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NASA, ATK Deploy Solar Array For ST8 Program
(InvesTrend Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
October 10, 2008 (FinancialWire) -- NASA and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:
ATK) (Current Market Cap: US$2.58 Bil.) have concluded initial testing
and deployment of the UltraFlex solar arrays designed for NASA's New
Millennium Program Space Technology 8, or ST8, Project.
The project will also produce data that can support Lockheed Martin
(NYSE: LMT ) in it is effort to develop the Orion crew exploration
vehicle for NASA with the goal to safely transport astronauts to and
from the International Space Station, the Moon and Mars.
ATK said that its UltraFlex disk shaped solar arrays, which measure
more than eighteen feet in diameter, will provide power for Orion
during its missions. The design is meant to provide solar power at less
than half the weight of traditional rigid panel solar arrays.
Smaller scale versions of the UltraFlex are currently powering NASA's
Phoenix Lander, which has been on Mars since May 25. The original
ninety-day mission life of the Mars lander has been extended three
times, due in part to the success of the arrays.
The latest rounds of fabrication and deployment testing of the
full-scale functioning UltraFlex wing hardware helped NASA, Lockheed
Martin and ATK engineers address Orion design questions and reduce
potential risks.
ATK is under contract to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the NMP
ST8. The ST8 project's mission is to validate four new subsystem-level
technologies, one of which is the UltraFlex Solar Arrays. ATK is a
subcontractor to Lockheed Martin, who are the prime contractor for
NASA's Orion vehicle.
Minneapolis-based ATK is an aerospace and defense company with more
than 17,000 employees in 21 states. The company posts around $4.6
billion of revenue.
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(Distributed for Investrend Communications, Inc. via M2 Communications
Ltd (www.m2.com))
Copyright ? 2008 M2 Communications Ltd.
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