Thu, Oct 04, 2007
Former Astronaut Will Oversee Ares Development
Alliant Techsystems announced
Thursday Michael J. Bloomfield, former NASA astronaut and deputy
director of NASA flight operations, has been named Vice President,
Constellation Systems in its Launch Systems Group. ATK also
announced the opening of its new office in Houston, TX which will
be headed by Bloomfield.
"Mike brings extensive leadership and technical understanding to
this position," said Ron Dittemore, President of ATK Launch Systems
Group. "Upcoming constellation activities will involve
developmental engineering for the Ares launch vehicles, and Mike
will provide timely and direct support to the NASA Constellation
Program office for the launch vehicle systems for which ATK is
responsible," added Dittemore.
Bloomfield's background includes more than 12 years of
experience working with NASA in various leadership positions
including the chief of safety for the Astronaut Office, chief
instructor astronaut, director of shuttle operations, chief of the
shuttle branch, and most recently as deputy director, Flight Crew
Operations. As an astronaut, Bloomfield flew on three Space Shuttle
flights, logging over 750 hours in space.
Bloomfield began his career in the US Air Force as an F-15 pilot
and later became an F-15 instructor. He is a graduate from the SU
Air Force Academy with a Bachelors degree in engineering mechanics
and later earned a Masters degree in engineering management from
Old Dominion University.
ATK is a $4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company
employing approximately 16,500 people in 21 states. The company is
working to develop the first stage Ares I and Ares V launch
vehicles. The Ares I first stage will be a five-segment solid
rocket booster based on the four-segment design used for the
shuttle, which was also developed and built by ATK.
The basic design will draw on current hardware, facilities and
manufacturing equipment qualified for human-rated solid rocket
boosters.
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