News
October 24, 2017 State-of-the-Art Solid Rocket Motor
Development and Manufacturing Facility Completed at Spaceport America
(Spaceport America, New Mexico) - UP Aerospace Inc. and
Cesaroni Aerospace teamed to create a state-of-the-art solid rocket motor manufacturing and test facility at
Spaceport America, New Mexico. The project was completed in under 1 year with the culmination of three full scale
SpaceLoft solid rocket motor static test firings. The tests were conducted to verify new high-performance motor
casing and insulation manufacturing techniques, and validate the automated, remotely controlled propellant mix, and
cast processing facilities. The new facility, called the Space Propulsion Center (SPC), is co-owned and operated by
the two companies and is located at Spaceport America adjacent to the UP Aerospace Sub-Orbital Space Launch
Complex. The new capability was created in part to support propulsion development of the UP Aerospace Spyder
orbital launch vehicle.
Full Press Release

SpaceLoft Rocket Motor Qualification Static Test Conducted October 9th, 2017 at the
Space Propulsion Center (SPC), Spaceport America, NM

First Solid Rocket Motor Test at the Space Propulsion Center (SPC), Spaceport America, NM
(September 24, 2017)
November 6, 2015 SpaceLoft-10 mission successfully deploys
NASA re-entry research capsule
(Spaceport America, New Mexico) On November 6, 2015 at
8:01 a.m. MT UP Aerospace launched the 10th SpaceLoft rocket and the 4th mission for NASA’s Flight
Opportunities Program. The mission marked the debut of UP Aerospace’s new Automated Payload Deployment System
(APDS). At 60 seconds into the flight the system successfully released the nose fairing and ejected the 11 pound
re-entry capsule named Maraia that was designed and build by NASA’s Johnson Space Flight Center. Maraia was
designed to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere independent of the launch vehicle to test controllability at Mach numbers
reaching 3.5. The remainder of the vehicle contained three other experiments by NASA’s AMES Research Center, Purdue
University, and New Mexico State University. The SpaceLoft-10 mission reached an altitude of 396,405 feet on
its 18 minute sub-orbital launch into space. The SpaceLoft-10 vehicle was recovered on White Sands Missile
Range for re-use on future missions. UP Aeroapce is currently under contract to perform two additional
missions for NASA in 2016.
October 23, 2014 UP Aerospace completed the 3rd fully
manifested flight for NASA
(Spaceport America, New Mexico) On October 23, 2014 at
7:33 a.m. MT UP Aerospace successfully launched SpaceLoft 9 into space for NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program,
marking the third fully manifested flight for the FOP program. This mission set a new altitude record at Spaceport
America achieving an altitude of 77.25 miles. Paul De Leon the Project Engineer for the Flight Opportunities
Program stated, “We are very happy to have completed another successful flight with UP Aerospace, in which four
developing technologies have been tested and exposed to weightlessness in space. These experimental technologies
are in the process of maturation to eventually be utilized in future orbital and deep space missions. UP Aerospace
has proven to be a reliable commercial suborbital launch service provider for the NASA Flight Opportunities
Program. I’m looking forward to our next launch scheduled for the middle of next year.”
November 12, 2013: SpaceLoft 8 successfully launched for
NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program
(Spaceport America, New Mexico) UP Aerospace launched
SpaceLoft 8 on November 12, 2013 at 9:15 a.m. MT. This mission was for NASA funded research technologies, chosen by
the Flight Opportunities Program as part of the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. The vehicle flew to
385,000 feet providing the experiments with 3 minutes of microgravity. This mission is the second fully manifested
space flight for the Flight Opportunities Program. "The SL-8 launch was a complete success," said NASA campaign
manager Paul De Leon at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. "The UP Aerospace team provided an
outstanding service, and the launch vehicle performed exceptionally well, just as planned. All of the payload teams
were extremely happy with the flight and anxious to get their payloads back and analyze their data." Jerry Larson,
President of UP Aerospace added, “we continue to develop new onboard technologies with increased versatility to
open up new opportunities for future missions.”
