TENANTS, CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS
Explore a few of the customers and agencies partnering with Spaceport America
VIRGIN GALACTIC
We are a part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. With our sister companies, The Spaceship Company and Virgin Orbit, we are developing and operating a new generation of space vehicles to open space for everyone. Our mission, to be the Spaceline for Earth, means we focus on using space for good while delivering an unparalleled customer experience. We recognize that improving access to space is a fundamentally challenging ambition. We will achieve it only in a spirit of collaboration and with a recognition that we must continually learn and can always improve.
Virgin Galactic operates the reusable SpaceShipTwo spaceflight system. This consists of WhiteKnightTwo, a custom-built, carrier aircraft, and SpaceShipTwo, the world’s first passenger carrying spaceship to be built by a private company and operated in commercial service. The first Virgin Galactic spaceship to enter service is VSS Unity. Built by The Spaceship Company, Unity and her sister spaceships will, for the first time, offer everyone the opportunity to become private astronauts and experience the wonder of space for themselves. Our spaceships will also offer the research community a unique platform for space-based science
We will be running a regular schedule of spaceflights for private individuals and researchers from our operational hub at New Mexico’s Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose built commercial spaceport. In our drive to democratize space, we seek to inspire young people through space-inspired Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives. Galactic Unite, our outreach initiative, was the brainchild of our pioneering Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut customers. Through a wide variety of outreach programs, Galactic Unite offers both practical assistance and a planetary perspective to our brilliant engineers of the future.
UP AEROSPACE
UP Aerospace is a space launch and flight test service provider specializing in advanced engineering, launch technology development, and state-of-the-art rapid and low cost launch operations. Our headquarters are located in Denver, Colorado, with launch facilities at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
We provide access to the space environment on board our in-house developed and proven launch platform called SpaceLoft. The SpaceLoft flights have demonstrated reliable micro-gravity times in excess of 3 minutes for our standard mission carrying 36 kg to an altitude of 120 km.
Spyder sub-orbital (in-development) is a 17.25 inch diameter single stage sounding rocket capable of reaching altitudes of 400 km and speeds in excess of Mach 7. Variants of this vehicle include 2 and 3 stages for increased altitudes, micro-gravity time, and ascent Mach numbers for Hypersonics testing.
In 2017 UP Aerospace and Cesaroni Technologies Inc. created the Space Propulsion Center (SPC) located at Spaceport America. The SPC was developed to provide world class solid rocket motor manufacturing capabilities in support of the SpaceLoft and Sypder suborbital vehicles and the Spyder orbital launch vehicle. The facilities include a remotely controlled state-of-the-art mix and cast complex, final assembly facility, and rocket motor static test stand and instrumentation.
SPINLAUNCH
SpinLaunch is revolutionizing access to space by building a kinetically powered system to put constellations of satellites into space. They have constructed the world’s largest evacuated centrifuge at Spaceport America and are due to begin testing in 2021.
HAPSMOBILE
HAPSMobile Inc. (TOKYO: 9434) is a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp. that plans and operates a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) business with the aim of bridging the world’s digital divide. HAPSMobile is primarily engaged in network equipment research and development for the HAPS business, construction of core networks, new business planning and activities for spectrum usage. AeroVironment, Inc. is HAPSMobile’s minority owner and aircraft development partner for “sunglider™,” a solar-powered unmanned aircraft designed for stratospheric telecommunications platform systems that flies approximately 20kms above ground in the stratosphere. HAPSMobile has a strategic relationship with Loon, a subsidiary of Alphabet, the parent company of Google.
AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) provides customers with more actionable intelligence so they can proceed with certainty. Based in California, AeroVironment is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and tactical missile systems, and serves defense, government and commercial customers.
PRISMATIC
Prismatic started working with un-crewed stratospheric air systems in 2011, formed by a team with experience in these systems reaching back to the early 2000s. Its years of experience led to the start of development of PHASA-35, a solar-powered, high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft (Solar HALE). BAE Systems started working with Prismatic in 2017, forging a relationship which helped accelerate the initial development of PHASA-35, leading to a successful maiden flight of PHASA-35 in early 2020. The relationship strengthened leading to the completion of the acquisition of Prismatic by BAE Systems in 2021.
Prismatic works closely with our customers and other businesses within BAE Systems, continuing the exciting development of the PHASA-35 platform.
Prismatic is a member of the HAPS Alliance, a coalition of leading voices in the HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station) industry.
