Overview
Orbital is entering an exciting new era of human space flight and exploration with its involvement in two prominent NASA program: The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)/Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) programs.
Orion Launch Abort System
Orbital is an important member of the Lockheed Martin-led team that is developing the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), NASA’s next-generation spacecraft to transport crews to and from the International Space Station, the Moon and Mars. Utilizing the company’s proven small rocket technology, Orbital is designing, developing and building the Launch Abort System (LAS) for the Orion vehicle, an important element in vastly improving the safety of the flight crew as compared to current human space systems.
Orbital is also supplying the Abort Test Booster (ATB) that will conduct a number of tests to verify the Orion Launch Abort System. Tests are scheduled for 2009 and 2010 and will include low- and high-altitude trials to simulate aborts at various points in the launch vehicle trajectory. The tests will employ government-supplied rocket motors to boost the Orion capsule to specified test altitudes, applying Orbital’s expertise in the use of retired ICBM assets for reliable and low-cost launch missions.
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)/Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)
Under a three-year COTS cooperative agreement with NASA, Orbital is developing a new space transportation system to demonstrate the capability to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The COTS program involves the full-scale flight demonstration of a commercial cargo delivery system employing the new Taurus II medium-class launch vehicle, the Cygnus advanced maneuvering spacecraft and interchangeable modules to carry pressurized and unpressurized cargo.
Expanding on the COTS agreement, Orbital was recently awarded a NASA Commercial Resupply Services contract to provide cargo delivery services to the International Space Station. Under the contract orbital will conduct 8 cargo missions from 2011 though 2015 to complement Russian, European and Japanese ISS cargo vehicles.
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Quick Facts
The Orbital Orion Launch Abort System uses unique reverse flow technology to produce nearly a half-million pounds of thrust within milliseconds to pull the Orion crew capsule safely away from the Ares I rocket
Orbital will conduct its resupply missions to the International Space Station using its new Taurus II launch vehicle from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, VA
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