ATK Delivers TacSat-3 Spacecraft Bus for Integration and Test by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
ATK’s Satellite Bus Designed to Meet the Emerging Requirements of Operationally Responsive Space
ATK Designed and Built the TacSat-3 Bus at its Facilities in Beltsville, Maryland
Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced today that it has delivered the Department of Defense’s Tactical Satellite 3 Spacecraft Bus (TacSat-3) to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for final integration and test. The TacSat-3 spacecraft is a pioneer of the emerging operationally responsive space (ORS) program, and designed to meet the needs of U.S. forces for flexible, affordable and responsive satellite systems. The TacSat-3 program is a joint effort of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Air Force Space Command, the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS), the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate.
ATK completed the critical design review within four months of program start, integrated the bus structure within 11 months, and delivered the final product to the customer in just over 15 months. It features an onboard processor to provide real-time data (within 10 minutes of collection) to the combatant commander in the theater of interest.
“From program start to final delivery, the TacSat-3 effort demonstrated ATK’s unique ability to support the rapid development and fielding of ORS technologies,” said Mike Cerneck, Vice President and General Manager, ATK Space Division. “We are proud of the work we have done in support of the Air Force Research Laboratory and look forward to the continued development of technically advanced, affordable space systems for defense missions which require very rapid deployment. We believe these capabilities will also serve as a pathfinder for civil science and constellation missions.” ATK is a $4.0 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 16,500 people in 21 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com.