OUR CUSTOMERS
SWIFT ENGINEERING
Swift Engineering is an innovation company with a 35-year history of design, engineering and build heritage in intelligent systems and advanced vehicles, including autonomous systems, helicopters, submarines, spacecraft, ground vehicles, robotics, and advanced composites for military, healthcare, agriculture and industrial applications. Based in San Clemente, California, Swift is globally recognized for its ability to bring disruptive innovations to market quickly
C6 LAUNCH SYSTEMS
Small Payloads – On Time. On Target
C6Launch Systems is a Canadian-based space technology company developing a dedicated small-sat launch capability to place payloads up to 30 kg in a nominal 600 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). This means that small-sat game changers, first movers and those with urgent operational requirements can deploy payloads where they want, when they want without compromising their orbit or mission. The C6 Rocket utilizes proven, best-in-class capabilities from the engine to the deployer, with integration and other technologies from C6’s talented, expert team of space engineers.
STRATODYNAMICS, Inc.
Stratodynamics Inc. is an Earth Observation service provider pioneering new, dynamic methods to offer high-altitude, airborne assessments using uncrewed aerial vehicles. Stratodynamics is also developing turbulence detection solutions for the aviation and urban air mobility sectors with licensed NASA technology.
WHITE SANDS RESEARCH & DEVELOPERS, LLC
Aerospace Engineering Services from Concept to Flight
Our suborbital launch system is turnkey, meaning we do most of the work to conduct your mission, whether with your rocket or with ours. Our Mustang™ rocket, however, is a great choice as a test platform. Smaller Mustang™ rockets provide a cost-effective platform for a variety of experiments and our systems-engineered launch system delivers a precision flight model that allows us to pull the Mustang’s tares from your flight-test data. We also give customers tremendous flexibility in both payload volume and mass as experience shows experiments can be assembled quickly when one is not confined to arbitrary limits.
USAF Thunderbirds
The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, performs precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force high performance aircraft to people throughout the world. The squadron exhibits the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft.
Objectives of the squadron are:
- To support Air Force recruiting and retention programs
- To reinforce public confidence in the Air Force and to demonstrate to the public the professional competence of Air Force members
- To strengthen morale and esprit de corps among Air Force members
- To support Air Force community relations and people-to-people programs
- To represent the United States and its armed forces to foreign nations and to project international goodwill
BOEING
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, defense, space and security systems, and service provider of aftermarket support. As America’s biggest manufacturing exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing products and tailored services include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training.
OUR PARTNERS
EXPERIMENTAL SOUNDING ROCKET ASSOCIATION
The Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2003 for the purpose of fostering and promoting engineering knowledge and experience in the field of rocketry. ESRA’s primary focus is providing safe and exciting opportunities for academic groups to compete in aerospace challenges.
ESRA has operated the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) since 2006. In 2017, ESRA partnered with Spaceport America to expand the IREC into the Spaceport America Cup. Each year, nearly 150 university teams from across the USA and around the world compete at Spaceport America’s amazing Vertical Launch Area for the coveted title of Overall Winner. Each team designs, builds, tests and launches rockets with a payload size of 8.8 pounds and target altitudes of either 10,000 or 30,000 ft. Rockets are typically 4 to 8 inches in diameter and 8 to 20 ft. long. Multistage rockets, solid, liquid, and hybrid motor rockets are allowed. For information about competing in the Spaceport America Cup, please visit http://www.soundingrocket.org/
More than 1,500 students attended the 2019 competition, representing over 100+ schools from 6 different continents.
NEW MEXICO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
The New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) partners with Spaceport America to bring new aerospace companies to the state. The infrastructure and resources at the spaceport make it possible for NMEDD to fulfill its mission and bring these new companies, jobs and investment. Spaceport America is featured prominently when NMEDD markets New Mexico globally.
NEW SPACE NEW MEXICO
NewSpace New Mexico is a non-profit organization established to lead, innovate and grow our global space economy. NewSpace New Mexico aims to foster an entrepreneurial, business-focused commercial space ecosystem in New Mexico; connect ideas, people, resources, investment opportunities, industry leaders, single-person start-ups and students who represent the future. We are also the universal voice and lead political and policy advocates for our stakeholders – ensuring a relevant, long and healthy future for our new space economy.
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE (WSMR)
New Mexico is ideally situated to be the home to the next generation of commercial space activities, that space industry development presents an important economic opportunity, that the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) has significant capabilities and resources that can be used to support space industry development. WSMR provides the framework for support; e.g., integrated scheduling and launch operations, conformance with applicable flight safety criteria, use of WSMR instrumentation, and proper control of WSMR airspace resources, for NMSA and customers at SA.
Mission Statement: White Sands Missile Range, DoD’s largest, fully-instrumented, open-air range, provides America’s Armed Forces, allies, partners, and defense technology innovators with the world’s premier research, development, test, evaluation (RDT&E), experimentation, and training facilities to ensure our nation’s defense readiness
