Rocket Companies Select Satwest for NASA Suborbital Flight Payloads

US Space Agency will fly technology payloads to space onboard commercial spacecraft.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, USA – 25.08.11– Satwest, one of the world’s first commercial suborbital research and development companies, has been selected by three commercial rocket companies and spaceliners to provide payload integration and flight services to NASA. Virgin Galactic of California, Masten Space Systems of California, and Armadillo Aerospace of Texas, all were awarded contracts by NASA to provide flight opportunities for engineers, technologists and scientific researchers to fly technology payloads into space. All three companies selected Satwest to join their winning teams. This arrangement marks the first time that NASA has contracted with a commercial partner to provide flights into space on a suborbital spacecraft, and represents another important endorsement of the value of regular commercial space access for a wide range of science and educational applications. Satwest will support NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program, funded by NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist and managed out of NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.

Satwest founder and CEO, M. Brian Barnett said, “Satwest is thrilled to have the opportunity to support these incredibly innovative private spacecraft companies. These companies remind me of the barnstormer airplane companies that led to the development of our aviation industry back in the 1910s and 1920s. We look forward to the opportunity to fly research and technology payloads launched out of Spaceport America in New Mexico and other spaceports around the US. I applaud NASA and Congress for supporting and funding the visionary Flight Opportunities Program.”

Virgin Galactic, bills themselves as the world’s first commercial spaceline and is owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin group and Aabar Investments PJS. George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic said “Our vehicles are already built and are currently undergoing flight testing. Soon, we’ll be launching regular flights from Spaceport America and carrying both our future astronauts and a wide variety of exciting scientific payloads into outer space. We look forward to working with Satwest and others to make sure the scientific community can get the most possible value out of these unique opportunities to conduct experiments in space.”

Masten is developing fully reusable vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) launch vehicles, technology and concept demonstration, technology acceleration, and engineering services. Armadillo Aerospace is a leading developer of reusable rocket powered vehicles. "Masten is excited to be a flight opportunities service provider for the second straight year," said Colin Ake, Director of Business Development. "We're very excited Satwest has joined our team as one of our payload integrators and look forward to providing NASA with excellent customer service in the near future."

Armadillo is focused on VTVL (vertical takeoff, vertical landing) suborbital research and passenger flights, with an eye towards eventual paths to orbit.
To best serve our commercial spaceline customers, Satwest has assembled an expert team of partners to provide payloads, testing, and engineering services. This team includes ATA of Albuquerque, New Mexico, OM Space headquartered in Isle of Man, and DFL Space of Seattle. The Satwest team brings valuable payload test and integration facilities, and global reach to attract researchers from around the globe to fly payloads on our spaceline customer’s launch vehicles.

About Satwest: Satwest is a satellite communications and aerospace company founded in 1999. Our vision has been clear from the beginning: Provide access to the most advanced satellite and space technology to help our world class customer base solve communications problems and make new discoveries. Satwest is a recognized leader in the development of the emerging commercial, suborbital spaceflight industry. Satwest’s professional services include mission planning, production and management, payload development and integration services, and spaceflight access services enabling companies, universities and government agencies to fly their commercial and scientific payloads onboard suborbital launch vehicles.