Contact: Douglas Graham XCOR Aerospace Phone (661) 824-4714 x138 Fax (661) 824-0866 email

Press Release

XCOR's pump-fed Rocket Racer undergoing a test flight in Mojave, CA XCOR / Rocket Racing League photo by Mike Massee

Los Angeles, CA – April 16, 2008 – XCOR Aerospace, currently building and testing the first rocket powered racing aircraft for Rocket Racing Inc., welcomed today the addition of Armadillo Aerospace as an additional rocket propulsion supplier to the League.  Rocket Racing announced that Armadillo will supply engines at a press conference this week.

“In motor sports, the competition is not only between the men who drive or fly the machines, it is also between the manufacturers of the engines that power the racing vehicles,” said Jeff Greason, CEO of Mojave-based XCOR.  “We have always respected the work done by Armadillo Aerospace, and welcome their participation in this league.  It is sign of the increasing strength and maturity of the entrepreneurial space industry that companies needing rocket propulsion technology have multiple suppliers to choose from.”

Both the XCOR and Armadillo rocket engines and propulsion systems will be installed on airframes being built by Velocity Aircraft, of Florida.  Rocket Racing announced the acquisition of the kit plane builder at the same time they introduced Armadillo as an additional engine supplier.
The two engines will produce similar thrust, but differ significantly in design.  The XCOR engine uses a pump system to supply fuel and uses Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene as propellants.  The Armadillo engine is pressure-fed, and uses Alcohol and Liquid Oxygen as propellants.
"Thank you XCOR for the kind words and support,” said Granger Whitelaw, CEO of the Rocket Racing League.   “It is a great gesture that XCOR extends its hand to Armadillo as another entrant in the Rocket Racing League engine building business.  It has always been our plan to create a research and development "test bed" where companies can not only show their own technology, but work together in concert through a racing series, to build an industry that supports not only general aviation advancement, but also the emerging suborbital and orbital space enterprises."

About XCOR Aerospace
XCOR Aerospace is a California corporation located in Mojave, California. The company is in the business of developing and producing safe, reliable and reusable rocket engines, rocket propulsion systems, and rocket powered vehicles.  It recently unveiled its Lynx two-seat suborbital spacecraft that is expected to make its first flight in 2010.

About The Rocket Racing League

Founded in 2005 by two-time Indianapolis 500 winning team partner Granger Whitelaw and X PRIZE Chairman and CEO Peter H. Diamandis, MD, the Rocket Racing LeagueÒ (RRLä) is a new entertainment sports league that combines the exhilaration of racing with the power of rocket engines. To be held at venues across the country, the Rocket Racing Leagueâ will feature multiple races pitting up to 10 Rocket Racersâ going head to head in a 4-lap, multiple elimination heat format on a 5-mile “Formula One”-like closed circuit raceway in the sky. For more information on the Rocket Racing League, please visit www.rocketracingleague.com.

###