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.

FMI: www.atk.com