GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Space agency's requirement for data could lead to revival of K-1 launch vehicle and company's rescue from Chapter 11
Kistler Aerospace hopes to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as early as next month following NASA's announcement of its intent to proceed with a $135 million contract, awarded in May 2001, to buy data from flights of the company's planned K-1 reusable launch vehicle.
Kirkland, Washington-based Kistler filed for Chapter 11 in July last year, before assembly of its first vehicle began, and has continued operating "at a minimum level" under debtor-in-possession financing, says chief executive Dr George Mueller. NASA's decision should boost negotiations on "several hundred million dollars" of financing, which Kistler hopes to complete "within the next month", Mueller says.
NASA says the contract, originally awarded under the now-defunct Space Launch Initiative, is required to provide data to demonstrate the ability of commercial launch systems to carry cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS). With the decision to retire the Space Shuttle in 2010 with completion of the ISS, the data is needed by the end of 2006, the agency says.
The ability to return cargo from the ISS is crucial. The fully reusable K-1 can carry 3,200kg (7,000lb) to the ISS and return 900kg, NASA says, arguing that no other commercial launch system with autonomous-rendezvous capability is known to exist or is planned to fly within the required timeframe. Mueller says Kistler can make its first launch within 15 months of restarting the programme, as components for the first vehicle already exist. The K-1 would be launched from Woomera, Australia, he says.
NASA stresses that none of its money would be used for development of the K-1 or to acquire launch services. Instead, the agency plans to buy data on specific technologies from five flights, including a series of four increasingly complex autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations experiments. The contract is contingent on Kistler emerging from Chapter 11 with private funding to complete K-1 development, NASA says, with payments predicated on the success of each flight.
Source: Flight International
