Rocketplane Kistler

Rocketplane Kistler (RpK), based in Oklahoma City, was a reusable spacecraft firm formed in 2006 by Rocketplane Limited, Inc. after it acquired Kistler Aerospace.

K-1 launch vehicle

Rocketplane Kistler's primary project was the K-1 launch vehicle, a reusable launch system which was intended to get as high as geosynchronous orbit, and was hoped to compete with NASA's relatively expensive, one-shot rockets for servicing of the International Space Station.

Corporate history

Kistler Aerospace was a private company attempting to develop fully reusable vehicles capable of earth orbit at a minimal price.

In February 2006, Kistler was purchased by the majority owner of Rocketplane, a competing reusable, private spacecraft firm. Kistler Aerospace will continue to operate, but using the name Rocketplane Kistler. The two companies apparently will continue to exist separately, but will work togetherFact|date=May 2008.

NASA launch partnership

In August 2006, NASA announced that Rocketplane Kistler had been chosen, along with SpaceX, [cite journal | last=Jones| first=Thomas D. | title=Techwatch-Resident Astronaut | journal=Popular Mechanics | volume=183 | issue=12 | month=December|year=2006|issn=0032-4558| pages=31] to develop crew and cargo launch services, aka Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS), for the International Space Station. The plan calls for demonstration flights between 2008 and 2010. Rocketplane Kistler would receive up to $207 million if they met all NASA milestones. [cite web |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0608/18cots/ |title=NASA selects crew, cargo launch partners |accessdate=2007-09-02 |publisher=Spaceflight Now |date=18 August 2006 ] [cite web |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=20628 |title=NASA Selects Crew and Cargo Transportation to Orbit Partners |accessdate=2007-09-02 |publisher=SpaceRef |date=18 August 2006 ] [cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14411983/ |title=SpaceX, Rocketplane win spaceship contest |accessdate=2007-09-02 |first=Alan|last=Boyle |publisher=MSNBC |date=18 August 2006 ]

In November 2006, Rocketplane Kistler and Alliant Techsystems announced that Alliant Techsystems will become the lead contractor for Rocketplane Kistler’s K-1 launch vehicle. [cite pressrelease|url=http://www.rocketplane.com/press/061108%20-%20PRESS%20RELEASE%20-%20Rocketplane%20Kistler%20&%20ATK%20Agreement%20061108.pdf |title=Rocketplane Kistler and ATK Announce Agreement for K-1 Launch Vehicle and COTS Program |accessdate=2007-09-02 |date=8 November 2006 |publisher=Rocketplane Kistler ]

Unmet financial milestones

In September 2006, Rocketplane Kistler began to miss financial milestones associated with the COTS agreement, and requested and received from NASA a 30-day extension on the milestone for completing its $40 million initial financing round. [cite news |url=http://www.space.com/news/070801_nasa_rocketplane.html |title=NASA Shows Patience as Private Spaceflight Firm Hunts Financing |accessdate=2007-09-02 |date= 1 August 2007 |first=Brian|last=Berger |publisher=Space.com ] In February 2007 RpK renegotiated its COTS agreement, agreeing to raise the $500 million of required private financing before the end of May.

By August 2007, RpK had failed to obtain that financing, forcing them to cut their workforce. [cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118788458187906675.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=Rocketplane Cuts Workforce As Financial Woes Mount |accessdate=2007-09-02 |first=Andy|last=Pasztor |publisher=Wall Street Journal]

On September 7, 2007, NASA notified Rocketplane Kistler that the COTS agreement would be terminated in 30 days due to continued inability to meet its financial milestones. [cite news|url=http://www.space.com/news/070910_nasa_rocketplane_notice.html|date=September 7, 2007|publisher=Space.com|title=NASA Gives Rocketplane Kistler Termination Notice|first=Brian|last=Berger] NASA announced in October 2007 that it had terminated funding for the project. [ cite news|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/oct/HQ_07228_COTS_competition.html|date=October 17, 2007|publisher=NASA|title=NASA to Open New Competition for Space Transportation Seed Money|first=Beth|last=Dickey]

References

External links

* [http://www.rocketplane.com/ Rocketplane Limited official site]
* [http://www.rocketplanekistler.com/ Rocketplane Kistler website no longer functioning]
* [http://rescommunis.wordpress.com/2007/11/05/appealing-cots-rpks-avenues-for-relief/ Appealing COTS: RpK’s Avenues for Relief]