Orbital ATK Flight, Defense and Space Technologies Help Launch NASA
MMS Satellites
DULLES, Va.Mar. 13, 2015--
Orbital ATK, Inc. (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, provided critical hardware for the United Launch Alliance
(ULA) Atlas V vehicle that launched four, first-of-their-kind NASA
satellites last night from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
Orbital ATK, Inc., a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, provided critical hardware for the United Launch Alliance Atlas V vehicle that launched four NASA satellites last night from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Photo credit: ULA
NASA s MMS (Magnetospheric Multiscale) is a Solar Terrestrial Probes
program comprising four identically instrumented satellites that will
use Earth s magnetosphere as a laboratory to study the microphysics of
three fundamental plasma processes of space weather occurring in
near-Earth space: magnetic reconnection, energetic particle acceleration
and turbulence. These processes can interfere with GPS signals and radio
communications and cause excess radiation, forcing airlines to divert
their flight paths. NASA s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,
Maryland, designed and built the MMS satellites and will also be
responsible for mission operations.
Witnessing yet another successful launch of an Atlas V serves as a
reminder of how much Orbital ATK values our partnerships with ULA and
NASA, said Ron Grabe, President of Orbital ATK s Flight Systems Group.
Our highly engineered composite and control products play an important
role in ensuring dependable access to space and affordable innovation
for our customers.
Orbital ATK produced the 10-foot diameter composite heat shield, which
provides essential protection for the first stage of the launch vehicle.
The assembly was fabricated using advanced fiber placement manufacturing
techniques at the company s Iuka, Mississippi, facility. This is the 53rd
Atlas V launch using Orbital ATK-built composite structures. This flight
also marked the 18th successful flight of the Orbital ATK
retro motors. Eight of these solid motors supported separation of the
spent first stage. The Atlas V retrorocket is built by Orbital ATK s
Defense Systems Group at its facility in Elkton, Maryland. The ULA Atlas
V rocket flew in the 421 vehicle configuration.
For the NASA MMS satellites, Orbital ATK s Space Systems Group built the
observatory decks, spacecraft decks and bulkhead support panels at its
Beltsville, Maryland, facility. The company delivered the aluminum
honeycomb structural panels directly to NASA s Goddard Space Flight
Center.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies.
The company designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation
systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and
merchant supplier. Its main products include launch vehicles and related
propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense
electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition;
satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced
aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK
employs more than 12,000 people in 20 states across the U.S. and in
several international locations. For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com.
Source: Orbital ATK, Inc.
Media Contact:
Orbital ATK Aerospace Structures
Bryan
Warren, 801-775-1233
Sr. Communications Manager
bryan.warren@orbitalatk.com
or
Investor
Contact:
Orbital ATK, Inc.
Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528
Public
and Investor Relations
barron.beneski@orbitalatk.com