Final Call to Register and Win Suborbital Research Flight at Next Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC-2012)

MOJAVE, Calif., Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- XCOR Aerospace and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) announce the final week to register and become eligible to win a suborbital research flight on XCOR's Lynx I vehicle at the Next Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference (NSRC-2012) in Palo Alto, CA on February 27-29.  The deadline for early conference registration and for entering the drawing is the 10th of February at nsrc.swri.org.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120130/LA43919)

"We don't want the researcher, educator or student attending NSRC-2012 to register late and miss this great opportunity to advance their work," said Andrew Nelson, Chief Operating Officer of XCOR Aerospace. "We want as many as possible going to NSRC-2012 to experience the possibilities of reusable suborbital research opportunities and have the chance to win a flight that would otherwise cost $95,000 on Lynx, or up to $200,000 on competing suborbital vehicles."

XCOR Aerospace, the industry leader in fully reusable manned rocket-powered spacecraft for suborbital research operations and SwRI, globally recognized as a leader in the suborbital research field, have made this flight available to promote the start of this revolutionary new capability for the educational, microgravity, atmospheric and astronomical research community.

An additional highlight of the meeting will be a keynote speech by former Apollo astronaut and X-15 Pilot Neil Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong will be speaking about his experience flying some of the first and most ground breaking suborbital research flights.

Additional NSRC invited speakers include XCOR's Andrew Nelson speaking about Lynx development, Challenger Center Founding Director June Scobee Rodgers who will fly as a teacher in space, SwRI Associate Vice President Dr. Alan Stern, and NASA Ames Center Director Dr. Pete Worden.  Engaging panels will bring together researchers in the microgravity, life, planetary, and atmospheric sciences with suborbital vehicle providers, market/policy analysts, educators, and many others.  Further program highlights include an exciting anchor keynote presentation by FAA Commercial Space Transportation Associate Administrator Dr. George Nield and a NASA Flight Opportunities Program workshop.

"NSRC-2012 is providing the first ever opportunity for a researcher or educator to win a suborbital research flight and to hear from suborbital research pioneers," said Dr. Alan Stern, former NASA Associate Administrator for Science, and now Associate Vice President of Research and Development for the Space Science and Engineering Division at SwRI. "In addition NSRC attendees will hear from colleagues across numerous fields, the suborbital flight community, and government officials about the state of this new industry and where it is headed. NSRC-2012 advance registration closes on 10 Feb, so get your seat and your chance to fly for free on XCOR now!"

Registrants are encouraged to read the Official Contest Rules available on the XCOR website at:  www.XCOR.com/NSRC-2012-contest-rules.

XCOR Aerospace is a California corporation located in Mojave, California. The company is in the business of developing and producing safe, reliable and reusable rocket powered vehicles, propulsion systems, advanced non-flammable composites and other enabling technologies. XCOR is working with aerospace prime contractors and government customers on major propulsion systems, and concurrently building the Lynx, a piloted, two-seat, fully reusable, liquid rocket powered vehicle that takes off and lands horizontally.  The Lynx-family of vehicles serves three primary missions depending on their specific type including: research & scientific missions, private spaceflight, and micro satellite launch (only on the Lynx Mark III).  The Lynx production models (designated Lynx Mark II) are designed to be robust, multi-mission (research / scientific or private spaceflight) commercial vehicles capable of flying to 100+ km in altitude up to four times per day and are being offered on a wet lease basis.  (www.xcor.com).

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is one of the oldest and largest independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organizations in the United States. SwRI's 11 technical divisions offer a wide range of technical expertise and services in such areas as chemistry, space science, nondestructive evaluation, automation, engine design, mechanical engineering, electronics and more. The Space Science and Engineering Division focuses on the development of scientific payloads aboard scientific satellites, the International Space Station, reusable suborbital vehicles and sounding rockets. Institute teams formulate concepts, design and manage complex hardware and data systems, develop advanced space borne instrumentation, and address theoretical aspects of space physics and planetary astronomy. (www.swri.org)

SOURCE XCOR Aerospace