Space Port Curacao May Host XCOR Lynx

Space Experience Curacao (SXC) and XCOR Aerospace, Inc. have agreed to the lease of a production version of the Lynx suborbital spacecraft, pending United States government approvals to station the vehicle on the island of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles. With a planned start date in January 2014, SXC will market, and XCOR will operate, suborbital space tourism flights and scientific research missions out of Space Port Curacao in a $25-million deal, reports The Wall Street Journal and Doug Messier.

"Building on our international wet-lease agreements model, XCOR is committed to continuing coordination efforts with the US Departments of State, Defense and Commerce and other relevant US agencies regarding export control and operation of suborbital vehicles at non-US locations," said XCOR COO, Andrew Nelson. "We think the wet lease model enables us to address these issues, while allowing us to continue to create new high technology jobs, compete effectively in international markets, and provide our clients like SXC, and their clients, an incredible experience and valuable service – we can't wait to fly from Curacao!" [video] [MSNBC]