Tenth Launch By UP Aerospace At Spaceport America

Spaceport America, NM – New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) officials announced the tenth launch from Spaceport America by UP Aerospace of Denver, Colorado. The liftoff of the sub-orbital sounding rocket took place from Spaceport America's vertical launch complex Thursday at approximately 8:18 a.m. (MST), within the dedicated, five-hour launch window. The rocket reached its sub-orbital altitude of 73 miles or 385,640 feet (117 km), accomplishing a new Spaceport America altitude record.

The launch was a non-public, unpublished event at the request of UP Aerospace, Inc. The primary payloads were Department of Defense (DoD) experiments. Additional payloads were carried for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the University of Texas and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

“This successful sub-orbital flight marks our tenth flight from Spaceport America, and we are excited to be delivering payloads for the DoD and other clients like the FAA and the University of Texas,” said Jerry Larson, president of UP Aerospace, Inc.

“UP Aerospace has now been successfully operating from Spaceport America for over five years, and we look forward to hosting many more of their launches as we move forward. During Phase Two of spaceport construction, which is now underway, we are in the process of expanding and improving our Vertical Launch Complex to enhance service to valued customers like Up Aerospace,” said NMSA Executive Director Christine Anderson.

All of the payloads aboard the rocket were scientific and engineering experiments. The primary customer for the launch was the DoD Operationally Responsive Space Office. More information about their payloads can be found at http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123296138. Another payload was designed, built, tested, integrated, and operated by a team of undergraduate students at the University of Texas, and is also part of the DoD Operationally Responsive Space Office payload program. The experiment was designed to compare the performance of various micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometers to assess their suitability for use as support instruments in future payloads.

Another payload was flown in conjunction with the FAA Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation, for which New Mexico State University is the administrative lead institution. This payloadfurther tested the FAA’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system for possible future use in management of airspace involved in space operations.

This most recent launch represents the expanding demand for launch services at Spaceport America, the nation’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. “This is our second launch this year at the spaceport, and we are extremely pleased to support our regular launch customers like UP Aerospace and Armadillo Aerospace as they conduct their sub-orbital launches from Spaceport America. We also look forward to hosting future NASA-funded 'Flight Opportunities' suborbital research launches coming up later this year. Spaceport America continues to set the precedent for safe, efficient, effective service for commercial spaceflight customers,”  said NMSA Executive Director Christine Anderson. This UP Aerospace launch marks the fifteenth vertical launch overall from the Spaceport America Vertical Launch Complex.