June 21, 2013: UP Aerospace successfully launches
SpaceLoft 7 for NASA
The SpaceLoft rocket lifted off at 7:57 a.m. (MT), on a
suborbital mission carrying seven payloads for NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program. The seven payloads represent
experiments to develop and advance future technologies. Additionally, New Mexico Space Grant Consortium flew
educational experiments representing students from high school through Universities. Also on board were Celestis
Memorial Spaceflight Capsules, launching a symbolic portion of cremated remains of 36 individuals on a final
mission into space. The execution of this mission is part of the contract awarded to UP Aerospace by NASA in 2011,
to provide low cost commercial launch services to NASA. This mission marks the first fully manifested space flight
for NASA's Flight Opportunities Program. During the post flight press conference, Jerry Larson, President of UP
Aerospace stated, “This mission was a complete success where all systems performed perfectly.” He also commended
NASA for paving the way for NASA’s use of commercial launch services. Jerry Larson announced that, “UP Aerospace is
looking forward to the launch of SpaceLoft 8 for NASA this fall.” The SpaceLoft 8 launch is scheduled for October
9, 2013. Jerry Larson said, UP Aerospace is already working the payload integration for this
mission.
April 5, 2012: UP Aerospace Launches Payloads Into Space
for the DoD and NASA Flight Opportunities Program
(Spaceport America, New Mexico) At 8:18 a.m.
SpaceLoft-6 lifted off from Spaceport America making this the 6th space launch and the 10th launch overall for UP
Aerospace. In an awesome display of space flight technology the vehicle reached an altitude of 385,640 feet, and
returned from space landing successfully on White Sands Missile Range. SpaceLoft-6 carried payloads for The
Department of Defense (ORS), as well as the first space flown payload for NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program. “The
vehicle performed perfectly from liftoff to touchdown”, said UP Aerospace President, Jerry Larson. He added, “This
is a proud day for us in being able to display the remarkable performance of the SpaceLoft vehicle with proven
performance, precision, safety, and mission success.”
March 16, 2012: Department of Defense Sets Launch Date for
SpaceLoft-6 mission
(Albuquerque New Mexico) The Department of Defense’s
Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS) located at Kirtland AFB has contracted a commercial sub-orbital launch
service with UPAerospace Corporation on their SpaceLoft™ XL rocket. The SpaceLoft™ XL launch vehicle is targeting
70 miles (112 km) in altitude and 33.7 miles downrange on a sub-orbital trajectory flight profile carrying multiple
ORS payloads. Launches of SpaceLoft™ XL are conducted from Spaceport America’s Launch Pad One in New Mexico and
recovered after landing from the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). The sixth launch of the SpaceLoft vehicle will
be the first fully manifested DoD flight. The mission is currently proceeding on schedule for launch on 5 Apr 2012.
To learn more about Operationally Responsive Space visit: www.ors.csd.disa.mil
December 12, 2011: Lockheed Martin Selects UP Aerospace as
a Subcontractor for the Air Force Reusable Booster System (RBS) Pathfinder Program
(Denver Colorado) Lockheed Martin has been awarded a
contract from the U.S. Air Force worth up to $250M to develop and demonstrate a sub-scale Pathfinder
vehicle of the Reusable Booster System (RBS). Lockheed Martin awarded UP Aerospace a subcontract to support
the RBS Pathfinder program in the areas of ground operations, and flight testing at Spaceport America in New
Mexico. The first phase award is a 9 month requirements development contract with a follow on phase that is
expected to span 4 years with multiple flight demonstrations beginning in 2015. The RBS Pathfinder is a
reusable, winged, rocket powered, autonomous flight test vehicle that will be used to validate key technologies of
the future full scale RBS.
December 6, 2011: Department of Defense Sets Launch Date
for a Multi-Manifested Space Launch
(Denver Colorado) The U.S. Department of Defense
Operational Responsive Space (ORS) office has selected March 7th 2012 for the launch of SpaceLoft-6. This will be
the 6th launch of the SpaceLoft suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicle (sRLV) from Spaceport America and the 10th
mission that UP Aerospace has conducted from the new spaceport in New Mexico since becoming operational in 2006.
