[Smevo]

Here's the NASA agreement from today's Cape Breton Post, I think this one is more detailed.

Friday, February 2, 2007

Closer to liftoff
PlanetSpace lands agreement with NASA that brings it one giant leap closer to building an orbital launch pad in Cape Breton

By By Tanya Collier MacDonald
the Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — PlanetSpace has landed an agreement with NASA that brings it one giant leap closer to building an orbital launch pad in Cape Breton.

“This is a major milestone,” said Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, chairman of PlanetSpace. “It’s actually the final milestone that the company had to complete to go ahead with the plan for Cape Breton and Nova Scotia.”

The pact will have NASA steering PlanetSpace into a position to compete for the agency’s commercial crew and cargo program.

The agreement to share information will help the company better understand the agency’s requirements for space station crew, cargo, launch vehicles and spacecraft.

PlanetSpace will work to develop and demonstrate its vehicle capabilities as well as systems and operations needed to transport crews and cargo to and from a low-Earth orbit destination. As the demonstration unfolds, NASA will acknowledge the company’s accomplishments.

“Not only is this very important for the company, this is very important for the entire nation of Canada,” said Kathuria. “This will give Canada a manned space program. Only three other nations have that right now: Russia, U.S. and China.”

The company hasn’t selected a final launch site but has narrowed the choice to three parcels of land in Cape Breton. Negotiations are continuing with the province and a decision is expected soon.

PlanetSpace CEO Geoff Sheerin said favourable flight corridors and ranges providing the company with the most latitude are among the deciding factors.

“We have been onsite,” he said.
“I’ve stood on the land and looked out over the water and saw the surrounding area and transportation capabilities for those sites.”

The rocket to be launched is the Silver Dart. It’s designed to function as either a manned or unmanned spacecraft and is stable in flight from mach 22 (22 time the speed of sound) to O and has a glide range of 25,000 miles. An all-metal thermal protection system allows for all-weather flying.

The first demonstration flight is planned for December 2009.