spacetoday.net: NASA awards ATK launch vehicle contract

NASA awards ATK launch vehicle contract

Posted: Thu, Dec 8, 2005, 7:35 AM ET (1235 GMT)
CLV launch illustration (NASA/John Frassanito and Assoc.)

NASA has awarded ATK a contract to build the first stage of a new launch vehicle that will be one of the major components of NASA's exploration architecture. ATK said NASA named it as the prime contractor of the first stage of the Crew Launch Vehicle, a "single-stick" launcher that will be used to place the Crew Exploration Vehicle, a new manned spacecraft, into Earth orbit. The first stage is based on the solid rocket booster (SRB) used today for the space shuttle; as such, ATK has effectively no competition for the contract. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The Crew Launch Vehicle will also require a second stage, powered by a single liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen engine. A contractor for the second stage has not been selected yet.