Press Release

Lockheed Martin Opens Orbital Space Plane Demonstration Center in Washington, D.C.

By SpaceRef Editor

November 20, 2003

Filed under Lockheed Martin Corporation, OSP, US

Center Will Feature Operational Concepts and Cockpit Simulator for NASA’s Next Space Transportation System

Lockheed Martin
will unveil a new Orbital Space Plane Demonstration Center this week in the
Washington, D.C. area. Dedicated to the accomplishments of human spaceflight,
the Center will showcase the concepts and operational qualities of NASA’s next
space transportation system through simulators and interactive graphics.

Lockheed Martin is teamed with Northrop Grumman and Orbital Sciences Corp.
to compete for the Orbital Space Plane (OSP). The OSP system will provide a
crew rescue capability for the International Space Station by 2008 and two-way
crew transfer capability no later than 2012. The OSP will be compatible with
both of the United States’ Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle systems, Atlas V
and Delta IV.

“Lockheed Martin’s OSP Demonstration Center and the exhibits and hardware
shown there are tangible evidence that our industry team is ready to press
forward with building the vehicle that will complement the space shuttle’s
mission and significantly increase astronaut crew safety in our missions to
the International Space Station,” said G. Thomas Marsh, executive vice
president-Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

The Lockheed Martin OSP team continues to perform trade studies to
identify the optimum vehicle configuration for OSP. The team will continue to
refine its final concept in time for proposal submittal expected in March of
2004. Current program plans call for NASA to make a “down select” to one
contractor in August 2004.

Lockheed Martin recently announced it is teaming with Northrop Grumman and
with Orbital to design and build OSP. Lockheed Martin will lead the team as
prime contractor.

“Our OSP team brings a wealth of experience to the challenge of meeting
NASA’s human spaceflight goals,” said Michael Coats, Lockheed Martin vice
president-Advanced Space Transportation. “Collectively, we have expertise in
large-scale systems integration, space systems engineering, launch vehicles,
military aircraft and autonomous flight. We will be exhibiting all of these
talents in our new Demonstration Center.”

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 and control and
integrated strike warfare.

Headquartered in Dulles, Va., Orbital develops and manufactures small
space systems for commercial, civil government and military customers. The
company’s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-
orbit, geostationary and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote
sensing and scientific missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver
satellites into orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as
interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical
services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based
transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private
vehicle fleet operators.

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.

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