FORKS — Two aerospace engineers testing rockets and engines in preparation for their planned West End launch of a suborbital tourism spacecraft say they are closely watching their top competitor’s rocketplane in the race for a coveted $10 million prize.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Saturday that it gave a one-year license to Scaled Composites of Mojave, Calif., a company founded by aviation maverick Burt Rutan.
His goal is public space travel within 10 years. It was the first license granted for a manned suborbital rocket.
“Scaled Composites has made an important step by getting the launch license,” said Eric Meier, vice president of Space Transport Corp., based at Forks Industrial Park.
“We have also held detailed consultations with the FAA. Our application has been submitted, but we have suspended FAA processing while we identify the launch site for the 100 kilometer Rubicon flight.
“(Space Transport Corp.) is focused on completing preliminary vehicle development at this time.”
Meier said “when the time is right,” he and his partner, Space Transport president Phillip Storm, believe that their FAA license can be acquired without delay.
