Former Energy Secretary, UN Ambassador and current New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and a group of 160 prominent business leaders from his state visited XCOR Aerospace and the Mojave Air and Space Port in a bid to learn more about the top players in the new commercial space launch industry.

Richardson and his group arrived on a chartered 737 flight and were given a whirlwind tour of XCOR that included talks by key XCOR personnel, culminating in a live rocket engine demonstration. (more)

Esther Dyson, an XCOR investor, advisor and longtime commercial space advocate was named recently by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to chair one of four new NASA Advisory Council (NAC) committees. Dyson now heads the Technology and Innovation Committee that will advise and make recommendations to Bolden and NASA senior management on agency programs, policies and operations. Her appointment came after NASA announced restructuring of the NAC.  (read more)

XCOR is looking forward to utilizing their partnership with Airgas during upcoming test programs for Lynx-related propulsion systems. Standing next to an engineering study for the propellant loading systems on Lynx, XCOR CEO Jeff Greason commented, "XCOR is proud to be sponsored by a Fortune 500 company for our liquid oxygen and pressurant needs as we move forward with further engine and cold flow tests."

Testing to be performed as part of an outside contract includes LOX loading and unloading procedures for the Lynx suborbital spacecraft. This testing builds on extensive experience in quick-turnaround operations developed during the Prototype X-Racer flight program. Airgas propellant will also be utilized in the next part of the Lynx main propulsion test program, scheduled to begin later this year. In addition, XCOR is continuing development on the cryogen-compatible version of its rocket propellant piston pump.