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XCOR Aerospace

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XCOR Aerospace
Company typePrivate
IndustryAerospace, Spaceflight
Founded1999; 27 years ago (1999)
FounderJeff Greason, Dan DeLong, Aleta Jackson, Doug Jones
Defunct2017 (2017)
FateFiled for Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Headquarters
Mojave, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide (space tourism and research sectors)
Key people
John "Jay" Gibson (CEO until June 2017), Jeff Greason (founder and CEO until 2015)
ProductsRocket engines, suborbital spaceflight vehicles (Lynx rocketplane), composite materials (Nonburnite)
Number of employees
50–60 (approximate before layoffs in 2016) (2016)

XCOR Aerospace was a privately held American company specializing in spaceflight and rocket engine development, headquartered at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. It also operated facilities in Midland, Texas, and near Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Established in 1999 by ex-members of the Rotary Rocket engine team, XCOR concentrated on creating products and services for suborbital space travel.

By 2015, John "Jay" Gibson served as CEO, a position he held until June 2017. The organizational framework of XCOR comprised a parent company responsible for spacecraft engineering and manufacturing, alongside two principal divisions: XCOR Space Expeditions, which handled marketing and sales efforts, and XCOR Science, which oversaw flights carrying scientific and educational payloads.

Confronted with financial difficulties, XCOR initiated staff reductions in May 2016 and eventually ceased operations in 2017 by filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The firm's business approach revolved around developing reusable rocket engines and suborbital vehicles targeting commercial space tourism and research sectors.

History

Founded in Mojave, California in 1999 by Jeff Greason, Dan DeLong, Aleta Jackson, and Doug Jones—former employees of Rotary Rocket—XCOR made notable strides early on. In 2001, the company created the EZ-Rocket, recognized as the first rocket-powered airplane built and flown privately; its inaugural flight occurred in July 2001.

Between July 2012 and 2015, XCOR shifted its development and manufacturing activities to Midland, Texas, while continuing to conduct test flights mainly at the Mojave Air and Space Port. In 2015, Chinese investment firm Haiyin Capital injected capital into XCOR, valuing the enterprise at $140 million.

Jeff Greason led as CEO from the company's inception until mid-2015 when John "Jay" Gibson took over. Later that year, co-founders Greason, DeLong, and Jackson departed to launch Agile Aero, a company dedicated to rapid aerospace prototyping.

In May 2016, XCOR stopped work on its Lynx spaceplane project to prioritize development of its LOX/LH2 engine technology through a funded collaboration with United Launch Alliance. This shift resulted in layoffs exceeding 20 employees from a total workforce of approximately 50–60.

By June 2017, CEO Gibson exited the company; all remaining employees were laid off with about half rehired on contract terms. XCOR proceeded to file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in November 2017.

Lynx rocketplane

The Lynx was engineered to transport a pilot along with either a passenger or payload on suborbital missions spanning . Its planned testing regimen included between 20 and 50 flights supplemented by extensive ground engine tests. Taxi runs and short hops on runways were intended to pave the way for operational deployment. Comparable in size to a small private aircraft, Lynx was designed for frequent daily flights using reusable engines fueled by non-toxic propellants to minimize operational expenses. This model succeeded an earlier concept known as the Xerus spaceplane. Initially announced in March 2008 with an expected operational launch within two years, the schedule experienced multiple delays—first shifting to 2012, then to 2015—and by January 2016 no definitive test flight date had been established. A Mark II version was anticipated to follow approximately 12–18 months after initial test flights.

By 2012, XCOR had secured pre-sales for 175 Lynx flights priced at each. However, on May 27, 2016, the company laid off a large portion of its staff and indefinitely suspended development of the Lynx to concentrate efforts on advancing rocket engine technology.

XCOR Orbital

After the Lynx program, XCOR envisioned a fully reusable, two-stage orbital launch vehicle launched from the air using a Boeing 767 as the carrier aircraft. The first stage would be equipped with several kerosene-oxygen engines, while the second stage would utilize three hydrogen-oxygen engines. Detailed specifications of this system have not been publicly revealed.

