Alaska Selects Lockheed Martin for Medium-Lift Launch Deal
Athena rocket
Alaska Aerospace Corporation has selected Lockheed Martin to launch medium-lift rockets from the Kodiak Launch Complex:
Lockheed Martin beat out three other bidders to reconfigure launch pad one at the Kodiak site, officials with the Alaska Aerospace Corp. said during a news conference in Anchorage.
“It’s is a great day,” said Craig Campbell, the corporation’s CEO and president. “It’s what we’ve been trying to achieve for a number of years. And we’re at the point now, we’re at the cusp of being able to really expand our operation and do the stuff that Alaskans have always wanted.”
The Kodiak facility is capable of launching small rockets, but the more lucrative market is with medium-sized rockets, which have larger payloads and go into higher orbits.
Lockheed Martin’s proposal calls for modifications to the launch pad so its Athena IIS rocket and other medium-lift rockets can be launched from the site. The goal is to have three launches by 2020.
The Athena IIS is an all-solid fuel launch vehicle capable of launching up to 3,000 kg into sun-synchronous orbit. It is an upgraded version of the Athena rocket that was launched seven times with five successes before being mothballed.
Lockheed Martin is working with ATK to bring back the Athena booster for small and medium payloads.
10 responses to “Alaska Selects Lockheed Martin for Medium-Lift Launch Deal”
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Lockheed has had a long relationship with Kodiak, so I’m not surprised by this announcement. The thing I’d like to know is who the other 3 bidders were? I’d guess they got 1 (or even 2) from Orbital for a Minotaur or Antares deal. A Stratolaunch, LauncherOne, or even Generation Orbit can’t be ruled out. I think the real story was how versatile Delta II was, even if it was heavily subsidized by the AF. Athena (LLV), Antares, upgraded Tauri, Falcon 9 and more are all designed to cover the capability Delta II had covered for years.
I would guess Orbital. Not sure about anyone else.
Does Kodiak have a runway capable of handling Birdzilla? The deal was to modify the existing facility for larger rockets, so Generation Orbit likely wouldn’t have bid since it is air-launched. Same for Virgin Galactic.
The last time I looked at the satellite photos I saw a runway, but as you point out Doug, it’s no 4 mile monster. There aren’t too many launchers in this category, such that beyond orbital and their fleet of launchers, I don’t know what else it could be.
II in the next few months. Athena III will have a 2 1/2 segment
Shuttle-derived reusable solid rocket booster (RSRB) first stage topped
by a Castor 120, Castor 30 and OAMS orbit adjust module. Athena III will
be capable of placing a 4,600 kg (10,100 lb) satellite in polar orbit
from Kodiak or launch a 5,900 kg (13,000 lb) satellite into orbit with a
due east launch from the East Coast. (An East Coast launch site has not
been selected.) Kodiak was selected over heavily-booked Vandenberg to
avoid delays in high-priority rapid-response launches for the U.S.
military.[9]From Wicki
This could launch Cygnus. It sounds logical. The Cape has a launch pad for it. Somebody mentioned Athena. I thought of a small rocket and would not work. This I think would. Go ATK-OSC! Might be competitive cost with SpaceX.
Interesting news, in this case, no new Antares would be necessary. But is Athena not a LM vehicle? How does it fit with OCS together?
It sounds like all ATK rocket motors. Unless L-M has a copy right, ATK-OSC, using OSC controlling equiptment. But as you sound like you are saying, they might have to buy a license. I guess it needs a few test flights or OSC might might have used these instead of Atlas. Thanks for pointing that out. Spaceflight Fl. needs to modify their pad. NASA used Athena 2 to launch Lunar Prospector. Maybe an Athena 3 launch.
Athena III is vapourware.
Yes, so far. I suggested this rocket in comments before. I must have read about it sometime before and forgot it. USAAF has given SpaceX some launches that did not need certification, they should give some to this launcher. Below confirms vaporware. So it will be able to launch, but no rocket and no launch contract.
Much of the design work for medium lift capability has already been
finished. Engineers from both AAC and Lockheed Martin will coordinate
and integrate design plans to meet the needs of Lockheed Martin’s Athena
IIS rocket, while continuing to provide small lift capability from the
launch facility.
“When we originally met with Lockheed Martin to provide medium lift
capability at Kodiak, we thought we would need a significantly larger
investment,” Campbell said. “I am pleased to see, through increased
competition, that the price is much lower, and we will be able to
complete the process with the money already appropriated by the State of
Alaska.”
Do you believe that a solid propellant based launcher can be cost effective, compared to SpaceX?
I believe so on costs I have found of the Shuttle SRB. This is 2.5 segments, so less. I have not seen any costs for the Castor though and orbit adjust motor. Processing should be a lot less. Might just use a crane to stack it on the launch pad. Just a tarp to cover an open first stage in bad weather. They did say changes were cheap. I hope L-M gets a launch and maybe be able to get a cost.