"ECLIPSE" Spacecraft

Byron C. Russell, CEO

Space Operations Inc.
9694 Madison Blvd. Ste. B-11
Madison, Alabama 35758


Abstract

Space Operations, Inc. (SOI) is a locally owned and operated company that was formed to provide reliable and technologically sophisticated spacecraft hardware focused on fulfilling the need of carrying flight crews and cargo into orbit. The company will develop, operate and maintain spacecraft vehicles for use by the U.S. Government, satellite manufacturers, and other organizations or individuals with a requirement or a desire for orbital space flight. SOI will use proven flight rated technologies and the latest modern avionics and flight systems available for integration into SOI's newly manufactured flight vehicles, the ECLIPSE. Each vehicle will be fully tested and certified for flight safety by the FAA. The ECLIPSE spacecraft is designed to carry two crewmen and between 8,500-10,000 pounds of cargo, depending on the ultimate weight of the spacecraft. SOI was established to fill a significant void of readily available modern spacecraft in the U.S. With the retirement of the Space Shuttle Program, the U.S. is relying on the Russian Soyuz to launch Americans crews and cargo into orbit. Relying on Russian flight hardware to maintain the ISS is considered by many American space experts as risky, extremely expensive, and politically sensitive. The ECLIPSE spacecraft will offer an economical and safe alternative. Launch operations will be outsourced to proven certified aerospace contractors that have the experience and capacity for safely launching a fully loaded ECLIPSE into orbit. As a result, SOI can concentrate on crew training, planning cargo capacity and preparing flight manifests, and will also, avoid the expense of maintaining a launch operation on a daily basis. SOI will emphasize reliability, safety, affordability, customer service, and responsiveness to customer's space requirements. SOI will service five sectors in the orbital space market:

Satellite service/repair Satellite deployment Space tourism Space station construction/re-supply Debris de-orbit

The power point presentation will include some information about the NASA Gemini program during the 1960's. The majority of the presentation will be about the status of the construction of the spacecraft and plans to launch early next year (2012).

Presented at ISDC 2011 - Huntsville. Paper and presentation charts are not available.