SpaceDev, Inc. (OTCBB: SPDV) has signed a multi-year contract with Scaled Composites to assist that firm in the development of a production rocket motor for the first commercial space vehicle designed for space tourism called SpaceShipTwo. The vehicle is being designed by Scaled for Virgin Galactic and is part of a complete space system that also includes the recently unveiled WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft. The WhiteKnightTwo aircraft will ferry SpaceShipTwo and thousands of private astronauts, science packages, and payloads as the first stage of Virgin Galactic’s sub-orbital space experience. Under the contract, SpaceDev will be the lead rocket motor team member for SpaceShipTwo and will collaborate with Scaled’s internal design team to develop a production ready hybrid rocket motor. The SpaceDev teaming will be similar to that done from 2001 through 2004 on the SpaceShipOne program, in that SpaceDev will be providing engineering services to refine the design of the hybrid rocket motor being developed by Scaled Composites, as well as providing the development, manufacture and integration of key rocket motor system components. Also, SpaceDev will again be conducting ground tests on those motor components and will be working to assist Scaled in the full-scale rocket test program both on the ground and during SpaceShipTwo flight tests. The contract, which runs through 2012, has an initial value of approximately $15 million for work to be primarily completed over the next two years. For more company information, please select the graphic below…
