Lockheed Martin’s Atlas V 500 series
launch vehicle is one step closer to first launch next year with the third
and final test firing of the solid rocket motor (SRM) built by Aerojet of
Sacramento, Calif. The full-scale, 67-foot Atlas V solid rocket motor
performed a full-duration burn for 95 seconds at Aerojet’s massive test
stand near Sacramento at thrust levels ranging from 285,000 to 390,000
pounds.
“The Atlas V success story did not stop with the inaugural launch this past
August,” said John Karas, vice president of Atlas and Advanced Space
Transportation. “The entire team, including outstanding suppliers like
Aerojet, continues to meet test and development milestones that will lead us
to the first launch of our Atlas V 500 series vehicle next year.”
The first Atlas V 500 series vehicle will use the added thrust of two
Aerojet SRMs and will carry its payload inside the new, larger 5.4-meter
payload fairing. As part of the “pathfinding” activities for that first
launch, a practice countdown will be performed next week, Dec. 17-19, using
AV-002, the second Atlas V currently scheduled to launch early next year.
AV-002 will be configured with the 5.4-meter fairing for the practice
countdown, known as a “wet dress rehearsal.” Earlier this year, the launch
team performed similar pathfinder operations with an inert solid rocket
motor. These activities allow the team to ensure that the launch structures
operate properly with the new flight hardware.
The Atlas V family is designed to lift payloads up to 19,000 pounds (nearly
8,700 kg) to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). Up to five SRMs can be
strapped to an Atlas V 400 or 500 series vehicle, depending on the mission
requirements. Lockheed Martin developed Atlas V to meet the U.S. Air Force
requirements for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program and
for commercial missions, both of which are managed by International Launch
Services (ILS).
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is
one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Space
Systems designs, develops, tests, manufactures and operates of a variety of
advanced technology systems for military, civil and commercial customers.
Chief products include a full-range of space launch systems, ground systems,
remote sensing and communications satellites for commercial and government
customers, advanced space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft, fleet
ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise
principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and
integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The
Corporation’s core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics,
and technology services. Employing more than 140,000 people worldwide,
Lockheed Martin had 2000 sales surpassing $25 billion.
