Florida space firm Rocket Crafters signs agreement with RUAG Space

Home / Florida space firm Rocket Crafters signs agreement with RUAG Space / Articles / Florida space firm Rocket Crafters signs agreement with RUAG Space

Florida space firm Rocket Crafters signs agreement with RUAG Space

Florida space firm Rocket Crafters signs agreement with RUAG Space.

Rocket Crafters, a Cocoa, Fla.-based space startup, has signed an agreement with RUAG Space to use RUAG components.

By Paul Brinkmann

This article was originally published at United Press International.

COCOA, Fla., May 8 (UPI) — Rocket Crafters, a Cocoa, Fla.-based space startup, has signed an agreement with RUAG Space to use RUAG components.

Test fire of rocket engine
An engine test fire at Rocket Crafters in Cocoa, Fla., in 2018.

The memo of understanding is a further step toward launching a suborbital rocket test this winter, according to Robert Fabian, president at Rocket Crafters. The firm is aiming for a piece of the expanding small-satellite market. Its rocket under development is called Intrepid-1.

“RAUG has a reputation for high-quality parts,” Fabian told UPI. “More importantly, they are interested and have been talking to us.”

He said the two companies started discussions as part of an effort to develop a local workforce for advanced, high-tech manufacturing, called the Space Coast Apprenticeship Consortium.

Rocket Crafters will collaborate with RUAG on the design, development and procurement of a suborbital rocket guidance and navigation system, nose cone and aeroshell to support an initial test flight. RUAG is a Swiss company with a fairly new location in Titusville. Its biggest Florida client is the OneWeb satellite manufacturing plant at Exploration Park just outside Kennedy Space Center.

Fabian said the agreement with RUAG is a part of “rapid expansion of the launch industry here in Florida, medium and heavy, and some of the small companies.”

Rocket Crafters recently pivoted with a new patent for its 3D printed STAR-3D hybrid rocket engines. The company uses 3D-printed plastic as part of its engine core. It only ignites when mixed at exact temperatures with liquid oxidizer — considered by many to be a more stable, safe rocket fuel configuration than other conventional rocket types.

An announcement from Rocket Crafters said both parties recognize future business prospects based on Rocket Crafters’ Intrepid.

Rocket Crafters said it has identified RUAG Space as the ideal partner for carbon composite structure for payload covers (fairings) and aeroshells, as well as avionics, payload adapters and separation systems for future missions of Rocket Crafters planned.

Rocket Crafters says the name of its engines, STAR-3D, stands for safe, throttleable, affordable and reliable.

Source: UPI.

09
May 2019
By adminArticles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Grant BegleyCAPT. USN (RET), CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Grant Begley is an aerospace leader in the highly specialized fields of manned systems, unmanned systems, and robotic systems. As an aerospace executive and consultant, his work results in the enablement of next generation capabilities.  Begley is an accomplished initiator, developer, implementer and advisor of strategic planning, business development, resource obtainment, executive program management and technology insertion.

Grant, who has active security clearances, has enabled compelling new aerospace capabilities, future products and successes contributing to defense, national security and commercial applications for the federal government, Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, state governments, defense industry and the global private sectors.

Grant has successfully led the development of National Space Programs, from concept, to achieving compelling operational capabilities.

As a Certified Acquisition Executive, Grant advises global executive clients on competitive positioning, performance, and resolution of complex challenges leading to dramatic improvements.

Grant contributed to the development of the “Roadmap for U. S. Robotics 2013”, a White House initiative, as opening speaker and Team Leader. He served as Pentagon Senior Advisor – for Unmanned Systems, to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense.

In ’14 Grant became an Advisory Board Member for RCI.  He has been a member of the Executive Board since late ’15.

 

Paul LarsenVICE CHAIRMAN AND TREASURER

Paul Larsen earned his BS in Engineering Management from the United States Air Force Academy, and his MBA from the Harvard School of business, specializing in Small Business Development and Small Business Operations.

Paul served for over 30 years as an Air Force and Federal Civil Service Price/Cost analyst, and a Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO); he held an unlimited warrant.

While with Air Force Material Command, Paul oversaw Contracting efforts for Minute-Man II Motor Wash-Out and Refurbishment; was Chief, Pricing and Finance Division; and President, University of Hill (Hill Air Force Base). Assignments during this time include Pricing Volume Manager for a complex $1.5b Air Force Pricing effort involving over 1,000 separate contract line items, each with four quantity ranges with firm fixed pricing for 10 years; Senior Price/Cost Analyst for major Program Depot Maintenance (PDM) contracts with European contractors to identify and repair structural and aircraft components for US jet fighter assets in the European Theater; working with several universities and colleges to improve and deliver education programs to Hill Air Force Base military and civilian employees; Pricing and Cost Analysis policy for the Command at Headquarters Air Force Material Command.

In ’10, Paul, Ron Jones, and Steve Edwards co-founded Rocket Crafters Inc. Today Paul serves as Vice Chairman and Treasurer. With his experience negotiating contracts and pricing, recruiting, managing, consulting and training government cost analysts, he brings to this position experience, leadership and focus that allows him to analyze and drive down costs to meet RCI’s financial and program goals.

