Gemini to Fly Again!

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese Air Force Officers are now conducting military operations in orbit. "The space program, including ostensible civil projects, supports China's growing ability to deny or degrade the space assets of potential adversaries and enhances China's conventional military capabilities," Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, wrote in testimony presented before the U.S. Senate's Armed Services Committee Feb. 16.  Recently, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden stated that the country needs to have "a U.S.-based, commercial  crew launch capability at the earliest possible time."

Space Operations, Inc. (SpaceOps) has formed a team of highly motivated aerospace companies for this purpose. The three companies involved with the effort are WestWind Technologies, Inc., Advanced Solutions, Inc., and Southern Aerospace Company.  SpaceOps, will use the technology developed on the Gemini Program to be the basis for the 21st century, two-seat, ECLIPSE spacecraft. "Since this is an existing and proven design we could begin construction six to eight weeks after funding and complete a flying prototype ten to thirteen months later," said WestWind President Bill Jolly. U.S. built rocket boosters are currently available and could launch the ECLIPSE plus a significant amount of cargo into orbit.

Other U.S. companies, involved with crew orbital spacecraft development, have announced that they will not attempt launching a crew before 2017. "The military and political consequences may be serious if we don't launch much earlier," said SpaceOps CEO Craig Russell. "We agree with Administrator Bolden and other space experts that our country needs to have this capability as soon as possible. Our policymakers and military leaders should work together to fund this critical and very cost effective program immediately."  

About Space Operations, Inc.: Space Operations, Inc. (SpaceOps) is a crew/cargo orbital mission contracting firm. SpaceOps is located in Madison Alabama and is near  NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. For more information go to www.spaceoperationsinc.com

Contact: 
Craig Russell
256-653-7759
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Space Operations, Inc.