XCOR Aerospace, Space Expedition Curacao partner on production Lynx Suborbital Spacecraft

Posted by Courtney E. HowardMOJAVE, Calif., 20 Sept. 2011. Space Expedition Curacao (SXC) and XCOR Aerospace Inc. have jointly completed a multimillion-dollar transaction whereby the companies have secured an exclusive wet lease of the production Lynx tail number two suborbital spacecraft. The production Lynx tail number two will operate from the Caribbean island of Curacao, pending export licensing action. SXC officials also have optioned the exclusive right to lease the production Lynx tail number one for up to three months out of a given calendar year prior to the delivery of tail number two.

SXC business channel partners also have lined up, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which will purchase flights to offer as frequent flyer rewards, support Netherlands educational initiatives through the use of flights for scientific discovery by students, and include flights as part of vacation packages to Curacao, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

"Since we signed the initial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in October 2010, XCOR and SXC have worked diligently toward completing the Definitive Agreement. Now that the ink is dry and the check has cleared we can proceed at full pace to begin operations in Curacao in 2014," says Jeff Greason, XCOR’s CEO.

"In addition to securing the Lynx and naming XCOR as our exclusive vehicle provider, SXC has signed up 35 spaceflight participants since the beginning of April with a goal to sell 50 before the holiday season," explains Michiel Mol, SXC co-founder. “A number of celebrities and notables have already signed up for this amazing experience, including Victoria's Secret model Doutzen Kroes, World Series Champion San Francisco Giants batting coach and Curacao native Hensley Meulens, and celebrity DJ Armin van Buuren, host of the weekly radio show “A State of Trance.” It's not hard to get people excited about what will be a life-changing event. It will be an unforgettable and very personalized experience for everyone who takes the trip."

"XCOR continues to work with the U.S. State Department, Commerce Department, and other relevant U.S. agencies regarding the export licensing framework for the wet lease of our suborbital vehicle,” says Andrew Nelson, chief operating officer of XCOR Aerospace.