For more information about these or other stories about Beal Aerospace, contact David Spoede, 972-668-2000, Extension 2030.

March 4, 2000
BEAL AEROSPACE FIRES LARGEST LIQUID ROCKET ENGINE IN 30 YEARS
Texas Company Builds World's Largest Liquid Engine Since Apollo Moon Program

Beal Aerospace fired today the largest liquid rocket engine built since the historic Apollo program of the 1960s. The 810,000-pound vacuum thrust hydrogen peroxide/kerosene engine, designated the BA-810, is the Stage 2 engine for Beal’s forthcoming BA-2 heavy-lift launch vehicle, scheduled for inaugural launch in 2002. The engine made a 21-second firing at the company’s engine test facility in McGregor, Texas before a large crowd of company employees, industry and government VIPs, news media and other guests.

Today’s test was the third firing of the engine. Beal engineers completed 30 seconds of testing on the engine in two previous tests in preparation for today’s firing. The engine consumes almost 3,000 pounds of propellants per second of operation and generates the equivalent of 6.7 million horsepower.

A new thrust chamber was fitted for today’s tests. The chamber used in the previous two tests is undergoing analysis at Beal’s engineering and assembly facility in Frisco, Texas, near Dallas, and will return to the stand for future tests.

"This is a remarkable achievement for our program," said company founder and CEO Andrew Beal. "Our program started small in 1997, with a vision to build a more reliable, more economic means to space for the international satellite community. After a steady stream of successes in our engine development and composite-tank programs, we’re beginning to generate a lot of attention. Building the largest liquid engine in 30 years is an extraordinary achievement – particularly for a private company."

The engine marks several milestones in the aerospace community:

• It is the second largest liquid engine ever built, second only to the powerful F-1 engines used in the Apollo program. It is 10 times more powerful than the Redstone rocket that put the first American into space in 1961.
• It is the largest liquid engine built since the F-1 flew on the last Apollo mission in 1973.
• It is the largest thrust chamber ever made from carbon-fiber filament. The space-flight version of the chamber will be 26 feet in length and 20 feet in diameter at its exit nozzle.
• It is the largest hydrogen peroxide-propelled engine ever built. Hydrogen peroxide was first developed as a rocket propellant in the 1930s, then was replaced in later years for more potent alternatives like liquid oxygen. Advances in engine design and chemical engineering, pioneered at Beal Aerospace, have led to a rediscovery of hydrogen peroxide and its operational and environmental advantages. Hydrogen peroxide, for example, is stored and handled at ambient temperature, rather than cryogenic temperatures like other propellants.
• It is the largest engine ever built by a private program with no ties or funding by the government. Beal Aerospace is a fully private company dedicated to build more reliable and economic access to space for the international satellite community.

Beal’s McGregor facility features two additional test stands: a vertical-fire test stand for smaller engines, and a 220-feet tall vertical-fire stand, currently under construction, for larger engines. The McGregor test facility also houses a five-ton-per-day hydrogen peroxide concentrator, designed and built by company engineers. Headquartered in Frisco, Texas, near Dallas, Beal Aerospace designs, is building and will launch heavy-lift vehicles for the international satellite community.

Engine Comparison Chart

February, 2000
D Magazine
Freelance writer Melinda Rice presents a well-written and well-researched personality profile on Beal Aerospace founder and CEO Andrew Beal. The article also includes a lot of information and history about Beal's number-theory problem, The Beal Conjecture. (For more information, go to www.bealconjecture.com.) However, the article omits the fact that the BA-2, while expendable at first, will evolve and eventually incorporate reusable technologies for Stages 1 and 2. Ultimately, the BA-2 will be as reusable as many of the so-named vehicles on the drawing board right now, since the reusables being developed must still incorporate an expendable final stage for proper GTO satellite positioning. See www.dmagazine-beal.com.

January 18, 2000
The Dallas Morning News
The newspaper provides an update to Beal Aerospace's proposed launch sites in Cape Canaveral, Sombrero and Guyana, and discusses the company's partnership with noted experts to design launch facilities in concert with local environmental goals. The overview, however, does not fully describe the depth of environmental research and study that has been done in support of the launch site on Sombrero Island. A detailed Environmental Assessment, involving more than two years of study and hundreds of thousands of dollars, was completed by one of the world's most respected environmental consulting firms. Despite criticisms by a few individuals, it is, by far, the most detailed research ever conducted on Sombrero Island. www.dallasnews.com

January 14, 2000
STAGE 2 THRUST CHAMBER SHIPPED FOR TESTS
Beal Aerospace shipped today the first Stage 2 thrust chamber to the company's engine test facility in McGregor, Texas, in preparation for next month's initial firing. The engine, which will generate 810,000 pounds of thrust, is about 10 times more powerful than the Redstone rocket that put the first American into outer space.
The thrust chamber is a "ground-test" version, meaning that it is substantially shorter than that actually used in space flight. The ground-test thrust chamber shipped today stands 14 feet tall.
The engine test will be conducted at a new horizontal test stand completed in December at the McGregor test site.

