Luminox have announced that it is now the official watch partner of XCOR Aerospace. XCOR Aerospace are creators of the most innovative commercial spacecraft ever built, the XCOR Lynx. They recently acquired SXC (Space Expedition Corporation, currently known as XCOR Space Expeditions) who had an existing working relationship with Luminox, who produced a number of watches which are capable of working in space.
Who Are XCOR Aerospace
XCOR Aerospace are a company who specialise in private spaceflight and rocket engine development. The company is headed by Jeff Greason, who was the team lead at Rotary Rocket for engine development and previously worked at Intel.
XCOR Aerospace have been around since 1999, building the first ever privately built and flown rocket-powered aeroplane, the EX-Rocket. The EX-Rocket took its first flight in July 2001, flown by Dick Rutan – who is most known for breaking numerous records flying the Voyager aircraft around the world non-stop in December 1986.
The most exciting aspect of XCOR Aerospace’s plans is the launch of the Lynx Rocketplane, which has been in development since 2008. Currently 175 flights are presold at the cost of $95,000 each and the current prototype is due to be tested over the next year with flights to start in the next 18 to 24 months, according to the company.
The Lynx is expected to be able to be about the size of a small private aeroplane and capable of flying several times a day. Passengers will ride with the pilot under the transparent Lynx canopy and experience weightlessness, silence and the beauty of earth from space, as only 500 people have seen it before. The rocketplane is expected to make use of reusable, non-toxic engines which will keep operating costs low.
Luminox’s Spacewatches
Luminox has produced a number of spacewatches which can be worn by Astronauts (and passengers in these new private space flights. Luminox were previously partners with SXC, who have now been taken over by XCOR Aerospace.
Luminox’s spacewatches feature night-time vision (a staple of Luminox watches), a tough carbon coated covering, an incredibly accurate Swiss quartz movement and is waterproof to 200 meters. When the spacewatches were originally announced, Barry Cohen, who founded Luminox, said: “Currently our product line is broken into three segments – Sea, Air and Land, but with this partnership, we will be introducing the fourth dimension – Space.”
The New Partnership
SXC were recently acquired by XCOR Aerospace and they have continued the partnership Luminox held with SXC. André Bernheim, Co-CEO of Luminox said: “About 3 years ago, we became partners with SXC in Holland for the space expedition project. Now with the integration of the partnership of XCOR, we became part of the entire project and I am proud of being selected. This will be a win-win situation for both, where Luminox will be opening new doors for XCOR through our worldwide connection to the watch trade.”
Luminox are set to release a Space Series of GMT watches, which are set to be used by professional astronauts and space pilots. As there is complete darkness and total silence, the best way to keep track of GMT time (which is what will be used in space) is through the Luminox Light Technology which you can find on all Luminox Watches.
Images: Midland Airport, Anne
