XCOR Aerospace and XCOR Space Expeditions announced today that XCOR has hosted its first XCOR Lynx customer day-dubbed “Operation Hangar 61”.
Directed by XCOR Space Expeditions, the experience included 41 guests from 14 countries and 5 continents visiting XCOR in Mojave and attending XCOR events in Los Angeles, including a tour of the California Science Center and Griffith Observatory.
Lynx customers, also known as “spaceflight participants”, made their way to XCOR Aerospace’s Hangar 61 on their first group pilgrimage to experience the Lynx spacecraft up close. At the event, customers connected with engineers, witnessed Lynx assembly, met XCOR’s new Chief Executive Officer and engaged with XCOR test pilots. The experience also included optional aerobatic training at Air Combat USA in Fullerton, California.
Kicking off the Hangar 61 tour, XCOR Chief Executive Officer Jay Gibson noted what moved him most about the experience: “We are honored that our customers took the time for the journey to the heart of XCOR. For me, it is about seeing how XCOR transforms engineering into an unmatched experience. Our participants are the reason we exist: to not only be exceptional in Lynx design and engineering, but also to make the dreams of each and every person who flies to space onboard Lynx real in the process.”
XCOR Chief Test Pilot and former NASA Shuttle Commander Rick Searfoss noted “while travel to space is life-changing, it is great to get inspired here on the ground. A key metric is the one you can’t measure: the joy it gives back to customers.”
About XCOR Aerospace: XCOR Aerospace is based in Mojave, California. It is currently building its Research and Development Center in Midland, Texas, and in the future an operational and manufacturing site at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. XCOR builds safer, more reliable and reusable rocket-powered vehicles, propulsion systems, advanced non-flammable composites and rocket piston pumps. XCOR works with aerospace prime contractors and government customers on major propulsion systems, while also building Lynx. Lynx is a piloted, two-seat, fully reusable liquid rocket-powered vehicle that takes-off and lands horizontally. The Lynx-family of vehicles serves three primary missions depending on their specific type including: research & scientific missions, private spaceflight, and micro satellite launch (only on Lynx Mark III). Lynx production models (designated Lynx Mark II) are designed to be robust, multi-mission (research / scientific or private spaceflight) commercial vehicles capable of flying to 100+ km in altitude up to four times per day. Lynx vehicles are available to customers in the free world on a wet lease basis to start their own manned space flight programFor more information on XCOR Aerospace, visit www.xcor.com and follow us on Facebook or Twitter as XCOR.
About XCOR Space Expeditions: XCOR Space Expeditions is based in Amsterdam with a regional office for Asia in Hong Kong. XCOR Space Expeditions supports a global network of 35 independent resellers with established Lynx flight sales experience. The company’s space-focused training programs offer a variety of medical screening and specialty training missions for future XCOR Lynx flight participants. Strategic partnerships are currently active with global brands including KLM, Unilever, Luminox, Philips and Heineken. XCOR Space Expeditions is part of XCOR Aerospace. Website: spaceexpeditions.xcor.com
