Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Masten Space Systems Gets NASA Funds

Mojave, California-based Masten Space Systems, a developer of experimental space vehicles, is one of two firms sharing in $475,000 in a NASA award. According to NASA, it has selected Masten, along with Texas-based Armadillo Aerospace, to perform test flights of their experimental vehicles near the edge of space. The awards are part of a NASA effort to foster the development of commercial, reusable transportation to near space, between 65,000 and 350,000 feet. NASA said Masten's Xaero vehicle will make four flights from the Mojave Spaceport, reaching as high as 18 miles. Masten was one of the winners of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander X PRIZE Challenge back in November; Armadillo Aerospace was the other winner of the same challenge.

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