The sub-orbital mission is set to reach an altitude of 115 km and experience more than 4 minutes of microgravity
time. The DoD plans to launch a full manifest of payloads on board the SpaceLoft that will include more than 7
individual payloads and experiments demonstrating rapid payload build and launch. “This launch will once again
demonstrate that SpaceLoft is the leader in reliable, economical, sub-orbital vehicles on the market today.” said
Jerry Larson, President and Founder of UP Aerospace.
October 5, 2011: NASA Buys 2 Sub-Orbital Flights with
Options for Additional 6 Launches
(Denver Colorado) NASA’s Office of Chief Technologist
Launch Opportunities Program has awarded UP Aerospace a contract to integrate technology payloads and launch them
into space on up to 8 flights using the company's SpaceLoft rocket. The launch contract is part of the 2 year IDIQ
contract awarded to the firm on August 9, 2011. The contract reserves 2 SpaceLoft launches with options to purchase
6 additional flights in 2012 and 2013. The first flight for NASA is in the planning phase and is expected to be
launched from Spaceport America in the 1st quarter of 2012. UP Aerospace has teamed with Schafer Corporation to
provide NASA with comprehensive launch and payload integration services.
September 16, 2011: UP Aerospace is Awarded a DoD
Sub-Orbital Launch Contract
(Denver Colorado) The US Department of Defense
Operationally Responsive Space Office has awarded UP Aerospace a full manifested sub-orbital launch contract to be
flown from Spaceport America in New Mexico. UP Aerospace will launch their sixth SpaceLoft for the DoD to an
altitude of 115 km. This will be the forth mission flown by UP Aerospace for the DoD and the first fully dedicated
launch for the defense agency. The official launch date for this mission is under negotiations with the DoD but is
anticipated to be in the first quarter of 2012.
August 9, 2011: UP Aerospace Wins NASA Launch
Contract
(Denver Colorado) UP Aerospace was awarded a NASA
contract to integrate payloads and launch them into space for the Office of Chief Technologist Launch Opportunities
program. The NASA missions will be flown on board the proven SpaceLoft rocket and launched from the UP Aerospace
launch complex at New Mexico's Spaceport America. Schafer Corporation is UP Aerospace's partner that will provide
payload integration services for NASA payloads.
May 20, 2011: UP Aerospace Successfully Launches 5th
SpaceLoft rocket into Space
(Spaceport America, New Mexico) At 7:21am MDT UP
Aerospace launched the fifth SpaceLoft XL (SL-5) rocket into space with full mission success. A new altitude record
was set for Spaceport America with the launch of SL-5 reaching 73.5 miles on its 13.5 minute flight into space and
back. The space flown payloads were recovered on White Sands Missile Range and returned to the customers within two
hours of launch, setting a new standard for commercial mission turn time.
March 28, 2011: New Reusable Recovery System Successfully
Tested at Spaceport America
(Spaceport America, New Mexico) UP Aerospace
successfully tests a new reusable recovery system hardware in preparations for the up coming SpaceLoft launch. The
full scale parachute deployment system was dropped from a Army Helicopter at 14,000 feet above Spaceport America at
10am MDT. Twenty seconds after release the new deployment mechanism functioned as planned deploying the drogue and
main parachutes systems. Final preparations for the May 20th launch of the SpaceLoft vehicle are currently
underway.
December 10, 2010: UP Aerospace Awarded Contract for NASA
Launch
(Denver Colorado) The New Mexico Space Grant Consortium
selects UP Aerospace to launch the SpaceLoft rocket into space in support of the NASA Summer of Innovation
contract. The launch is schedule for April of 2011. This will be the fifth SpaceLoft rocket flown from Spaceport
America by UP Aerospace and the ninth launch operation that the company has conducted under
contract.
May 4, 2010: Successful Launch Into
Space
(Spaceport America, New Mexico) UP Aerospace's
SpaceLoft number 4 (SL-4) lifted off from Launch Pad One at Spaceport America this morning on its way to a
successful mission that reached 71.5 miles into space. The payload section and all of the customers payloads were
successfully recovered on White Sands Mission Range and returned to Spaceport America with a Army helicopter within
3 hours of the launch. The SpaceLoft vehicle performance was nominal and all systems functioned as
planned.
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