Midland Board Approves Sale of Altitude Chamber Complex
The Midland Development Corporation voted in April to sell its altitude chamber complex and equipment, with a consultant hired to help identify buyers.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Remote Work
The Midland Development Corporation board approved a consulting services agreement with Kenneth Doyle to help sell the Midland Altitude Chamber Complex. The board also voted at its April meeting to sell the complex and its equipment, and issued a request for proposals from potential users.
Why it matters
The facility, a 16,000-square-foot research and development site, has been idle since the corporation canceled its agreements with Orbital Outfitters in spring 2018. The sale would transfer a specialized testing asset to a new owner or user.
The consulting agreement pays Kenneth Doyle a $1,500 monthly retainer covering eight hours of work, with extra hours billed at $90 per hour through March 31, 2027. The complex is a 16,000-square-foot facility with a human-rated hyperbaric chamber capable of simulating altitudes up to 200,000 feet, and no sale price has been disclosed.
The players
Midland Development Corporation
The Midland Development Corporation is the local economic development body that owns the altitude chamber complex and is overseeing its sale.
Kenneth Doyle
Kenneth Doyle is the consultant hired under a retainer agreement to compile operating materials and help identify buyers for the complex.
Orbital Outfitters
Orbital Outfitters is a company that previously operated the complex for space suit testing and astronaut training before its agreements were canceled in 2018.
The details
Doyle will compile operating information and materials on the assets and help identify potential purchasers, coordinate site visits and inspect equipment. The complex, which held a two-person chamber and a larger multi-person chamber, was used for testing space suits and equipment and for astronaut training, most recently by C2 Space Tech in 2024.
Timeline
April 2026: Midland Development Corporation board votes to sell the complex and equipment.
Spring 2018: Corporation cancels its agreements with Orbital Outfitters.
2024: C2 Space Tech most recently uses the complex.
March 31, 2027: Doyle consulting agreement term ends.
Market Landscape
The complex's fate reflects the uneven commercial demand for specialized space testing equipment outside the largest aerospace hubs. Its sale comes as the facility has sat largely idle since the 2018 cancellation of its operating agreements.
Residents and local businesses may see the facility put to new use or returned to the tax base, depending on the buyer. The sale would also determine whether the specialized equipment remains available for regional aerospace and research testing.
The takeaway
Public assets that sit idle after an operator leaves can be repositioned, but a sale depends on finding a buyer with a concrete use for specialized equipment.
Further reading
Explore more on Remote Work for context on how Midland's facilities and workforce are being repositioned.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Midland Reporter-Telegram.
