Spaceport Systems International (SSI), a limited partnership between ITT Industries and California Commercial Spaceport, Inc. has been selected for the first Minotaur space launch. Under the contract awarded by the U.S. Air Force, SSI will provide commercial payload processing, and range and launch site services for payloads being developed jointly by the U.S. Air Force Academy and Weber
State University. The satellite launch, scheduled for late 1999, will be the first launch from SSI’s California Spaceport.
As part of government efforts to use excess cold war assets for research
and education, the U.S. Air Force is converting and utilizing excess Minuteman II launch vehicles for government satellite delivery. The Minotaur is a launch vehicle made up of modified Minuteman Stages I and II mated with Pegasus upper stages and avionics. The Air Force Academy/Weber State University satellites, along with several micro-sets, will be the first payloads to fly on the converted Minuteman.
“This contract is a major win for the California Spaceport,” said Earl
Severo, CEO, Spaceport Systems International. “We will be able to demonstrate our ability to integrate and provide affordable, high quality launch services while demonstrating reduced cycle times to launch. This sets the course for a full service Spaceport.”
The California Spaceport is located in the southern most corner of
Vandenberg Air Force Base and is ideally situated to support direct injection into a broad range of polar orbit inclinations. It is one of four launch facilities designated as “qualified launch sites” for the converted Minuteman II launch vehicle.
On November 28, 1994, ITT Industries and the California Commercial
Spaceport, Inc. announced the limited partnership that resulted in the
formation of Spaceport Systems International L.P. Since that time, the
company has focused its efforts to bring commercial space services to the
central coast of California.
