Lynx (spacecraft)

Lynx

Mockup of Lynx spaceplane
Function	Manned suborbital launch and reentry
Manufacturer	XCOR Aerospace
Size
Stages	(none, fully reusable spacecraft)
Boosters
No. boosters	4
Thrust	2,900 pounds
Fuel	LOX-kerosene

The XCOR Lynx was a proposed suborbital horizontal-takeoff, horizontal-landing (HTHL), rocket-powered spaceplane that was under development by the California-based company XCOR Aerospace to compete in the emerging suborbital spaceflight market. The Lynx was intended to carry one pilot, a ticketed passenger, and/or a payload above 100 km altitude. The concept was under development since 2003, when a two-person suborbital spaceplane was announced under the name Xerus.

In January 2016, XCOR changed plans for the first flight of the Lynx spaceplane. It was initially planned for the second quarter of 2016 from the Midland spaceport in Texas, but in early 2016 it was pushed to an "undisclosed and tentative" date at the Mojave spaceport.

In May 2016, XCOR announced development of the Lynx had been halted with layoffs of approximately one-third of the staff; the company intends to concentrate on development of their liquid hydrogen rocket under contract with United Launch Alliance, instead.

In 2003, XCOR proposed the Xerus (pronunciation: zEr'us) suborbital spaceplane concept. It was to be capable of transporting one pilot and one passenger as well as some science experiments and it would even be capable of carrying an upper stage which would launch near apogee and therefore would potentially be able to carry satellites into low-Earth orbit. As late as 2007, XCOR continued to refer to their future two-person spaceplane concept as Xerus,

The Lynx was initially announced on March 2008, with plans for an operational vehicle within two years. In December 2008 a ticket price of $95,000 per seat was announced, with flights intended to commence in 2010. The build of the Lynx Mark I flight article did not commence until mid 2013 and, as of October 2014^[update] XCOR claimed that the first flight would take place in 2015. In July 2015 ticket prices increased by 50% to $150,000. In November 2015, three co-founders left their existing positions with the company to start Agile Aero. Dan DeLong (Chief Engineer) and Aleta Jackson left the company entirely, while Jeff Greason, the former CEO, remained on the Board of Directors until he resigned in March 2016. Greason cited problems with the Lynx vehicle body, although the engine had been a success. As of mid 2016, development was suspended in favor of a ULA contracted hydrolox engine, the 8H21.