Editing Rotary Rocket (section)

=== A new engine ===

In June 1999, Rotary Rocket announced that it would use a derivative of the [[Fastrac (engine)|Fastrac]] engine under development at [[NASA]]'s [[Marshall Space Flight Center]], instead of the company's own unconventional spinning engine design. Reportedly, the company had been unable to convince investors that its engine design was viable; the composite structure and gyrocopter reentry was an easier sell.<ref name="Dornheim, Michael A. 1999, p. 44">Dornheim, Michael A., "Rotary Cuts Staff, Changes Engine." ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', June 28, 1999, p. 44.</ref>

At the same time as this change, the company laid off about a third of its employees, lowering approximate headcount from 60 to 40. At this point, the company planned to begin its commercial launch service sometime in 2001.<ref name="Dornheim, Michael A. 1999, p. 44"/> Although the company had raised $30 million, it still needed to raise an additional $120 million before entering service.