The Spaceport Company recently inaugurated the firm’s offshore hypersonic test range by launching a medium, surface-launched interceptor provided by Evolution Space — the NRSD-1 mission, unofficially titled “Who’s Afraid of Lil Ol’ Me,” successfully tested The Spaceport Company’s end-to-end offshore hypersonic test range services that included vehicle preparation at sea, range surveillance/clearing, and tracking/telemetry support.
These services are provided by a suite of marine-grade ground support equipment (GSE) containers proprietary to The Spaceport Company. The launchpad vessel is capable of conducting operations on any launch azimuth in any large body of water including the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.
The operation occurred in the Gulf of Mexico roughly 30 miles south of Mississippi. Both the vehicle and the launch site performed well and all test objectives were achieved.
The range went from concept to operational status in less than seven months. Using lessons learned from our 2023 campaign, the facility is built around The Spaceport Company’s launchpad vessel, the Once in a Lifetime, which was purchased in February of 2024. A contract was signed in April of 2024 with the Defense Innovation Unit, providing a significant portion of the funding. The proprietary ground support equipment was completed in July 2024. Approval from a swath of regulatory agencies was obtained in less than three months.
“Emerging hypersonic technologies require additional and larger test ranges to accommodate higher cadence testing campaigns,” said CEO and Founder Tom Marotta. “With this new commercial facility, we will alleviate the burdens on government ranges and enable at-sea test environments that existing land-based ranges are unable to provide. I’d like to thank our incredibly hard-working team, as well as our partners who made this inaugural operation possible, particularly: Evolution Space, the Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Defense Innovation Unit. Our team is our greatest asset and the speed and success of this operation is a testament to their ability and potential.”
About The Spaceport Company
The Spaceport Company is a leading provider of innovative infrastructure solutions. The Spaceport Company’s vision is to create cutting-edge launch platforms that enable a wide range of space missions, driving advancements in scientific research, national security, and commercial space endeavors.
