Forks: Space flights in their sights as rocketeers plan to launch people from Peninsula

FORKS — In hot pursuit of a coveted $10 million prize, two commercial aerospace engineers are working overtime in a Forks Industrial Park warehouse to forge their way toward space technology that could one day blast tourists into space.

Space Transport Corp. President Philip Storm and Vice President Eric Meier are perfecting their second three-stage rocket, which they hope to launch Thursday, weather permitting, from a site near Forks.

The partners are welding the frame to a space capsule — or “suborbital tourism vehicle” — that is ultimately intended to carry three astronauts to the heavens and back to Earth.

The company’s spacecraft will initially carry only one astronaut and two ballast “dummies” for test launches in competition for the $10 million “X Prize,” said Meier.

The X Prize is the aerospace industry’s primary forum for developing private entrepreneurial ventures.

Winner of the competition must be the first team to privately build and fly a manned spacecraft capable of carrying three people to a 62.5-mile altitude twice in a two-week period.

The vehicle also has to be 90 percent reusable in the designated time period.

—————-

The rest of the story appears in the Monday Peninsula Daily News.

More in News

A member of the First Night Circus performs her routine at the American Legion Hall in Port Townsend during the First Night activities produced by the Production alliance on New Year’s Eve. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
First Night festivities

A member of the First Night Circus performs her routine at the… Continue reading

Dave Neupert.
Judge becomes Clallam coroner

Charter still must be amended

The Upper Hoh Road is closed at milepost 9.7 after heavier flows eroded pavement.
Upper Hoh Road closed after river erodes pavement

Jefferson County lacks funding for immediate repair, official says

Port of Port Angeles to discuss surplus of property

The Port of Port Angeles will hold the first… Continue reading

Todd Shay of the Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Department lowers the flags in front of City Hall on Monday to honor Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States who died Sunday at the age of 100. The flags will stay at half-staff until the end of the day Jan. 28 by order of the governor. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Honoring President Carter

Todd Shay of the Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Department lowers the… Continue reading

911 call center making changes

Traveling dispatchers, AI part of solutions

Jefferson County grants $800K in lodging tax

Visitor center, historical society among applicants

Colleges ‘not optimisic’ on state financial error

Peninsula College would owe $339,000

Wednesday’s e-edition to be printed Thursday

Peninsula Daily News will have an electronic edition on… Continue reading

Volunteers sought for annual Point in Time count

Olympic Community Action Programs is seeking volunteers to assist… Continue reading

Two men taken to hospitals after crash

Two men were taken to hospitals following a collision on… Continue reading

Coho to undergo scheduled maintenance

Black Ball Ferry Line’s M/V Coho ferry will be… Continue reading