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19 November 2003 |
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http://www.cdi.org/newsletter/viewArticle.cfm?... |
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The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has opted to use Orbital Science’s boost vehicle for the majority of its planned Ground-based Midcourse (GMD) missile defense system, instead of the Lockheed Martin version. This decision came out of an investigation of two manufacturing accidents this summer at the Pratt and Whitney facility which mixes propellant for the Lockheed Martin booster. On Aug. 7, an ignition which occurred during propellant mixing set off a fire that overtook 36 or 37 acres. No one was seriously injured, unlike during the second accident. On Sept. 12, James Franklin Spotts was killed when an explosion occurred while he was adjusting a propellant mixer. MDA had been following a dual-booster strategy for its GMD program, where Lockheed Martin and Orbital would develop boost vehicles needed for the GMD system being deployed next year. But now Orbital will provide 10 of the boost vehicles to be fielded as part of the initial deployment, plus four boost vehicles for upcoming flight tests. However, MDA still claims that it is following a dual-booster strategy and this decision should not affect Lockheed Martin’s three year contract worth $185 million. MDA also asserts that the flight test for Lockheed Martin’s rocket, Boost Vehicle (BV)-5, will still take place in early to mid-December as planned. However, other missile defense programs may be affected by the Pratt and Whitney accidents. MDA is still trying to determine if its Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) or Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense programs will suffer any delays. (Defense Daily, Nov. 19, 2003; Aerospace Daily, Nov.11, 2003) |
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