Space Expedition Corp Sets Up Regional Office in HK; Aims for Daily Space Flights from 2015

Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) has brought its exciting plans for space tourism to Asia, with a regional head office in Hong Kong.

The Asia division of the company - SXC Asia - will be responsible for all the sales and marketing initiatives in the region, including recruiting and training highly qualified Space Tourism Specialists.

The expansion will strengthen SXC’s customer network in Asia, especially in Greater China, and take SXC one step closer to making space travel more accessible and affordable.

Michiel Mol, CEO of SXC said, “Investment in commercial space products and travel services is growing rapidly and SXC plays a big role in driving the development of the space tourism industry. As a leader in this space and to stay ahead of the game, it made perfect sense for us to expand geographically to reach prospects in markets like China and Hong Kong, where we see increased curiosity and interest.”

Alex Tang, the appointed CEO of SXC Asia, will head up the Asia operation and work closely with Michiel and his team to expand SXC’s footprint in the region.

“We are extremely excited to have Alex on board to support our Asia expansion plans” said Michiel. “With the extended team in Asia, we are a step closer to realizing our vision – to make space travel accessible for everyone and offer participants a life-changing experience in viewing planet Earth.”

SXC Asia is selling flights under the SXC General Sales Agent relationship with the prominent aerospace company XCOR Aerospace.

XCOR is expected to fly the first commercial participant into sub-space (60km above sea level) by mid 2014 aboard the XCOR Lynx prototype vehicle called Lynx Mark I.

The Lynx Mark II Production model will take participants into space (100 km above sea level) approximately 12 months after the Lynx Mark I commences commercial service.

In the Lynx, the participant will sit in the ‘co-pilot’ seat alongside the pilot-astronaut. Together with its 4-square meter wide cockpit canopy, the participant will be able to enjoy an optimal view of the earth and space.

A 1:1.5 model of the XCOR Lynx Mark II will be on display at the entrance of The Arcade, Cyberport, from 13 July 2013 until late August.

To celebrate SXC’s Asia launch, the company has unveiled a special “SXC ASIA Founder Astronaut Package”. Founders are the first 100 participants to travel on the XCOR Lynx Mark II beyond the internationally recognized boundary to space (100km above sea level). The cost of the “Founder Astronaut Package” is HK$1,680,000 and is exclusive to SXC customers in Asia.

The SXC ASIA Founder package includes:

- A night at the Peninsula Hong Kong with Rolls-Royce Phantom limousine transfer to the airport

- Flight on an Airbus A330 Corporate Private Jet to and from Curacao spaceport (departure point - Hong Kong)

- XCOR Lynx Mark II spaceflight to sub-orbital space

- 4-night accommodation at a 5-star resort in Curacao

- Special SXC welcome pack, gala dinner and awards ceremony

- A 1:24 spacecraft model and a 1:12 figurine of the founder as a SXC astronaut

- Founder’s name carved on a monument at the Curacao spaceport

- One Luminox space watch

 The Spacecraft

SXC will carry out flights into space using two different spacecraft.

The current XCOR Lynx Mark I test spacecraft will take participants 60km above sea level, close to the edge of space while the XCOR Lynx Mark II will travel beyond 100km into sub-orbital space.

Powered by 4 liquid fueled re-ignitable rocket engines, the XCOR Lynx spacecraft does not have to depend on a mother ship to launch.

The spaceflight experience starts immediately from T+1. It reaches Mach 1 at T+60 seconds and Mach 2.9 at T+180 seconds.

Unlike traditional rocket engines, the XCOR spacecraft are much more environmentally friendly. Its body is constructed of lightweight materials, and is powered by common bio-fuels and reusable rocket propulsion. The engines are designed for more than 5,000 flights instead of just 1, which is a breakthrough in the history of rocket development.

From 2015 on, Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) is aiming to perform daily commercial flights into space.

XCOR and SXC have sold over 250 tickets so far.

See also: Thailand’s Khiri Voyages Wins Space Expedition Contract