Thermoplastic polymer development

XCOR engineered Nonburnite, a composite material based on fluoropolymer resin that is both cryogenically compatible and non-flammable. This material exhibits minimal thermal expansion and high resistance to microcracking. Designed for use in cryogenic tanks and structural components of vehicles, Nonburnite was intended for incorporation into the Lynx rocketplane’s fuel tanks as of 2012.

XCOR/ULA liquid-hydrogen upper-stage engine development

In 2011, XCOR collaborated with United Launch Alliance (ULA) to create a flight-capable upper-stage engine delivering between 25,000 and 30,000 pounds-force using cryogenic liquid hydrogen and oxygen propellants. The initiative aimed to lower manufacturing costs and enhance integration compared to existing solutions. The program utilized advanced aluminum alloy nozzle fabrication techniques previously tested on XCOR’s Lynx engine in 2011. It followed a phased "build-a-little, test-a-little" approach contingent on available funding, with flight-ready engines anticipated within five to ten years under limited investment scenarios.

By 2013, XCOR had developed the XR-5H25, a subscale prototype engine producing 2,500 pounds-force with LH2/LOX propellants, which successfully completed hot-fire testing in November. This engine featured piston-pump-fed LH2 technology promising notable improvements in cost efficiency and reliability.

In April 2015, ULA announced that the XCOR/ULA engine was under consideration for its Advanced Cryogenic Evolved Stage (ACES), intended as an upper stage for the Vulcan launch vehicle post-2023. ACES was set to compete against Aerojet Rocketdyne’s RL-10 and Blue Origin’s BE-3 engines as potential replacements for the Centaur stage.

Historical projects

Significant completed initiatives include:

  • EZ-Rocket: A Rutan Long-EZ airframe modified with twin XR-4A3 rocket engines each rated at 400 pounds-force; this was the first rocket-powered aircraft flown by a private entity and performed the inaugural crewed rocket-powered U.S. Mail delivery in 2005.
  • Rocket Racer: An evolution of EZ-Rocket based on a Velocity SE airframe powered by a regeneratively cooled LOX/pump-fed kerosene engine producing between 1,500 and 1,800 pounds-force (XR-4K14); publicly demonstrated at the 2008 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event.
  • Tea cart engine: A compact 15-pound-force nitrous oxide/ethane rocket motor extensively tested indoors with over 1,800 firings recorded by 2009.
  • Early liquid oxygen/methane engine prototypes tested since 2005 led to a NASA contract awarded to ATK for developing a 7,500-pound-force lunar return engine prototype that successfully completed hot-fire testing in 2007.

History

Space Expedition Corporation (SXC), established in 2008 by Harry van Hulten and retired Lt-Gen Ben Droste, initially operated under a wet-lease agreement with XCOR Aerospace until its acquisition by XCOR in June 2014. Founders Michiel Mol and Maarten Elshove joined the company in 2010. Following the acquisition, SXC was rebranded as XCOR Space Expeditions and became part of XCOR Corporate as its dedicated space tourism division.

Space flights

XCOR Space Expeditions intended to conduct suborbital flights aboard Lynx Mark I and II spacecraft launching from spaceports located in Mojave, California, and Curaçao. The company also provided pre-flight medical examinations, training sessions using simulators, and G-force exposure experiences aboard fighter jets. Approximately 282 tickets were sold at prices reaching up to $100,000 each; however, after filing for bankruptcy in November 2017, most passengers have yet to receive refunds.

XCOR Science

XCOR Science specialized in providing payload flight opportunities for scientific research and educational projects aboard the Lynx Mark I and II spacecraft. The total payload allowance was 140 kg, split between two sections: Payload A, which could carry 20 kg located behind the pilot, and Payload B, designed to hold 120 kg in the second seat. Future plans for the Lynx Mark III envisioned flights reaching altitudes up to 100 km, featuring an additional external pod capable of transporting as much as 650 kg.

No missions were conducted prior to the company's bankruptcy declaration in late 2017.

See also

External links

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