C-17 Air Launch Demo

As press releases go, this is fairly informative.



http://www.airlaunchllc.com/AirLaunc...l%20061506.pdf

5555 Lakeview Drive, Suite 201
Kirkland, WA 98033
www.AirLaunchLLC.com
Contact: Trina Paskett (435) 881-2823 or Linda Strine (303) 726-8416
June 15, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DARPA, AIR FORCE AND AIRLAUNCH LLC DROP TEST SETS NEW C-17 RECORD

Kirkland, Washington - AirLaunch LLC, DARPA and the Air Force made
history yesterday as a simulated AirLaunch QuickReachTM rocket weighing
65,000 lbs was dropped out of a C-17A cargo aircraft, making it the
heaviest single load to ever be dropped out of the
plane.

"This was an important step for the program," said Dr. Steven
Walker of DARPA, "It expanded the envelope of C-17 air drop
capabilities, and points the way toward a safe extraction technique for
an affordable and responsive spacelift capability."

The drop test was performed as part of a program that is exploring a
new way of launching small satellites into space called the Falcon
Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) program, administered by the U.S. Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Air Force.

"This test is another accomplishment that will lead us to the next
phase of the program and eventually to launch," said Debra Facktor
Lepore, president of AirLaunch LLC. "We are excited to be working
with DARPA and the Air Force to develop new technologies that will
enable operationally responsive access to space."

The drop test and related activities were conducted at Edwards Air
Force Base, Calif., by the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) 412th
Test Wing and the 418th Flight Test Squadron in conjunction with the
C-17 Systems Group of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The flight
consisted of a 65,000 pound Drop Test Article (DTA), which simulates
the QuickReach™ launch vehicle dropped from an unmodified C-17A
aircraft at an altitude of 29,500 feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL) and a
true airspeed of 330 knots. The aircraft used is on loan from Air
Mobility Command to AFFTC.

"This drop test is the second in a series designed to assure that we
can safely extract the QuickReachTM rocket from a C-17," said
Livingston Holder, AirLaunch's chief program executive. "With each
test, we get closer to the actual mission launch altitude and launch
vehicle weight, and ultimately developing a launch vehicle that meets
the Falcon SLV requirements."

The Falcon SLV program goal is to develop a vehicle that can launch a
1,000 pound satellite to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for less than $5
million, within 24 hours of notice. Currently it costs about $20
million to launch a satellite of this size into space and the lead time
can be months to years. Having a quick reaction launch system that that
can launch specialized small satellites will provide a new capability
for both military and civil applications as well as stimulate
commercial opportunities.

"The QuickReachTM rocket will enable the government to respond
quickly when a military need arises or in response to a natural
disaster by launching small remote sensing satellites on short
notice," said Holder.

AirLaunch's QuickReachTM rocket will carry small satellites in to
LEO. These satellites can be equipped with communication, camera and
sensor payloads that allow special purpose support for military
activities, hurricanes, and forest fires, as well as enable time-urgent
communications in remote areas.

AirLaunch opted to launch its vehicle from a cargo aircraft at altitude
to provide increased performance to take advantage of the efficiency of
the innovative liquid oxygen and propane vapor pressurization (VAPAK)
propulsion system that QuickReachTM employs. AirLaunch's approach
also minimizes reliance on fixed launch ranges. NASA Wallops is
contributing key range technology to this area of the program.

"Launching from the C-17 aircraft provides operational flexibility
that becomes extremely important in matters of national security,"
said Lepore. "The data from this drop test will provide us more
information to develop this concept into a viable system for the United
States."

The team is in the second phase of the Falcon SLV contract or Phase 2B.
As part of this phase, AirLaunch recently accomplished Milestone 3,
which consisted of completed assembly of the payload fairing and
additional engine test firings of its QuickReachTM stage two engine.

AirLaunch previously conducted a stage separation test and two engine
test fires as part of Phase 2B Milestones 1 and 2.

In 2005, Team AirLaunch completed Phase 2A on time and within budget
with significant hardware development and testing. This included four
engine test firings, a stage separation test, a ground drop test, and a
C-17 drop test. At 65.8 feet, AirLaunch's DTA was the longest single
object ever dropped from a C-17 aircraft, conducted on September 29,
2005. The flight test crew was nominated by Air Force Materiel Command
(AFMC) for the 2005 Mackay Award, for the most Meritorious Air Force
flight of the year. Phase 2A ground tests and the first air drop
generated early data on propulsion, airframe, avionics and operations.

AirLaunch LLC is a small business headquartered in Kirkland,
Washington. For more information visit: www.AirLaunchLLC.com.