January 12, 2000
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE CONCENTRATOR STARTS PRODUCTION
Beal Aerospace announced today that its Type II Hydrogen Peroxide Concentrator began operation at the Company's engine test facility in McGregor, Texas. The concentrator facility was designed and built by Beal Aerospace and produces up to five tons per day of 90 percent hydrogen peroxide propellant. The concentrator's steady output of engine propellant is particularly important since testing of Beal's 810,000-pound-thrust (vacuum) Stage 2 engines and 4.1 million-pound-thrust (vacuum) Stage 1 engines will begin in 2000.
"This marks a major milestone for our Company," said Andrew Beal, President and CEO. "With our own 90 percent concentrator, we can further ensure that we have ample supplies of propellant to conduct all the rigorous tests necessary to support our engine development program."
The Company began engine testing at McGregor in 1998 with prototype designs. The initial test of the 44,000-pound-thrust Stage 3 engine was conducted in October, 1998. Initial tests of the Stage 2 engine are scheduled for February, 2000.

January 7, 2000
BEAL CANCELS PLANS FOR ST. CROIX FACILITY
Beal Aerospace announced today that it is canceling plans to build a rocket-assembly facility on St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company is evaluating its long-term options.
Neither of the Company's other development sites - Sombrero Island, Anguilla nor Guyana, South America - are affected by this decision.

January 3, 2000
BEAL CONFIRMS CAPE CANAVERAL PROPOSAL
Beal Aerospace confirmed today that Florida officials have presented a proposal to the company for launch operations and additional facilities at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The company is reviewing its options regarding this proposal.

December 15, 1999
BEAL READIES FOR STAGE 3 "RTA" TEST
Beal Aerospace is preparing for the first test of its Stage 3 "representative-test article," a full-scale prototype of the third stage of the BA-2 rocket. The Stage 3 engine was first tested in October of 1998, and numerous successful tests have been completed since.
Company engineers are finishing the RTA unit, which stands approximately 15 feet tall, and will transport the unit to Beal Aerospace testing facility in McGregor, Texas. Initial tests of the unit are currently scheduled within the next two months.

December, 1999
Popular Mechanics
News brief titled "Liquid Rocket Comeback" states that "Powerful liquid-fuel rockets might soon be back in the United States fleet." www.popularmechanics.com

November 30, 1999
BEAL COMPLETES HORIZONTAL TEST STAND IN McGREGOR
Beal Aerospace announced today the completion of one of the world's largest horizontal rocket-engine test stands at its facility in McGregor, Texas. The stand is large enough to accommodate the firing of Beal's 810,000-pound-thrust (vacuum) Stage 2 engine and its 4.1 million-pound-thrust (vacuum) Stage 1 engine. The initial test of the Stage 2 engine is scheduled for February, 2000.

November 2, 1999
NEW WILDLIFE STUDY FINDS FEWER BIRDS ON SOMBRERO
A new wildlife study presented to the British government shows that relatively few birds nest on Sombrero Island, further clearing the way for approval of Beal Aerospace's plans to construct a commercial rocket launch facility on the remote island. The study found that approximately 900 pairs of sea birds currently nest on Sombrero, out of the 100,000 pairs estimated in the Greater Caribbean Region of the same species.
The study also included analyses of bird populations on 17 other Anguillan islands, particularly Dog, Scrub and Prickly Pear. The study found that Dog Island has thousands more sea birds than Sombrero, and that Scrub Island has twice the number of separate species than Sombrero. The new 18-island wildlife study augments the baseline Environmental Assessment of Sombrero Island completed and presented to the British government for review in 1998.
"All of the bird species observed on Sombrero were present and in greater populations on the other islands surveyed," the report's wildlife experts conclude. "In addition, several additional bird species were observed during the survey of other islands." The report also reminds: "No endangered, threatened, or protected species, as identified in relevant treaties ratified by the United Kingdom, are known or suspected to inhabit Sombrero."
Wildlife experts conducted the fieldwork for the new study during times to coincide with the height of the nesting seasons for various bird species. The new study confirms similar 1998 reports showing that only five bird species currently nest on Sombrero - brown booby, brown noddy, sooty tern, bridled tern and masked booby - versus the 10 or more that nest on Anguilla's Scrub Island.
The fieldwork included night surveys to monitor nocturnal activity of species not observed in daylight hours, yet no additional species were identified.

November 3, 1999
NEW WILDLIFE STUDY SHOWS LIZARD POPULATION INCREASING
As an additional part of the new wildlife study for Beal Aerospace's proposed space launch facility on Sombrero Island, wildlife experts found that populations of Sombrero Black lizards on the island are increasing, particularly around man-made structures.
"The team confirmed results from the July 1998 study showing that lizards appear to be consistently more abundant in the areas near the lighthouse and that these individuals tend to be larger in size," the study presented to the British government concludes. The wildlife experts also found that the "lizards are very active around 11 a.m. when the lighthouse keepers traditionally feed them."
In addition to the Sombrero Black Lizard, the wildlife experts also found two additional species of lizards, including a dozen lizards from a species common to Anguilla.

