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.

An artist's illustration of Orbital Space Plane concept nearing the International Space Station. Credit: Lockheed Martin

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 5 and Delta 4.

"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."

An artist's illustration of Orbital Space Plane mission profile, beginning with launch atop an Atlas 5 rocket. Credit: Lockheed Martin

Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., is a premier aerospace and defense systems integration enterprise. It designs, develops, produces and supports network-enabled integrated systems and subsystems for government and civil customers worldwide. Integrated Systems delivers best-value solutions, products and services that support NASA, military and homeland defense missions in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; battle management command and control and integrated strike warfare.

Headquartered in Dulles, Va., Orbital develops and manufactures small space systems for commercial, civil government and military customers. The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-orbit, geostationary and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing and scientific missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.