$257 Million Deal Supports Design, Development, Test And
Engineering
The ball is really starting to roll on development of NASA's
next-generation manned spaceflight program. Alliant Techsystems
announced this week it awarded United Space Alliance (USA) a $257
Million contract to perform subcontractor support to ATK for the
NASA's Ares I and Ares 1-X programs through the Design,
Development, Test and Engineering (DDT&E) phase. The contract
includes engineering, deceleration system development and technical
KSC operations support for Stage I activities.
ATK is the prime contractor for Ares I first stage, supporting
NASA with overall requirements maturation, system integration and
establishment of interfaces within subsystems. The Ares I launch
vehicle, which is slated to replace the Space Shuttle, utilizes a
five-segment reusable booster for its first stage which is derived
from the twin four-segment boosters used to launch the Shuttle.
USA's subcontract work includes Ares 1-X tasks to support the
test launch this year, engineering support, refurbishment of
booster components and subsystems for the DDT&E first stage,
and procurement of several heritage avionics and ordnance
components. The company will also have a role in the design,
development and testing of the deceleration subsystem. The new
parachutes for Ares I were designed and manufactured by USA at the
Kennedy Space Center under an earlier subcontract to ATK.
"We have established a strong major subcontractor partnership
with USA that will builds on years of working together on the Space
Shuttle program, and provides a strong team going forward for the
Ares I development," said Mike Kahn, executive vice president ATK
Space Systems. "Data gathered from the Ares 1-X test flight will
validate Ares I design and development in preparation for future
test flights, including Ares I-Y, Orion 1 and 2 over the next
couple of years. It is an exciting time for the program as we enter
the test phase of Ares I, and we are glad to have USA on the
team."
"During the past year ATK successfully conducted three major
ground tests for Ares I and Ares 1-X, and has been shipping
hardware to KSC for the Ares 1-X test flight. As Ares I operations
grow in Florida we are pleased that USA can apply its Shuttle
skills to Ares, and transition its workforce just as we have been
doing with the rest of the first stage development," Kahn
added.
"We are excited to be working together with ATK to enable NASA's
success on the Ares I-X demonstration flight and the delivery of
the Ares I rocket," said Dick Covey, President and Chief Executive
Officer of USA. "Our workforce brings years of spaceflight
operations experience and design knowledge to the table, and
putting this valuable asset to work on the Constellation program
makes perfect sense as we make the transition from Shuttle to
Constellation."