Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-18-2003 01:39 PM               

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Center Will Feature Operational Concepts and Cockpit Simulator for NASA's Next Space Transportation System

Lockheed Martin will unveil a new Orbital Space Plane Demonstration Center this week in the Washington, D.C. area. Dedicated to the accomplishments of human spaceflight, the Center will showcase the concepts and operational qualities of NASA's next space transportation system through simulators and interactive graphics.

Lockheed Martin is teamed with Northrop Grumman and Orbital Sciences Corp. to compete for the Orbital Space Plane (OSP). The OSP system will provide a crew rescue capability for the International Space Station by 2008 and two-way crew transfer capability no later than 2012. The OSP will be compatible with both of the United States' Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle systems, Atlas V and Delta IV.

"Lockheed Martin's OSP Demonstration Center and the exhibits and hardware shown there are tangible evidence that our industry team is ready to press forward with building the vehicle that will complement the space shuttle's mission and significantly increase astronaut crew safety in our missions to the International Space Station," said G. Thomas Marsh, executive vice president-Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.

The Lockheed Martin OSP team continues to perform trade studies to identify the optimum vehicle configuration for OSP. The team will continue to refine its final concept in time for proposal submittal expected in March of 2004. Current program plans call for NASA to make a "down select" to one contractor in August 2004.

Lockheed Martin recently announced it is teaming with Northrop Grumman and with Orbital to design and build OSP. Lockheed Martin will lead the team as prime contractor.

"Our OSP team brings a wealth of experience to the challenge of meeting NASA's human spaceflight goals," said Michael Coats, Lockheed Martin vice president-Advanced Space Transportation. "Collectively, we have expertise in large-scale systems integration, space systems engineering, launch vehicles, military aircraft and autonomous flight. We will be exhibiting all of these talents in our new Demonstration Center."

Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 11-19-2003 01:58 PM            

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Robert

Is this for 'aerospaceindustry/business/government -only' by invitation only type Center?

Do you have an address for it?

Phill
UK

Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002

Posts: 572
From: Ridgecrest, CA - USA
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 11-19-2003 02:20 PM            

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quote:

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Originally posted by spaceuk:
By the wording of your report,are LM et al in that consortium still viewing the OSP as a "space plane" and not,perhaps,an Apollo/Gemini style craft ? Did they issue any press images with this report ?

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Hi Phill,

they are still looking at both configurations. Read more about it here:
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~1775472,00.html

Danno

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-19-2003 02:22 PM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by spaceuk:
Is this for 'aerospaceindustry/business/government -only' by invitation only type Center?

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At this time, it is by invite only. I have an e-mail to my contact at Lockheed to learn if there will be days/materials set aside for the public.

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-19-2003 02:24 PM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by spaceuk:
By the wording of your report,are LM et al in that consortium still viewing the OSP as a "space plane" and not,perhaps,an Apollo/Gemini style craft ? Did they issue any press images with this report ?

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Lockheed's design has been and continues to be a mini-spaceplane. Boeing's competing design is remains a capsule approach.

SPACE.com published an update on the OSP (both designs) today:

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/fof_osp_031119.html

Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

Posts: 2113
From: Staffs, UK
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 11-20-2003 12:16 PM            

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Thanks Team collectSpace for all updates :-)
Appreciated.

Phill
UK