Peacekeeper Repurposement Leads To E’Prime Time

When you discuss launch with E’Prime Aerospace, the discussion will turn to their “cold launch” and “canister” technologies. Light to medium lift single core vehicles will launch from a launch tube that propels the rocket approximately 200 feet into the air before the first stage is ignited. This method, according to the company, increases the payload capacity by about 10 percent. It also prevents costly refurbishment to the launch facility itself.



The launch vehicles themselves use technology derived from the Peacekeeper (MX missile) program through a commercialization agreement the company has with the U.S. Air Force within which E’Prime developed a modular, commercial launch program using that technology for satellite insertion. Their Eagle-S Series Launch Vehicles will operate with high-launch reliability as experienced by the Peacekeeper Program (51 vehicle launches with no failures!) E’Prime also secured the only rapidly deployable launch systems worldwide with the exclusive rights to use steam gas generator technology from the Peacekeeper Program.










Now the company has announced the selection of Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) as their launch site for the Canister Launch Program and their engagement of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA/AST) for a Launch License to operate from MARS. "With the assistance of the Office of Commercial Space (FAA/AST) and our associated service contractors and consultants, our team will complete the licensing process as quickly as possible. With the Policy review submitted, our focus is now on developing our launch facility at MARS and the infrastructure to support our canister launch program," stated E’Prime President, James D Oldham. The company also added that they would have the capability of launching multiple payloads in a very short period of time.