Lockheed Martin
successfully completed an important milestone in proving the
mobile launch range concept by tracking a Delta II launch vehicle at
Vandenberg Air Force Base from an unmanned aircraft. This represents an
important step in moving toward a space-based launch range.

“The technology demonstrated is just a first step on the road to a Space
Traffic Control system that will allow space vehicles the same freedom of
mobility commercial aircraft have today. We must continue to explore and test
new ways of monitoring and controlling space systems, so we can drive down the
cost of aging infrastructures,” U.S. Air Force Col. Shelby L. Syckes stated.

Preliminary analysis indicates that Lockheed Martin’s Range Systems
Transformational Laboratory (RSTL) program successfully tracked and recorded
several minutes of telemetry data from the rocket after its launch from
Vandenberg Air Force Base recently. The RSTL Range Instrumentation Payload was
onboard a CIRPAS Pelican unmanned surrogate aircraft and tracked the mission
as predicted, from the launch pad, until the vehicle disappeared over the
horizon. CIRPAS is the Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft
Studies, a research center at the Naval Postgraduate School, located in
Monterey, Calif.

The California Space Authority (CSA), in cooperation with the U.S. Air
Force Space and Missile Center (SMC) Satellite and Launch Control Program
Office, sponsored the program to prove the mobile range concept and to support
evolving space launch requirements. RSTL is a critical component of both
agencies’ strategic shift toward mobile range technology development.

“The success of this innovative technology is clearly the beginning of a
monumental transformation towards the concept of truly mobile launch ranges.
We are proud to be leaders in providing a new generation of cost-effective and
extremely capable range technologies,” said Ken Griesi, Lockheed Martin’s RSTL
program manager.

RSTL demonstrated the capability of an airborne instrumentation platform
to provide range safety, vehicle health and status, and range user support for
a variety of launch vehicles and payloads. RSTL has proven the concept of
airborne range instrumentation, which is a catalyst towards a space-based
launch range. Space-based ranges will be critical to reducing the high cost of
maintaining older strategic, fixed range infrastructures, and is a key
capability of the command, control, communications, computers, intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) and assured access.

The RSTL demonstrated two distinct advanced technology segments: Lockheed
Martin’s patented Range Instrumentation Payload that utilizes an optionally
manned airborne instrumentation platform; and a fully compliant Department of
Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) and Air Force Command and Control
Enterprise Architecture flight operations center, employing advanced
visualization techniques and automated decision support technology. “We are
very pleased at how well the instrument and payload performed,” said Tom
Drymon, Lockheed Martin’s chief architect for the RSTL program and inventor of
the Lockheed Martin U.S. Patent for the system. “This is a very important
capability that has been added in order to provide affordable access to
space.”

“This was a very critical and complex task that required a great deal of
innovation and dedication by all involved,” said John Mengucci, Lockheed
Martin’s Space-Ground Integration Systems vice president. “We look forward to
continuing our work with the California Space Authority on this important
innovative technology.”

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems,
products and services. The corporation reported 2003 sales of $31.8 billion.