RocketPlane Kistler and NASA Sign Space Act Agreement To Assemble the COTS K-1

[marsavian]

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=22250

[gladiator1332]

I remember reading about this vehicle in a "Secrets of the Universe" card when I was 5...it is nice to see that it will finally fly.

[kevin-rf]

Additional article in flightglobal today...

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/04/03/213059/nasa-helps-define-cots-module.html

[Danderman]

From the article:

""We are working with NASA and the ISS crews to define the cargo module," says RpK vice president chief of staff Bob Seto. He adds that RpK is making substantial progress with the documentation process for Australia's equivalent of a spaceport licence as the company plans to launch the K-1 from the Woomera test site from 2009."

My understanding is that RpK planned first launch from Woomera in 11/08, per their COTS Space Act agreement. There seems to have been some sort of delay.

[bad_astra]

How are they going to compete in COTS if they reach no tangible milestones by 2008?

[NotGncDude]

Danderman - 3/4/2007  10:09 AM

From the article:

""We are working with NASA and the ISS crews to define the cargo module," says RpK vice president chief of staff Bob Seto. He adds that RpK is making substantial progress with the documentation process for Australia's equivalent of a spaceport licence as the company plans to launch the K-1 from the Woomera test site from 2009."

My understanding is that RpK planned first launch from Woomera in 11/08, per their COTS Space Act agreement. There seems to have been some sort of delay.

My understanding is that the 2009 date for the first launch has been set for quite some time and thus probably OKed by everybody. It's definitely not any sort of schedule slip. The 11/08 date must be from a long time ago.