Rocket Racing League’s Engine Switch Leaves Questions
Space.com
“A growing fleet of rocket-powered racers will fly with a liquid oxygen and alcohol engine developed by Armadillo Aerospace, instead of an XCOR Aerospace design used during the Rocket Racing League’s public debut earlier this summer…
“When we feel the XCOR engines meet our standards of safety, reliability, reusability, and performance for a rocket racer, then we may bring them back into the league,” Rocket Racing League co-founder and CEO Granger Whitelaw told SPACE.com last week.”
Rocket Racing League Completes Successful Flight Test Campaign at Oklahoma Spaceport
Press Release
The Rocket Racing League announces the successful results of the first seven test flights of the Bridenstine DKNY Rocket Racer conducted at the Oklahoma Spaceport (OKSP), a leading facility specializing in horizontal take-off and landing of Reusable Launch Vehicles, in Burns Flat, Oklahoma.
The Bridenstine DKNY Rocket Racer vehicle, now equipped with liquid oxygen (LOX)-alcohol engines manufactured by Armadillo Aerospace, a leading developer of reusable rocket powered vehicles based in Mesquite, Texas, underwent an aggressive flight test campaign designed to validate static and dynamic airframe and engine stability throughout its entire operating envelope.
“The successful conclusion of this flight test campaign marks two important milestones for the League, allowing us to proceed on our planned schedule of exhibition race events throughout the remainder of 2008 and 2009 and also validating our rapid prototyping capability in bringing new and innovative rocket powered vehicles from concept to flight inside of a six month development period,” said Granger Whitelaw, Rocket Racing League Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer.
“We are thrilled to have been selected as the facility of choice by the Rocket Racing League for its initial flight test program,” said Bill Khourie, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA). “The Oklahoma Spaceport provided the League with a qualified facility including a runway of almost three miles in length, hangar facilities, safety officials, air traffic control, and other support staff and housing. It was a major milestone in our evolution as we played an instrumental role in the incredibly successful flights of the Rocket Racer to altitudes in excess of 12,000 feet.”
“The Oklahoma Spaceport and its staff have proven to be a highly valuable asset to the Rocket Racing League,” said Michael D’Angelo, Rocket Racing League Chief Technology Officer. “We’ve made great progress in rapidly moving from static engine tests, to powered taxis, and now, through collaboration with OKSP, we’ve successfully completed our R&D up-and-away flights of the Bridenstine DKNY Rocket Racer.”
For more information or to find a schedule of future Rocket Racing League events, visit www.RocketRacingLeague.com.
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