Orbital ATK Completes Successful Development Test for the Orion Launch Abort System Motor
May 01 2017 - 12:00PM
Business Wire
Test Demonstrates Attitude Control Motor
Design Meets Human-Rated Requirements
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, announced today that it has completed another
milestone in the development of the Attitude Control Motor (ACM)
for NASA’s Orion spacecraft Launch Abort System (LAS). Members of
the NASA and Lockheed Martin team were on hand to witness the
successful ACM test, which demonstrated the motor’s power to steer
the LAS during a mission-abort scenario.
This recent test is part of a design, analysis and test series
focused on qualifying the ACM for crewed-flight missions. Initial
data from the test show the motor is very capable of fulfilling its
critical role in the Launch Abort System.
“With the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System, NASA has
taken up the challenge of not just opening up space exploration,
but making it as safe as possible for our astronauts,” said Pat
Nolan, Vice President and General Manager of the Missile Products
Division of Orbital ATK’s Defense Systems Group. “Orbital ATK is
proud to support that vision with our innovative and reliable
technology. The success of today’s test brings us that much closer
to seeing this vision realized.”
Orbital ATK has been working with Lockheed Martin and NASA to
leverage the company’s extensive advanced propulsion and controls
capabilities deployed in other mission critical applications to
provide steering thrust that can be reliably operated in an instant
as part of the Orion crew-escape system. Orbital ATK also produces
the main Launch Abort motor, providing the necessary thrust to pull
the crew module safely away from the vehicle. These items have been
in development for many years, and will be ready to support the
first Space Launch System flight late next year.
The Orion spacecraft is launched by NASA's Space Launch System
and built to take humans farther into space than they've ever been.
Lockheed Martin is leading the industry team charged with
developing Orion under contract to NASA. Orbital ATK’s Attitude
Control Motor uses a solid propellant gas generator with eight
proportional valves to steer the LAS in the event of a
mission-abort scenario.
Orbital ATK’s Defense Systems Group is an industry leader in
providing innovative and affordable precision and strike weapons,
advanced propulsion and hypersonics, missile components across
air-, sea- and land-based systems, ammunition and related energetic
products.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies. The company designs, builds and delivers space,
defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both
as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products
include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile
products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons,
armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space
components and services; and advanced aerospace structures.
Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs more than
12,500 people in 18 states across the United States and in several
international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
Video of the test is available through the company’s YouTube
Channel.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170501005798/en/
Orbital ATKMedia Contact:Bryan Kidder,
410-864-4932Defense Systems Group
Communicationsbryan.kidder@orbitalatk.comorInvestor
Contact:Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528Public and Investor
Relationsbarron.beneski@orbitalatk.com
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