Space launch system company SpinLaunch has started construction of a US$7 million test facility at Spaceport America.
SpinLaunch was founded in 2014 and last year received US$40 million of funding from companies including Airbus, Google and venture capital company Kleiner Perkins.
SpinLaunch is developing a system which accelerates a launch vehicle to 5,000mph (8,000km/h) by spinning it and catapulting it into orbit. The rotational kinetic energy will be powered by ground-based electricity that could come from energy sources such as solar and wind, eliminating the use of toxic and dangerous rocket fuels.
According to reports the company plans to be launching small satellites by 2022 for US$500,000 per launch and has built a working prototype of its spinning launch system.
@Spaceport_NM welcomes @spinlaunch! https://t.co/FutK6gEVgL #spinlaunch #SpaceportAmerica pic.twitter.com/fLr43vbubY
— Spaceport America (@Spaceport_NM) May 7, 2019
Jonathan Yaney, CEO of SpinLaunch said, “We are excited to be developing our first flight test site at Spaceport America. The commercial space market is expected to grow to a trillion dollar industry within the decade and this new agreement with Spaceport America will expedite our ability to service that emerging market.”
Dan Hicks, CEO of Spaceport America said, “The citizens of New Mexico have supported Spaceport America to enable a new revolution in space systems. SpinLaunch with its new configuration to employ kinetic energy, is one of the most exciting new ventures to enter the space industry.”
