Posted: Sun, Jul 23, 2017, 10:12 AM ET (1412 GMT)
The former CEO of XCOR Aerospace told a Senate committee July 18 that a terminated contract caused the company's most recent problems. Jay Gibson was asked about financial difficulties at companies he had been involved with at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his nomination to become Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Defense Department. Gibson said that XCOR was told by the company it had been working with on an engine development program that its funding was terminated, with only 30 days' notice. Gibson didn't name the company, but XCOR said last year it was focusing its work on an engine development program with United Launch Alliance. Gibson left the company last month after being nominated for the post, and XCOR laid off all its employees at the end of June, keeping some on as contractors.

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