Small rocket would have big job

Monday, January 21, 2008

By SHELBY G. SPIRES

Times Aerospace Writer shelby.spires@htimes.com

ATK, Planet Space launch vehicle could assist Ares

A group of aerospace contractors hopes to build a new rocket for NASA that would use space shuttle technology to send supplies to the International Space Station and perhaps help Marshall Space Flight Center's development of the Ares rockets.

Utah-based Alliant Techsystems Inc., or ATK, is working with Chicago-based PlanetSpace to develop a vehicle that could be used to launch almost 14,000 pounds of cargo to the space station or small NASA science probes, said Joel Crook, director of advanced programs for ATK.

The companies plan to launch the first small-class vehicle by the end of 2009 and a medium-lift rocket by 2010, Crook said.

It would fill a role similar to that of the United Launch Alliance's Delta II, which is out of production. Like most launch vehicles, this one would not be reusable, said ATK spokesman George Torres.

ATK would use solid rocket booster technology derived from NASA's that lofts the space shuttle orbiter into low Earth orbit, Crook said.

"We are not starting with a clean sheet of paper with this design. We have proven designs and technologies that puts us ahead" of other rocket developers, he said.

The rocket would also use a 2 1/2-segment first stage, solid-fuel booster and a motor derived from the space shuttle program, Crook said. The shuttle uses an ATK-made four-segment booster, and Marshall engineers have designed the Ares I and Ares V rockets to use five-segment boosters.

Crook said technology development from the new rocket program could lead to improvements for the planned Ares rockets that NASA is developing to take six astronauts to the space station and possibly four to the moon.

"This vehicle has the potential to be a test bed for the Ares program. We are already looking at segment case improvements such as lightweight composite materials and upgraded propellants," Crook said.

"We could offer the flight data, at a reasonable cost, to NASA to further develop" Ares rockets.

The rocket's second stage is the ATK Castor 120, utilized on the Athena I, Athena II and Taurus launch vehicles. Then a smaller third stage would be the ATK Castor 30 used to put the payload in orbit, Torres said.

The small version of the rocket would not use the solid rocket booster segments, Torres said.

Crook could not speculate if Huntsville engineers would be used to support the program.

"Huntsville's important to ATK operations," he said.



Small rocket would have big job Monday, January 21, 2008 By SHELBY G. SPIRES Times Aerospace Writer shelby.spires@htimes.com ATK, Planet Space launch vehicle could assist Ares A group of aerospace contractors hopes to build a new rocket for NASA that would use space shuttle technology to send supplies to the International Space Station and perhaps help Marshall Space Flight Center's development of the Ares rockets. Utah-based Alliant Techsystems Inc., or ATK, is working with Chicago-based PlanetSpace to develop a vehicle that could be used to launch almost 14,000 pounds of cargo to the space station or small NASA science probes, said Joel Crook, director of advanced programs for ATK. The companies plan to launch the first small-class vehicle by the end of 2009 and a medium-lift rocket by 2010, Crook said. It would fill a role similar to that of the United Launch Alliance's Delta II, which is out of production. Like most launch vehicles, this one would not be reusable, said ATK spokesman George Torres. ATK would use solid rocket booster technology derived from NASA's that lofts the space shuttle orbiter into low Earth orbit, Crook said. "We are not starting with a clean sheet of paper with this design. We have proven designs and technologies that puts us ahead" of other rocket developers, he said. The rocket would also use a 2 1/2-segment first stage, solid-fuel booster and a motor derived from the space shuttle program, Crook said. The shuttle uses an ATK-made four-segment booster, and Marshall engineers have designed the Ares I and Ares V rockets to use five-segment boosters. Crook said technology development from the new rocket program could lead to improvements for the planned Ares rockets that NASA is developing to take six astronauts to the space station and possibly four to the moon. "This vehicle has the potential to be a test bed for the Ares program. We are already looking at segment case improvements such as lightweight composite materials and upgraded propellants," Crook said. "We could offer the flight data, at a reasonable cost, to NASA to further develop" Ares rockets. The rocket's second stage is the ATK Castor 120, utilized on the Athena I, Athena II and Taurus launch vehicles. Then a smaller third stage would be the ATK Castor 30 used to put the payload in orbit, Torres said. The small version of the rocket would not use the solid rocket booster segments, Torres said. Crook could not speculate if Huntsville engineers would be used to support the program. "Huntsville's important to ATK operations," he said. © 2008 The Huntsville Times © 2008 al.com All Rights Reserved.