Andrews Space

Dana Andrews talking about the company (founded by his son). “Largest unheard-of aerospace company.” Now at seventy people, and growing fast.

Lot of work for a lot of people. Formed in 1999. Got started without investors, by doing small contracts for NASA and the Air Force. Double in size and revenue every year. Between fifteen and twenty million in revenue expected this year. They are hiring.

They have a system for going to the moon and Mars that would cost roughly half of ESAS. NASA’s Orion module that they show the press was actually built by Andrews, by removing their logo and replacing it with the meatball. Mix of old Boeing veterans with young “computer wizards” who are being mentored. Work NASA, commercial, DoD, split equally, with all three expanding. Woman-owned disadvantaged business (his daughter-in-law is CEO, and Korean–woman who raised Kistler’s first major funding).

Share a building with Paul Allen in downtown Seattle. Work well with both big and small companies.

One of the projects is Peregrin, a horizontal takeoff, horizontal landing rapid-response launcher, in which the recent Chinese ASAT test has aroused Pentagon interest. They supported both teams in CEV (firewalled off with different wings). Assisting ATK in Ares 1 first stage. Supporting RpK on COTS, capable of rapid prototyping.

They believe they now have the critical mass of people and resources to go out and design a system that can reduce cost of access to space. They’re just waiting for the right opportunity.