Commercial Space Craft Lynx To Fly in 2010

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - An aerospace company based in California unveiled Wednesday a two-seater suborbital spacecraft which will fly paid customers to outer space to have a closer view of distant stars and enjoy a gravity-free experience, in an altitude of more than 37 miles above the Earth.

"The Lynx will offer affordable access to space for individuals, researchers and educators," XCOR Aerospace said.

The announcement was made two months after aerospace designer Burt Rutan and billionaire Richard Branson introduced a model of SpaceShipTwo, which is expected to commence test flights this year.

The Lynx, much like a small private plane , will be launched to space in 2010, several times a day.

XCOR's chief Jeff Greason told reporters during the unveiling of the ambitious project that "Future versions of Lynx will offer ever-improving capabilities for scientific and engineering research and commercial applications."

Assuring spectators of a safe flight back and forth, Greason said that the aircraft's liquid fuel engines will guarantee "the enhanced safety, durability, reliability and maintainability that keep operating costs low."

Over the years, the company has built and flown two different rocket-powered vehicles.