Walter Kistler and Bob Citron formed Lunar Transportation Systems early last year in response to the President's new Vision for Space Exploration. LTS's goal is to raise major financing from the private sector to develop, build, ground test, flight test, and operate a new Earth-Moon transportation system.
Initially, the government would be an important customer, and eventually, LTS would serve new lunar commercial markets.
The two entrepreneurs have a long history of stimulating new space market activities using private investment. Kistler founded Kistler Instruments AG and was the first investor in Spacehab, and co-founded Kistler Aerospace Corporation with Bob Citron, who also founded Spacehab.
LTS goals also fit nicely with the new White House Space Transportation Policy, which recognizes the need for commercial systems, particularly for launch and exploration. The new policy echoes the President's vision and encourages the government to facilitate commercial space activities.
"Our new LTS lunar architecture enables NASA to meet the near-term strategic objectives spearheaded by President Bush in the Vision for Space Exploration a year ago, as well as recommendations presented by the Aldridge Commission on how to implement that Vision," said Bob Citron, CEO of LTS.
"We are thrilled to see the new White House Space Transportation Policy further support commercial activities, just like what we are proposing."
Walter Kistler, who conceived the LTS Earth-Moon transportation system, said, "The Vision for Space Exploration calls for a greater role of the private sector in space exploration. Bob Citron and I firmly believe that entrepreneurial companies can bring new perspectives to the Vision, building opportunities for a strong future for space exploration."
Lunar Transportation Systems has launched a website to introduce its innovative concept to create the equivalent of a two-way highway to the Moon as part of NASA's new space exploration plans.
The website contains a lot of detail about their plans, including descriptions and artwork of LTS spacecraft, lunar architecture, mission profiles, trade studies in progress, as well as photo and video galleries.
