Lockheed Martin’s Atlas V 500 series
launch vehicle met another significant milestone yesterday with the
successful test firing of a 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 92 seconds. The motor was strapped
horizontally to a massive test stand at Aerojet’s test facilities near
Sacramento as it roared at thrust levels ranging from 285,000 to 390,000
pounds.

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. The first Atlas V, designated AV-001, launched successfully Aug.
21, 2002, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The 400 series vehicle
utilizes a 4-meter diameter payload fairing The Atlas V 500 series utilizes
a larger 5.4-meter payload fairing to accommodate larger payloads. Both the
Atlas V 400 and 500 series vehicles can be configured with solid rocket
motors as needed for each mission.

“We are very pleased with the results of yesterday’s successful test
firing,” said John Karas, vice president and deputy of Lockheed Martin
Space Systems’ EELV/Atlas V program. “The solid rocket motor performed
nominally during the 92-second full duration burn. This is another very
significant milestone for our Atlas V 500 series, which keeps us on schedule
for launching the first Atlas V with solid rocket motors early next year,”
said Karas.

When the first Atlas V 500 version lifts off from Launch Complex 41 (LC 41)
at Cape Canaveral next year, it will use the added propulsion of two solid
rocket motors. Pathfinder operations using an inert solid rocket motor were
successfully completed earlier in the year at LC 41.

The Atlas V medium lift family of launch vehicles with SRMs is designed to
lift payloads up to 19,000 pounds (nearly 8,700 kg) to geosynchronous
transfer orbit (GTO). The Atlas V Heavy Lift Vehicle (HLV) can boost even
heavier payloads to orbit. The Atlas V incorporates state-of-the-art
designs, materials and processes, including the powerful RD-180 engine.
Atlas rockets and their Centaur upper stages are built by Lockheed Martin
Space Systems-Astronautics Operations at facilities in Denver, Colo.;
Harlingen, Texas; and San Diego, Calif.

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 a variety of
advanced technology systems for military, civil and commercial customers.
Chief products include a full-range of space launch systems, including
heavy-lift capability, 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.

Atlas launch services are marketed and managed by International Launch
Services (ILS). ILS, a partnership of Lockheed Martin and Russian companies
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and RSC Energia,
offers the broadest range of launch services in the world along with
products with the highest reliability in the industry. In addition to the
Atlas, ILS offers the Russian-built Proton rocket. ILS, headquartered in
McLean, Va., pioneered the concept of mutual backup between the two families
of vehicles to assure timely launches for its customers.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a highly diversified
global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and
services. The Corporation’s core businesses span space and
telecommunications, electronics, information and services, aeronautics,
energy and systems integration. Lockheed Martin had 2001 sales surpassing
$24 billion.