Press Release

Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Join Forces to Develop NASA’s Orbital Space Plane

By SpaceRef Editor
September 29, 2003
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Two Aerospace Innovators Combine to Simplify and Strengthen Competition to Build Safe, Affordable Complement to the Space Shuttle

Lockheed Martin Corporation’s
Space Systems Company and Northrop Grumman Corporation’s
Integrated Systems sector have moved NASA a significant step
closer to its goal of launching a safe, affordable Orbital Space Plane (OSP)
by 2008.

The two companies have agreed to establish a teaming arrangement to
compete for the full-scale development of the OSP. Lockheed Martin will lead
the new team as the system prime contractor while Northrop Grumman will serve
as Lockheed Martin’s principal teammate and subcontractor. NASA expects to
select a prime contractor team for the full-scale OSP development by August
2004.

“The diverse talents, technical resources and aerospace systems experience
of our two companies will help NASA reduce the schedule and cost risks of the
accelerated OSP program,” said Michael Coats, vice president, Lockheed
Martin’s Advanced Space Transportation. “Our collective expertise in
large-scale systems integration, space systems engineering, launch vehicles,
military aircraft, and autonomous flight provide a critical foundation for
NASA’s efforts to restore vigor and confidence to the nation’s human
spaceflight program.”

NASA has specified that the OSP must provide a crew rescue capability for
the International Space Station by 2008, a two-year acceleration in the OSP
development schedule outlined last spring. A two-way crew transfer OSP is
also required by 2012. OSP will be launched on either an Atlas V or Delta IV
rocket.

“The combination of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman on OSP provides
NASA with a critical opportunity to broaden the nation’s industrial base in
the area of human spaceflight,” said Doug Young, director of Space Access
Programs for Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems. “The team will have the
capability to design, develop, test, produce, support and maintain a
cost-effective, technically superior crew rescue and transfer OSP system.”

Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin are currently performing separate OSP
contracts for NASA. Awarded in April 2003, these contracts focus on helping
NASA develop Level One Requirements for the OSP and on defining architectural
concepts for proposed OSP crew rescue and transfer vehicles. Northrop Grumman
will complete the current phase of its OSP contract, then become a Lockheed
Martin subcontractor.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems,
products and services. The corporation reported 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.

Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, headquartered in El Segundo, Calif.,
is a premier aerospace and defense systems integration enterprise. It
designs, develops, produces and supports network-enabled integrated systems
and subsystems for government and civil customers worldwide. Integrated
Systems delivers best-value solutions, products and services that support
NASA, military and homeland defense missions in the areas of intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance; battle management command & control and
integrated strike warfare.

SpaceRef staff editor.