Interorbital Systems

Interorbital Systems Corporation (IOS) is an American aerospace company based in Mojave, California. It was founded in 1996 by Roderick and Randa Milliron, who also co-founded Trans Lunar Research. The company is currently working on a line of launch vehicles aimed at winning the newly created America's Space Prize. Interorbital Systems was also a competitor in the Ansari X-Prize. The company has successfully tested a number of rocket engines in the 500-5,000 lbf (2 to 22 kN) thrust range and conducted flight tests of its small sounding rocket/testbed, the Neutrino. IOS holds an active FAA/AST (Office of Commercial Space Transportation) Launch License for its Tachyon sounding rocket.

Aqueous launches

Interorbital Systems' prototypes are all designed to be amphibious (capable of launch from land or sea). Although IOS currently tests its spacecraft at the Mojave Airport & Spaceport and conducts testbed launches from the Mojave Desert, it plans to develop and implement a method for launching directly from the water without a launch platform. The vehicle is towed into position by a 33m (100 ft) crew boat, then a ballast is suspended from the submerged tail-section to provide proper orientation and stability during launch. According to IOS, sea launches are inherently less dangerous than land launches because they reduce the chance of damage to people or property in the event of a failed launch. As a result it is easier and less expensive to obtain a license for sea operations.

Launch vehicles

Interorbital Systems is currently developing 4 prototype vehicles for various purposes.

*Neutrino is IOS' smallest sounding rocket and is designed for low-altitude suborbital flight, for the purpose of testing systems of its larger follow-on rockets.

*Tachyon is a sounding rocket designed for high altitude (120 miles) suborbital flight.

*Sea Star MSLV is designed to reach orbit and is planned to be launched in 2008 [http://www.interorbital.com/Sea%20Star%20OLV%20Page_1.htmM] from the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles. Interorbital claims that if Sea Star MSLV is launched on schedule it will be the world's first satellite-launching rocket developed completely without government funding.

*Neptune is Interorbital's flagship spacecraft, designed to carry large payloads into the orbit (6390 pounds at 400 miles) and lunar orbital (1,800 pounds) range. The low cost and high capacity Neptune rockets were designed with space tourism, satellite/cargo launch, and space mining in mind. According to Interorbital's web site, Neptune is also planned to be used for lunar sample return-missions and in transporting supplies for lunar base construction. Neptune's first orbital expedition ticket was purchased by Tim Reed of Gladstone, Missouri, in 2005. IOS expects to begin orbital tourism services in 2009.

ee also

*America's Space Prize
*Private spaceflight
*Space shuttle
*Orbital spaceflight
*suborbital flight
*Ansari X Prize
*New Shepard
*List of private spaceflight companies - A compiled list of private spaceflight companies

References

External links

* [http://www.interorbital.com/ Interorbital Systems Official Site]
* [http://spacefellowship.com/News/?p=3162 Interorbital Talk to The Space Fellowship about the Google Lunar X-Prize, progress and landing rovers on the Moon]