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FAA Grants Second Safety Approval for Spaceflight to the National Aerospace Training and Research (NASTAR) Center

Southampton, PA, USA. October 16, 2012 – The NASTAR® Center, the premier commercial aerospace training and research center in the world, earned its second safety approval from the FAA for the center’s Falcon 12/4 Altitude Chamber. This safety approval meets the Crew Qualification and Training Requirements of 14 CFR § 460.5 for Commercial Spaceflight and allows the NASTAR Center to conduct altitude chamber operations from zero (0) feet up to 100,000 feet to support commercial space launch activities, including research, testing, and training pre and post-flight. Rapid decompression events up to equalization altitudes of 30,800 feet are also approved.
 
This safety approval (SA 12-004) is the second received by NASTAR and one of only four that the FAA Office for Commercial Space Transportation has granted to date. In April 2010, NASTAR Center was the first recipient of an FAA safety approval for its Space Training System: Model 400 (STS-400), a high performance training simulation system capable of replicating the acceleration G forces, vibrations, and visuals associated with suborbital space flight.
 
The altitude chamber safety approval from the FAA adds to NASTAR’s credibility as a leading provider of Commercial Spaceflight Training. Parent company ETC’s CEO Mr. William Mitchell stated, “The addition of this FAA safety approval is a testament to the dedication NASTAR Center has to providing the best possible training experience for commercial space training participants. The ability of NASTAR Center to provide realistic demonstrations in a reduced oxygen environment is a vital part of any training program. We are proud that we have demonstrated to the FAA that, not only do we manufacture the best altitude chambers in the world, but also provide the best training possible while upholding the strict safety guidelines required by the FAA.”
 
So far, the NASTAR Center has trained over 250 people for upcoming commercial spaceflights in its NASTAR Space Training Programs, including 115 future Virgin Galactic ‘Astronauts,’ 45 scientists from Universities around the country who plan to conduct research on commercial space flights, and 70 Accredited Space Agents (ASA’s).

Forward-looking Statements
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