Rob FabianCOL. USAF (RET), PRESIDENT

Rob Fabian earned a BS in Space Operations from the United States Air Force Academy, beginning a distinguished 25-year military career in both space operations and ballistic missile maintenance.

Rob worked extensively with the Air Force’s ICBM fleets, leading field repair and sustainment efforts on both the Minuteman III and Peacekeeper missiles as well as coordinating operations between the ICBM repair depot, acquisition program office, and the supporting logistics supply chain.  As a space operations officer, his responsibilities spanned the gamut from day-to-day satellite tracking to planning and policy work at the highest levels of the government, including developing a 20-year roadmap for future space control system acquisitions and coordinating military and civil space policy issues across multiple Federal agencies.

In addition to his technical degree and extensive space and rocketry experience, Rob earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College – Summa Cum Laude.  His work has been published in the Proceedings of the Naval Institute and Astropolitics: The International Journal of Space Politics & Policy and he spent a year as an Air Force Fellow at RAND.

After retiring from the Air Force in ’13 Rob joined Rocket Crafters’ Advisory Board as a subject matter expert in rocket motors, military acquisitions, and military space operations.  At the same time he began working with BAE Systems providing acquisition and program management assistance and advice to the Minuteman III ICBM program office, further deepening his insight into government acquisitions.

In March ’14 the company appointed Rob as Senior Vice President – Propulsion assuming responsibility for the company’s rocket engine development program.  Later that year he was appointed to the Board of Directors.  In the Spring of 2018 he was appointed as President of the company, expanding his focus to oversight of all day-to-day operations within Rocket Crafters while continuing his hands on leadership of the rocket engine development program.

Rob brings a proven track record managing the personnel, constrained budgets, and highly complex processes will be crucial in bringing RCI’s innovative new rocket motors to market.  His in-depth space operations and policy experience within the Department of Defense and across other Federal agencies will be of great help as the company continues to grow and expand its customer base.

 

Sean MirskyCHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

Sean Mirsky is an expert in Macro Economic Event and Algorithmic Trading infrastructure.

He is the founder and CEO of the ZNES Group, which uses its resources to invest in forward looking “development stage” opportunities that typically have their roots in space commerce, yet have some meaningful connection to trading.

Prior to that, Sean developed and co-led the global microwave network efforts of Jump Trading as Director and Chief Architect, achieving superiority in speed between US and European Trading locations.  He also served as an embedded infrastructure specialist to key trading teams at Infinium Capital Management and Goldman Sachs.

On the Board of Directors of Rocket Crafters Inc., Sean is currently involved with commercializing patented 3D-Printed Rocket fuel and other breakthrough technologies for delivering Small Satellite (“SmallSat”) payloads to the precise orbit specified by each client.

Sean initially joined RCI’s Advisory Board, and in May ’16 was elected as a Board Member.

 

Sid GutierrezCOL. USAF (RET), CHAIRMAN

Sid Gutierrez earned a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy – Distinguished Graduate – and an MA in Management from Webster University. He is a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School and has completed a number of executive management courses at UCLA, MIT and Stanford.  In the Air Force he flew the F-15, F-16, T-38 and many other aircraft while serving as a fighter pilot, test pilot, and instructor pilot.  Sid joined NASA as an astronaut in the mid-80’s and in the early ‘90’s he served as the Pilot of Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-40 Spacelab Life Sciences – SLS-1, a dedicated space and life sciences mission), and Mission Commander of Space Shuttle Endeavor (STS-59 Space Radar Laboratory  – SRL-1, part of Mission to Planet Earth). Both missions were recognized with the Aviation Week & Space Technology Laureate Award for outstanding achievement in the field of space.

Sid retired from the Air Force and NASA in ’94 and joined Sandia National Laboratories, where he served in various senior leadership positions.  As a Center Director he was responsible for programs introducing disruptive ideas and technologies into satellites, space payloads and sensors and vulnerability assessments and analysis tools.  He was responsible for a very successful half a billion dollar national security satellite system.  He led innovations in national programs including support to the nuclear fuel cycle and international efforts to reduce the threat of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Recognizing the potential of Rocket Crafters’ innovative technologies and ideas, in ’12 Sid joined RCI as a member of the Board of Directors. Committed to changing the way we access space, in February ’15 he retired from Sandia to become the CEO of Rocket Crafters and Chairman of the Board. He is responsible for working with the RCI Team to establish and implement the goals and objectives of the company.  In addition to serving on the Board of RCI, Sid serves, or has served, on the boards of other for-profit corporations and a number of not-for- profit organizations, a state technical university, NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel and a Presidential Commission.

Ward SchraederMEMBER OF THE BOARD

Schraeder is a well-respected venture capitalist and television personality. He has dedicated his life to business investment and development. With an educational focus in chemistry and mathematics from Fort Hayes Kansas State University, Schraeder understands the economic impact, as well as the need, for emerging and changing technology. His previous business experiences allow him to understand all aspects of manufacturing, distribution, and management.