XCOR Passes Major Regulatory Milestone: Submits First “Sufficiently Complete” RLV Launch License Application

Image: The Xerus is one of XCOR’s concepts for a multi-purpose resuable suborbital vehicle.

Mojave, CA, November 10, 2003:  XCOR Aerospace announced today that it has been informed by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (AST) that its application for a commercial space launch license has been deemed “sufficiently complete.” This significant regulatory milestone means that AST has committed itself either to issue a launch license to XCOR within 180 days or notify Congress that it failed to do so.

“We still have work to do, but this a major step toward being issued a launch license,” said XCOR’s Randall Clague. “It shows that the process AST has put in place is achievable even for a small company like ours.”

XCOR Aerospace has submitted a launch license application for an intermediate technology demonstration vehicle. The launch licensing process includes a safety evaluation, a policy review to ensure the proposed launch does not violate international treaties or jeopardize U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, an environmental review, a financial responsibility determination, and a payload review.

XCOR Aerospace is a California corporation located in Mojave, California. The company is in the business of developing and producing safe, reliable, and reusable rocket engines and rocket powered vehicles.