Mon, Nov 13, 2006
ATK Will Lead Vehicle Development, Vehicle Assembly,
Integration and Test, and Launch and Landing Site Operations
Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) and Alliant Techsystems have announced
that ATK will become the lead contractor for RpK's K-1 launch
vehicle, which was recently awarded a Space Act Agreement by NASA
for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.
The K-1 is a fully reusable space transportation system designed to
provide cost-effective and reliable transport of cargo and science
payloads to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
Under terms of the agreement, ATK will provide launch vehicle
development, assembly, integration and test of the launch system,
and will conduct launch and landing site development and launch
vehicle preparation for the K-1. ATK will also develop and produce
critical composite structures and subsystems for the pressurized
and unpressurized K-1 cargo modules, and conduct vehicle recovery
and refurbishment.
"ATK is a great partner with demonstrated experience and skills
that strengthen our team," said Randy Brinkley, RpK President. "We
look forward to the capabilities this partnership will contribute
to the K-1 vehicle, and also the COTS program."
"We look forward to helping RpK develop this new launch
capability," said Ron Dittemore, President, ATK Launch Systems
Group. "A tenet of the Space Policy encourages entrepreneurial
efforts to develop commercial access to space, and it is our
intention to help RpK achieve this objective."
ATK is a $3.4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company
employing approximately 15,000 people in 22 states.
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