October 18, 1999
BEAL COMPLETES FRISCO EXPANSION
Beal Aerospace announced today the completion of a 50 percent expansion of its facilities in Frisco, Texas, to 163,000 square feet. Beal Aerospace President and CEO Andrew Beal said that the additional facilities are needed to accommodate the continued development of the company's "heavy-lift" launch vehicles, scheduled for the first launch in late 2001.

October 5, 1999
VIRGIN ISLANDS LEGISLATURE OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVES BEAL PROJECT
The Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands - by a two-to-one margin - approved today the proposed Beal Aerospace company offices and vehicle assembly building to be built on St. Croix's south shore.
"The 10-5 approval of the project represents a tremendous economic development opportunity to the territory," said Andrew Beal, company president and CEO. "Today's approval moves us one step closer to helping bring this project to St. Croix."
In addition to government support, the project enjoys overwhelming public support as a clean, high-tech business. A recent survey revealed that 85 percent of the community firmly support the project.

October 4, 1999
Aviation Week Magazine
This industry article provides an update on the progress of Beal Aerospace's vehicle development efforts, and on the company's construction of various facilities.
"With a liftoff thrust equal to that of the US Air Force/Lockheed Martin Titan IV, the BA-2 would be the largest US all-liquid propellant launch vehicle since the Saturn 5 Moon rocket." www.aviationweek.com

June 18, 1999
Los Angeles Times
This article reviews the activities surrounding the proposed Sombrero launch site. The article includes conversations with many project supporters, including local officials on Anguilla.
"I'm in favor of anything that brings positive results to Anguilla and, by all appearances, the Beal Aerospace project appears to do that," the country's top government official is quoted.
The article also includes the common exaggerations often made about Sombrero's preference as a bird nesting ground. Subsequent studies have shown the errors in these overstatements. www.latimes.com

May 10, 1999
FIRST WORLD SUMMIT ON THE SPACE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS, PARIS
Beal Aerospace CEO and President Andrew Beal was a featured speaker at the First World Summit on the Space Transportation Business in Paris, discussing the continued development of the BA-2 launch vehicle. Mr. Beal provided the audience of space industry executives with an overview of the BA-2's design criteria and an update on the vehicle's progress.
"Our project is based on a very simple premise," Mr. Beal told the audience. "We believe that a private-sector, non-governmental launch vehicle based on simplicity, robustness and minimum cost designs will be the least expensive and most reliable on the market."

April 28, 1999
BEAL RENEWS INVESTIGATION OF GUYANA LAUNCH SITE
Beal Aerospace announced today that it has renewed investigations into establishing a rocket launch site on the remote northwest coastline of Guyana, South America. The area is a sparsely populated swampy region served by the Waini River. The site would feature a 5-mile uninhabited public safety buffer, surrounded by a wider no-development zone.
Additionally, Beal has already integrated environmental and conservation considerations in its proposals, specifying that a strip of undisturbed swamp will be preserved between the ocean coastline and the furthest edge of the facility. The northwest coastline of Guyana features open oceans to the north and east, permitting launches to a wide variety of azimuths.

March 18, 1999
The Dallas Morning News
The article reviews Beal's plans to build an assembly facility on St. Croix and launch site on Sombrero Island in the Caribbean.
Some of the erroneous claims made by local opponents to these projects are included in the article, including frequent misrepresentations about the current condition of specific project sites and exaggerations about the effects of Company activity on the local environment.
"We are angry at the (opponent groups) that are making such strong statements against this company," one local business woman in quoted. "The way we feel . . . is that anyone interested in development on St. Croix should be allowed due process before they are criticized."
The article also includes an industry analyst's view that "(Beal) is seen as for real because he has good business proposals and funding, which is fairly unique. People take his plans seriously." www.dallasnews.com

October 14, 1998
BEAL TESTS STAGE 3 ENGINE
Beal Aerospace announced today the first firing of its 44,000-pound-thrust Stage 3 engine at the Company's engine test facility in McGregor, Texas. The engine is the smallest of the BA-2 and, in space flight, will fire for up to 10 minutes, positioning the satellite in proper orbit.

June 16, 1998
BEAL AEROSPACE MOVES FORWARD WITH BA-2
Beal Aerospace announced today that it is moving directly to the development of the BA-2 "heavy-lift class" launch vehicle and bypassing the smaller BA-1. The larger vehicle is more than double the weight of the BA-1 and will have the capability to serve the entire commercial launch market, including current and planned geostationary satellites.
"The BA-2 has always been the ultimate goal," said Company President and CEO Andrew Beal. "Given our recent successes in engine testing and vehicle design, the decision to move directly to the BA-2 means that we can bring a new more reliable, more cost effective launch vehicle to the commercial marketplace sooner."
Company engineers have completed dozens of prototype engine tests at the company's test facility in McGregor, Texas. Initial test of the company's Stage 3 engine are scheduled for later this year.