Free Republic

MOJAVE - XCOR Aerospace continues to ride the cutting edge of space technology as it works on the preliminary design for its Xerus suborbital spacecraft. The Mojave-based rocket company announced it will use a sophisticated computer-analysis software program, running on a supercomputer, during the preliminary design phase for Xerus. XCOR is developing the Xerus spacecraft to take commercial passengers to the edge of space as part of the emerging commercial space tourism industry. This kind of high-powered computer analysis previously was only available for the large aerospace defense firms, said Rich Pournelle , XCOR's director of business development. "Now those...

MOJAVE - XCOR Aerospace successfully demonstrated a new liquid oxygen pump, technology that may be used to power future rocket propulsion systems. This piston pump technology is a step beyond conventional turbo pump fuel systems that are effective for very large engines, but too big, heavy and complicated for midsized rocket engines. Development of the pump proceeded in stages. Engineers first tested the system using water, then rocket fuel. Using these liquids made testing easier because they are at room temperature, said Dan DeLong, XCOR chief engineer. After success in those initial tests, engineers moved on to low-temperature liquid nitrogen...