the rear end of the Lynx fuselage.
“The carry-through spar is the heart of the loading structure on any winged craft – it supports the primary load of the wings and carries that load through the fuselage,” says XCOR CEO Jeff Greason. “Attaching the spar on a composite vehicle is a one-way operation, so it has to be done right the first time."
“We’re really excited to have achieved this step. It paves the way for the strakes to be attached as the next step. Thanks to the hard work of the composites crew, we’re proceeding at a very rapid pace toward first flight.”
To correctly locate the spar, the Lynx rocket truss was temporarily removed from its own test stand and placed on the vehicle itself for the first time, an exciting moment in and of itself. After a lot of prep work for both the fuselage and the spar, composites technicians spent several days carefully aligning the spar to ensure perfect symmetry, then began to bond it in place.
“This was our Thanksgiving present,” says XCOR composites shop manager Jeff Smith. “We applied the final glue layers on Wednesday just before the holiday, and removed the support equipment over the weekend. We’re looking forward to the next big step, integration of the wing strakes onto the Lynx.”
After the spar was installed the entire structure, from front to back was load tested to the equivalent of 6G re-entry, while in the test area the cabin was pressurized to 11 PSI, the first pressure test after being bonded to the fuselage.
About Lynx:
The Lynx is a two-seat, piloted space transport vehicle that will take humans and payloads on a half-hour suborbital flight to 100 km (330,000 feet) and then return safely to a landing at the takeoff runway. It is the only fully reusable suborbital spacecraft in production.
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The XCOR Lynx suborbital rocketplane under construction as of December, 2014. Fuselage, cockpit and Carry-through-spar are bonded, propulsion system test-mounted, sans propellant pumps.
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The XCOR Lynx suborbital rocketplane under construction as of December, 2014. Fuselage, cockpit and Carry-through-spar are bonded.
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The XCOR Lynx suborbital rocketplane under construction as of December, 2014. Carry through spar bonded to fuselage and load tested.
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The Lynx cockpit, fuselage and strakes are shown at XCOR headquarters in Mojave
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The Lynx cockpit, fuselage and strakes are shown at XCOR headquarters in Mojave
Quelle: XCOR
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