C6 Launch would have liked to begin its static engine integration tests followed by tests flights here at home in Canada, but because of outdated regulations, and without a technology safeguards agreement with the U.S., C6 finds itself setting up in the launch friendlier environments of the U.S., the United Kingdom and looking into Brazil.
Yesterday, Toronto area based C6 Launch unveiled a new static rocket test stand at Spaceport America’s vertical launch area in New Mexico.
In an email to SpaceQ, Richard McCammon, President of C6 said “the engineering team is now at Spaceport America to conduct a Static Engine Integration Test (SEIT). The test will confirm operation of the various systems including avionics, communications, engine controls and ground controls.” The test will be conducted over a six-week period.
According to Spaceport America “the rocket test stand supports many different engine sizes, and it will remain at Spaceport America for future use by C6 Launch and other Spaceport customers.”
In a statement, Scott McLaughlin, the Executive Director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority said “we are pleased to host two more exciting entrepreneurial companies at Spaceport America. C6 Launch and Ursa Major Technologies show where space is headed. We are finally able to see the end of a tough year, and this demonstrates the type of customers Spaceport America can attract and to help achieve their goals. We also see local economic impact benefits in the fabrication by Highland Enterprises, and our customers staying and spending in the local area.”
The new rocket test stand was built by Highland Enterprises of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The cost was US$200,000 paid for by C6.
McCammon further stated that “over the next few weeks, a Hadley engine from Ursa Major will be integrated into the C6 system and the vertical test stand built by C6 using local contractors with hot-fire tests to follow.”
The C6 business model is taking a different approach than other Canadian launch companies, notably Reaction Dynamics, in that they are not developing a new rocket engine. Instead, they are using “off-the-shelf” Hadley engines developed by Ursa Major Technologies, a Colorado company. And because Canada lacks a technology safeguards agreement with the U.S., C6 can’t bring the engine into Canada. Hence the need to work in the U.S. or other jurisdictions which have TSA’s with the U.S., like the the U.K. and Brazil. McCammon also stated that “C6 Launch is forming a subsidiary company in Brazil to investigate various opportunities there.”
C6 Director of Structures, Sadben Khan, is no stranger to Spaceport America, as he was the Co-Captain and Structures Lead for the Ryerson Rocketry team that placed 2nd in the 30k ft competition at Spaceport America Cup in 2017. Kahn designed and built Ryerson’s airframe.
C6 said that their investment to date in this project includes the “$200,000 to the local New Mexico economy, $450,000 to the Colorado economy, and over $400,000 to the Ontario economy.”