Propulsion systems for private space flight

WHILE SOME COMPANIES ARE CREATING HIGH ALTITUDE AIR AND GROUND LAUNCH VEHICLES FOR TAKING PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS INTO SPACE, COMPANIES SUCH AS XCOR AEROSPACE AND ARMADILLO AEROSPACE ARE ADDRESSING OTHER MARKET NEEDS IN THE PRIVATE SPACE FLIGHT INDUSTRY.

WHILE COMPANIES such as Virgin Galactic and Space-X are creating high altitude air and ground launch vehicles for taking private individuals into space, companies such as XCOR Aerospace and Armadillo Aerospace, which builds hardware for its partner Space Adventures, are addressing other market needs in the private space flight industry.

Space Adventures offers a “true” rocket experience with horizontal takeoff and landing with Armadillo Aerospace vehicles, and XCOR's Lynx hopes to have aircraft-like operations from any suitable spaceport. Each perceives that a market exists for its flavor of suborbital space travel and has located people willing to pay (and even wait) for a space experience.