SpaceDev Tests Rocket Motor for Powered SpaceShipOne Flight: "SpaceDev Tests Rocket Motor for Powered SpaceShipOne Flight

POWAY, CA (December 11, 2003) SpaceDev (OTCBB: SPDV) has successfully tested a hybrid rocket motor designed for the first powered flight of SpaceShipOne, built by Scaled Composites.

SpaceDev successfully test fired a motor with its proprietary propellant equal to about one-half the total capacity of the motor. The purpose of the test was to qualify the exact configuration of the motor to be used for SpaceShipOne's first powered test flight.

SpaceDev also performed a full flow oxidizer test through its proprietary main valve, during a recent glide test of SpaceShipOne, in further preparation of the first powered flight. The test was successful.

'This project gets more exciting every day', said SpaceDev founder and chief executive Jim Benson. 'SpaceDev and Scaled engineers are working well together on a very tight schedule, and you can feel the excitement and tension as this historic project continues to charge forward.'"