92 XI. Private Space Companies Accion Systems – Accion is pioneering scalable electric propulsion technology and has created a new ion engine. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA. Ad Astra Rocket Company – Ad Astra is dedicated to the development of advanced plasma rocket pro- pulsion technology. Retired astronaut Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz is Ad Astra’s President and CEO. His concept of the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) is intended to achieve sev- eral advantages over current chemical rocket designs, including lunar cargo transport, in-space refueling, and ultra-high speeds for distant space missions. The company is located in Webster, TX near NASA’s Johnson Space Center and was incorporated in 2005. Armadillo Aerospace – Armadillo has performed over two hundred flight tests spread over two dozen different vehicles. They have performed work for NASA and the US Air Force and flown vehicles at every X-Prize Cup event. Founder: John Carmack (co-founder of ID Software). The company is located in Mesquite, Texas and was established in 2000. Arianespace – A French multinational corporation, Arianspace undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane 5 launch vehicle as part of the Ariane program. Two other launch systems are offered by the company: the Soyuz-2 is a medium-lift alternative to the Ariane 5 and the Vega is a lighter alternative. Alter Technology – Alter provides procurement, engineering, and test services for electrical, electronic / electro-mechanical components, and electronic systems within the space / harsh environment markets including aerospace, security, transport, emergency services, health and safety, and automotive. Aviospace S.r.l. – Airbus Defense & Space Italian (subsidiary). Aviospace employs 30 highly-qualified professionals who work in direct contact with cutting edge technologies and international aerospace pro- grams in the European and global space industry. AZUR Space Solar Power GmbH – A European company specializing in the development and pro- duction of multi-junction solar cells for space PV and terrestrial CPV applications. Copenhagen Suborbitals – A non-profit, suborbital space endeavor working towards launching a hu- man being into space. The company has performed (45) engine tests to-date in Copenhagen, Denmark. Established in 2008. Blue Origin LLC – Develops concepts and technology to support future human spaceflight operations. Among other projects, Blue Origin is developing a sub-orbital space vehicle that will take off and land vertically. Founder: Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com). Headquartered in Kent, Washington with a launch com- plex in Culberson County, Texas. Incorporated in 2000. Bigelow Aerospace, Inc. – Bigelow is an American space technology startup company based in North Las Vegas, Nevada that manufactures and develops expandable space station modules. Founder: Robert Bigelow (owner: Budget Suites of America). Locatrd in Las Vegas, Nevada. Established in 1998. CGS SpA – Compagnia Generale dello Spazio Deep Space Industries – Deep Space is a privately held space company planning to mine asteroids for usable materials and manufacturing in space. Missions to visit nearby asteroids to assess extractable resources including volatiles and metals were originally set to begin in 2015. Founders: Rick Tumlinson, David Gump. Location: McLean, Virginia. Established in 2013. Fundacion Tecnalia Research & Innovation – Masters of advance technologies in power networks, energy distribution, conversion and storage, sustainable construction, innovation strategies, health, industry and transport, and technological services. Highlights: mecha-tronics, robotics, thermal plasma,