Interorbital Systems

Interorbital Systems Corporation (IOS) is an American aerospace manufacturer active in Mojave, California. It was founded in 1996 by Roderick and Randa Milliron. They aim to develop a low-cost launch vehicle for commercial purposes, by using non-aerospace components whenever possible to keep the cost down. Interorbital Systems was engaged in developing a launch vehicle for the Google Lunar X Prize Team Synergy Moon and for commercial launches. The company was also a competitor in the Ansari X Prize and America's Space Prize.
Research and development.
Interorbital Systems is developing its NEPTUNE line of launch vehicles that would launch payloads into orbit from sea platforms.
In 2016, the company website indicated they build their rockets using off-the-shelf, non-aerospace components whenever possible to keep the cost down. , the NEPTUNE system was to be Interorbital System's line of launch vehicles built from varying configurations of the Common Propulsion Module.
Common Propulsion Module.
, all of Interorbital's rocket designs were based on the Common Propulsion Module (CPM). The CPM was slated to be a small, self-contained rocket system capable of delivering a 145 kg payload to an altitude of 310 km in a suborbital flight. Multiple CPMs are combined through parallel staging to meet varying mission requirements. Though they have experimented with cryogenic fuel, Interorbital used hypergolic white fuming nitric acid and Turpentine for oxidizer and fuel. The CPM is designed to maximize simplicity - its propellants are hypergolic and pressure fed, respectively eliminating the need for ignition and turbopump systems.
Sounding rockets.
Interorbital Systems has tested a number of rocket engines in the 500-5,000 lbf (2 to 22 kN) thrust range and conducted flight tests of its small testbed, Neutrino. Neutrino is a sounding rocket designed for low-altitude suborbital flight, for the purpose of testing systems of its larger follow-on rockets.
In 2006, IOS had an active Office of Commercial Space Transportation launch license for Tachyon, a sounding rocket designed for a 120-mile apogee suborbital flight.
Satellite kits.
They claim that kits will be launched into 310 km (192 mi) self-decaying orbits where they will eventually burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. They have a large launch manifest for both kinds of launches.
Google Lunar XPrize.
Interorbital Systems was engaged in June 2016 as a member of and launch provider for Team Synergy Moon in the Google Lunar X Prize competition. The team's lunar rover was to have been lifted to the Moon's surface by a modified, 36-module version of the NEPTUNE rocket.