XCOR's Lynx: Another Ride Into Space

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: This Planetary Radio episode covers the rise of commercial suborbital spaceflight, focusing on XCOR Aerospace’s Lynx spaceplane and its low-cost, reusable design. It also previews Phoenix’s Mars landing with Bill Nye, explains how much of Pluto New Horizons will image, and ends with a sky report and trivia segment highlighting Voyager 1’s distance record.

Main Topics: XCOR Aerospace and the Lynx spaceplane: Douglas Graham explains XCOR’s two-seat, runway-launched Lynx vehicle, emphasizing reusable engines, lower operating costs, and a cockpit-style passenger experience for suborbital tourism. Phoenix Mars landing outreach: Bill Nye promotes Planet Fest 2008 and the public’s involvement in the Phoenix lander’s planned landing near Mars’ north pole, framing it as a global event for Mars exploration. New Horizons at Pluto: Emily Loctewala breaks down the percentage of Pluto New Horizons will image, including limitations from Pluto’s axial season, rotation, and the need to observe during a fast flyby. Night sky viewing and Random Space Fact: Bruce Betts offers viewing tips for Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter and explains a Mercury impact-related geological feature at the antipode of Caloris Basin. Planetary Society updates and listener engagement: The episode includes membership promotion, a space trivia contest winner, and a new trivia question about LCROSS, reinforcing audience participation in the show. Commercial space ecosystem in Mojave: The Mojave Spaceport is presented as an incubator for space companies including XCOR, Scaled Composites, Virgin Galactic, and others working on reusable space technologies.

Key Arguments: XCOR argues that a single-stage, runway-launched suborbital vehicle is simpler, safer, and cheaper to operate than carrier-aircraft or vertically launched systems. The company’s central technical philosophy is that reliable, restartable, reusable engines are the key enabler for practical spacecraft. Using kerosene and liquid oxygen simplifies ground handling compared with toxic hypergolic propellants, improving safety and lowering costs. Passengers on Lynx will get a distinct “cockpit experience,” sitting beside the pilot rather than floating loosely in a cabin. Bill Nye frames Phoenix as a potentially world-changing mission because it could find water or evidence of life in Mars’ polar region. New Horizons will provide a scientifically valuable but incomplete view of Pluto because of geometry, season, and the short flyby timeline. The show emphasizes that commercial and scientific space progress depends on both technology and public enthusiasm, which the Planetary Society helps cultivate.

Data Points: Lynx first test flights: 2010 - XCOR hoped to begin test flights in 2010, with commercial timing dependent on funding and development progress. Passenger capacity: 2 seats - The Lynx is described as a two-seater with the passenger riding beside the pilot. Cost estimate mentioned: upwards of $100,000 - Other media coverage cited a rough price for a Lynx ride, described as a relative bargain compared with other space tourism options. Target altitude: about 60 kilometers / 200,000 feet - The Lynx was discussed as reaching the edge of space in suborbital flight. Engine burn time: 3 minutes - During the passenger flight profile, the engines fire for roughly three minutes before cutoff and coast to apogee. Weightlessness duration: 1–2 minutes - Passengers would experience a brief period of weightlessness near the top of the trajectory. New Horizons high-resolution sunlight coverage: about 40% of Pluto - Emily Loctewala explained that roughly 40% of Pluto would be imaged in sunlight at high resolution. New Horizons lower-resolution sunlight coverage: about 40% of Pluto - Another 40% would be seen in sunlight but at lower resolution before closest approach. New Horizons shadow-lit coverage: about 10% of Pluto - About 10% of Pluto’s winter pole could be imaged in reflected light from Charon. Pluto unseen fraction: about 10% - A small portion of Pluto would not be seen at all during the flyby. Pluto rotation period: 6.4 Earth days - This slow rotation affects which regions New Horizons can see before closest approach. Unilluminated north polar region: 17% - Because of seasonal geometry, about 17% of Pluto’s north polar region would be in permanent winter darkness. Voyager 1 distance milestone: 80 AU - The trivia question asked which spacecraft first reached 80 astronomical units from Earth. Phoenix event date: May 25 - Bill Nye highlighted Phoenix’s planned landing date on Mars. LCROSS trivia deadline: May 19, 2 p.m. Pacific - Listeners were given a deadline to answer the next trivia question for a Planetary Radio T-shirt. Planet Fest time window: 2 to 9 p.m. - The Pasadena Planet Fest 2008 gathering was scheduled during this afternoon-to-evening period. Mojave organization size: 22–23 people - Doug Graham noted XCOR’s small staff while describing the company’s breadth of work. Phoenix target site: Mars’ north pole - Bill Nye said Phoenix would land in the Arctic region of Mars on a suspected dry ice sheet. Ares I mobile launcher contract: $263 million - A headline mentioned NASA awarding a contract for the Ares I mobile launcher.

Pivotal Quotes: "We always believed the hard part of getting into space was having an engine that was reliable, restartable, reusable." — Douglas Graham: XCOR’s core technical philosophy behind the Lynx and its broader rocket development. "We’ll land in the Arctic on Mars, the North Pole of Mars, on what we believe to be a big ice sheet of dry ice, and we’ll bore down a little ways and look for who knows what." — Bill Nye: Bill Nye describing the Phoenix mission and why the public should follow its landing. "To us, that’s pretty much space." — Douglas Graham: Graham responding to criticism that Lynx’s altitude may not count as “real” space.

Implications: The episode shows commercial spaceflight moving toward practical, reusable suborbital tourism while major science missions continue to drive public excitement. It also reinforces that outreach, public events, and clear mission explanations are key to sustaining interest and support.