Global Hilton Project

In 1997, Interorbital Systems designed and constructed 20 pressure-fed propane tanks to provide fuel for the burners of Dick Rutan's Global Hilton manned high-altitude balloon system. At the cold temperatures (as low as minus 100 degrees F) found at the balloons operating altitude above 40,000 feet, propane loses the vapor pressure it has at the normal ground temperature range and cannot flow without assistance. IOS' nitrogen pressurant system provided the feed pressure required to get the propane out of the tanks under the extremely cold operating conditions found in flight. The tanks held a total of 5,000 pounds of propane. Dick Rutan and Dave Melton piloted the craft in their attempt to circumnavigate the world nonstop. The Global Hilton Project represented Interorbital Systems' first man-rated flight system. During ground and flight operations, the IOS Tank systems performed flawlessly.

Roderick Milliron, president, co-founder, and chief designer at IOS commented, "The requirements of a high-altitude fuel delivery system for the hot-air balloon's burners were met with the direct application of the lightweight fuel tank technology and propellant delivery systems we'd already developed for use in our rocket systems."

 South Texas Spaceport Contract

In 2002, Interorbital Systems completed a Phase I technical study and analysis for the proposed South Texas Spaceport, a facility to be located along the Gulf Coast between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, Texas. The report IOS generated for the Texas Aerospace Commission included orbital trajectory analysis, recommendations on logistical support, spaceport design and infrastructure specifications, as well as economic impact projections. It was determined that South Texas would serve as an excellent orbital launch operations center.

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