Orbital is a key member of the Lockheed Martin-led team that has been selected to build the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). NASA's Orion project is an advanced crew capsule design utilizing state-of-the-art technology that will succeed the Space Shuttle in transporting humans to and from the International Space Station, the Moon and, eventually, to Mars.
Orbital's principal role on the Lockheed Martin team is to design, develop, build and test a new Launch Abort System (LAS) that would allow the astronaut crew to safely escape in the event of an emergency during launch pad operations and through the atmospheric ascent of the Orion vehicle into Earth orbit. The LAS design, using Orbital's proven small rocket technology, is a key element in vastly improving the safety of the flight crew as compared to current human space systems.
Orbital will manage, design, build and test the Orion-related LAS at its Dulles, VA campus, at the facilities of its propulsion subcontractors, Aerojet Systems and Alliant Techsystems, Inc., and at government test facilities in Florida and New Mexico. The contract calls for a five-year development program, including several planned abort demonstration flights. Initial crewed flights to orbit are planned for the 2015 period, followed by a series of operational missions to the International Space Station and the Moon.
Program Accomplishments:
03/27/08
Successful Aerojet Jettison Motor Static Test 1
March-June 2008
Successful Structural Load Testing
04/02/08
LAS Hardware Begins to Arrive at Orbital Dulles, VA Campus
06/13/08
Successful ATK Abort Motor Igniter Testing
07/16/08
Successful Aerojet Jettison Motor Static Test 2
11/20/08
Successful ATK Abort Motor Static Test 1
12/10/08
Successful PA-1 Modal Test
Jan-March 2009
Successful Ground Testing of ATK's Attitude Control Motor
