UP Aerospace has confirmed the success of its SL-2 Mission and the round-trip space flight of its SpaceLoft XL vehicle. The SpaceLoft XL vehicle was flown from Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport. SL-2 Mission was particularly noteworthy, given the wide variety of payloads and experiments onboard.

Celestis, Inc. selected UP Aerospace as the launch services provider for the Celestis Legacy Memorial Spaceflight Mission, which included the cremated remains of Star Trek's "Scotty" James Doohan and NASA astronaut and pioneer Gordon Cooper. In addition, the cremated remains of more than 200 people from all walks of life were onboard.

Also flown into space on the SL-2 Mission were dozens of student experiments from elementary schools to high schools to universities — from across America and worldwide — as well as innovative commercial payloads.

earlier related report

Epsori Space Systems Payload Reaches Space on UP Aerospace Rocket

San Diego, CA (SPX) April 30 – Epsori Space Systems announced today that its Space Seeds mission to space was a complete success. The experiment flew aboard the UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL rocket which was launched on April 28th, 2007 at 8:58 am. Epsori representatives report that the rocket lifted off the New Mexico desert floor and soared 384,000 feet into space without a hitch.

A crowd of approximately 300 were present to witness the historic first successful spaceflight at the New Mexico Spaceport. With this success Epsori becomes the 1st space education company to fly a payload to space on a "public space access" platform.

Epsori Space Systems is delighted to have a role in this precedent setting first flight into space at the New Mexico Spaceport, and looks forward to its next mission to space in October 2007.

Participants at the event were awed by the spectacle of the rockets thunderous liftoff, followed by sonic booms indicating the re-entry of the rocket from space. Quoting Brice Hilburn, (age twelve), who witnessed the launch, "That was cool!"

Epsori Space Systems will distribute the Space Seeds experiment to 2500 classrooms in the fall of 2007. K-12 teachers can signup immediately at Epsori Space Systems for the free experiment which includes approved curriculum, student workbooks, and packages of the seeds that flew into space.

The experiment allows students to compare the growth of seeds in a control group, to the growth of the Space Seeds. Students are taught classic techniques of scientific observation and record keeping during the experiment's two week execution.

Epsori Space Systems executives believe that its pioneering approach of flying experiments to space, to teach fundamental science skills in the classroom, provides a fun way to connect children with space science.

Quoting Jerry Hilburn, founder of Epsori Space Systems, "By placing seeds which have flown into space in the hands of our children, we engage their minds, excite their hearts, and make science fun!" Teachers are encouraged to visit the site and signup today for the free package.

Epsori Space Systems was founded in 2007 with the mission of delivering affordable space based experiments to classrooms across America. Based in the heart of the New Space industry in Southern California, Epsori plans to launch thousands of experiments onboard emerging New Space commercial spacecraft in coming years.

UP Aerospace is the first "public access to space" company to provide a low cost method of placing our experiments in space. Quoting co-founder, Joshua Johnson, "We are excited about the success of the SL-2 launch and tip our hats to the UP Aerospace team."

Epsori Space Systems will launch a new social network website for teachers and students in September, which will provide a platform for reporting experiences, research findings, classroom photography, and video content of the experiments execution. Distribution of the seeds experiment will begin September 1st, 2007.