NEW YORK, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Space took a giant leap closer to earth today, following the launch of a new joint venture between Rocket Racing, Inc. (RRI), Armadillo Aerospace and the government of New Mexico. With a goal of sending adventurers into suborbital space with a target price of $100,000 per ticket or less, the three companies unveiled plans to field a fleet of reusable Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) vehicles (RLV) that will take flight from Spaceport America near Las Cruces, New Mexico. Each ship is slated to provide a cabin where passengers can float weightless with a 360-degree view of space. To date, other companies in the commercial space industry have promised rides to similar altitudes featuring small porthole-sized views for more than $200,000.

"I am honored that Rocket Racing, Inc. and Armadillo Aerospace have chosen New Mexico to set up shop," said Governor Bill Richardson. "Spaceport America and the State of New Mexico are proud partners and together we are writing the next chapter of space transportation."

Under the terms of the partnership, Armadillo Aerospace will develop the reusable launch vehicles and provide ground support and equipment. The State of New Mexico will supply launch facility infrastructure and resources. Rocket Racing Technology Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rocket Racing Inc., will provide financing for, and business and operational management of, the partnership. Reservations, experience marketing, customer training and the coordination of the passengers' overall experience will be managed exclusively by a third partner company that will be announced when marketing efforts begin.

"The price of space is coming down to earth," said Granger Whitelaw, Chief Executive Officer of Rocket Racing, Inc. "And thanks to Armadillo's ships and New Mexico's spaceport, human beings will be treated to the most stellar views in the galaxy."

While the venture owes its wings to technologies that have spent decades in development, its launch is made possible only through their recent combination. Armadillo's eight years of research and development on a dozen different flying vehicles is contributing engines, software, and operational capabilities. Meanwhile, the company's ground and flight test programs for the Rocket Racing League over the past year has resulted in flight research data that will be applied to allow for superior vehicle tracking and passenger safety.

Beyond suborbital space tourism, Rocket Racing Inc. also plans to deploy its vehicles to serve in a variety of payload transport initiatives. Target missions include micro-gravity experiments, astrophysics observations, reconnaissance and high-altitude scientific and meteorological measurements.

The companies plan to fly evolutions of existing vehicles to space and fabricate an initial manned vehicle prototype in 2009 and perform initial manned flights to space in 2010.

An illustration of one of the suborbital vehicle concepts is available for download and viewing at the following FTP site:

           Domain: rocketracingleague.ipower.com
           Username: press_ftp
           Password: pressmaterials

           NOTE: You will need an FTP Client Program to access site

For more information or to find a schedule of future Rocket Racing League events, visit www.RocketRacingLeague.com.

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 League (RRL) 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 League will feature multiple races pitting up to 10 Rocket Racers 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.

About Armadillo Aerospace

Founded in 2000 by video game pioneer John Carmack, Armadillo Aerospace has been working to bring the dynamism of software development to aerospace projects. With over a hundred VTVL flights across many different vehicle architectures, and more FAA licensed experimental permit flights than the rest of the industry combined, the Armadillo team has amassed a unique body of experience on their path towards manned spaceflight.

    Media Contact
    David Rosen for Rocket Racing Inc.
    Makovsky + Company
    212-508-9690
    drosen@makovsky.com

SOURCE Rocket Racing League