For Kistler, the Motorola proposal comes at a strategically important time in the firms's evolution. Plans recently completed between Kistler and the Department of Energy will enable the firm to begin suborbital test flights of its two-stage K-1 reusable space booster next summer from the little-used Nevada Nuclear Test Site. Those tests are planned to end with a first-ever orbital flight and landing of an all-privately financed space vehicle by the end of 1998. Kistler has funded the development of the K-1 entirely from venture capital sources as well as owner Walter Kistler's own deep pockets. Launching Motorola satellites, an entirely commercial space venture with no U.S. government participation, would make for a spectacular first customer for the fledgling project.

For Pioneer Rocketplane, the RFP will give the firm more marketing muscle to show potential investors. The company proposes the development of a small winged rocketplane that will be refueled from an airborne tanker plane before soaring into orbit. But the project remains behind Kistler in amassing capital. A robust commercial space launch market will surely help the firm's plans take shape. And Pioneer can point to one major difference between it and its competitors: only Pioneer's reusable launcher will carry a human pilot.