In the wake of hiring retired NASA space shuttle astronaut and decorated Naval pilot Robert "Hoot" Gibson as COO and chief test pilot, Benson Space Company (BSC) has agreed to a proposal from SpaceDev, which will undertake the Phase I development of the SpaceDev Dream Chaser spaceship. The agreement marks a significant milestone that advances BSC toward the launching pad and promises to shepherd in the era of personal spaceflight.
Established in September 2006 by SpaceDev founder Jim Benson, BSC seeks to provide the first, safest and lowest cost astronaut-making spaceflights for the emerging space tourism market.
"It's official — we've begun our countdown to what I expect will be BSC's first suborbital flights by the end of 2008," said Benson, who until recently served as chairman and CTO of SpaceDev, a company that develops a wide variety of advanced, innovative space technologies. "BSC is on schedule to win this historic race to space."
The initial development of Phase I is a five-month project that will result in a critical design review and approval process for the suborbital Dream Chaser spaceship, which is based NASA's design of the HL-20 Personnel Launch System. Upon completion of Phase I, the Dream Chaser and its rocket motors will be ready for fabrication, to be followed by months of rigorous testing, including ground firings of the rocket motors, glide tests of the Dream Chaser and, finally, powered Dream Chaser flights.
"We look forward to undertaking this exciting project with Jim, and to completing this first-phase contract in March 2007," offered Mark N. Sirangelo, chairman and CEO of SpaceDev. "We are confident that we can assist Jim Benson and BSC to routinely take civilians to space, and we are proud to provide the technical know-how and products to make that a reality."
earlier related report
SpaceDev Awarded Study Contract by Benson Space Company
Poway CA (SPX) Dec 20 – SpaceDev has been awarded a $330,000 Phase I study contract from Benson Space Company to further the SpaceDev Dream Chaser spaceship program. The study will contribute to the on-going development of the spaceship and will result in space vehicle and rocket motor designs ready for Phase II vehicle fabrication and testing. The SpaceDev Dream Chaser spaceship is based on NASA's design of the ten passenger orbital HL-20 Personnel Launch System, and will launch vertically and land horizontally in direct sight of viewers.
"We look forward to undertaking this exciting project with Jim, and to completing this first-phase study contract in March 2007," offered Mark N. Sirangelo, Chairman and CEO of SpaceDev. "We are confident that we can assist Jim Benson and Benson Space Company in his quest to take civilians to space, and we are proud to provide the technical know-how and products to help make that a reality."
"It's official — we've entered the commercial race to space and have begun our countdown to what I expect will be Benson Space Company's first suborbital flights by the end of 2008," said Jim Benson, who until recently served as Chairman and CTO of SpaceDev. "I look forward to Benson Space Company becoming SpaceDev's largest customer, through our purchase of SpaceDev Dream Chaser spaceships and hybrid rocket motors. I am excited that retired NASA astronaut Hoot Gibson will join Benson Space Company as our chief test pilot, and will be responsible for Phase I program management, testing and operations."
