Midland Moves to Sell Altitude Chamber Complex
Aerospace testing firms in Midland may gain access to a specialized high-altitude facility as the sale process begins.
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, a 16,000-square-foot research and development facility, along with its equipment. The sale process is underway, and the consulting agreement runs through March 31, 2027.
Why it matters
The board voted in April to sell the complex and its equipment, and the agency is now seeking buyers and users for specialized testing assets that have been idle since its agreements with Orbital Outfitters were canceled in spring 2018. For Midland-area businesses in aerospace testing and equipment, the sale opens a rare chance to acquire or lease a specialized high-altitude testing facility.
The consulting retainer is $1,500 a month for eight hours of work, with extra hours billed at $90 per hour through March 31, 2027. The complex is 16,000 square feet and its hyperbaric chamber simulates altitudes up to 200,000 feet, and the sale price has not been disclosed.
The players
Midland Development Corporation
The Midland economic development agency that owns the altitude chamber complex and oversees its sale.
Kenneth Doyle
A consultant hired under a retainer agreement to compile materials, identify buyers, and coordinate inspections for the complex sale.
Orbital Outfitters
A space suit and equipment company that previously operated the complex for testing and astronaut training until its agreements were canceled in 2018.
C2 Space Tech
A space technology company that most recently used the altitude chamber complex in 2024.
The details
Doyle will compile operating information and materials about the complex and its equipment, then help identify potential purchasers and coordinate site visits and equipment inspections. The complex includes a two-person chamber and a larger multi-person chamber, and it was previously used to test space suits and equipment and to train astronauts. Equipment is in storage at Midland International Air and Space Port after the complex was last used by C2 Space Tech in 2024.
Timeline
April 2026: Midland Development Corporation board voted to sell the complex and equipment.
Spring 2018: Agreements with Orbital Outfitters were canceled.
2024: C2 Space Tech most recently used the complex.
March 31, 2027: The Doyle consulting agreement term ends.
Market Landscape
The sale comes after the 2018 cancellation of Midland Development Corporation's agreements with Orbital Outfitters, which left the specialized altitude chambers idle. The complex's continued use by C2 Space Tech in 2024 shows that demand for high-altitude testing persisted even as the facility went largely unused.
Aerospace testing and equipment firms in the Midland area should track the sale process and any request-for-proposals outcomes for access to a specialized high-altitude testing facility. Businesses weighing leases or purchases should involve qualified counsel and an accountant before committing to any agreement.
The takeaway
Watch for the identification of a buyer or user and any disclosed terms of the sale, since the source does not yet state a price or timeline. Interested operators should contact the Midland Development Corporation about the request for proposals and consult qualified professionals before pursuing any acquisition or lease.
Further reading
Explore more Remote Work coverage for how Midland-area employers are adapting their operations.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Midland Reporter-Telegram.
