Posted: Thu, Nov 9, 2006, 8:12 AM ET (1312 GMT)
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) announced Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with Rocketplane Kistler (RpK) to help develop RpK's K-1 reusable launch vehicle. Under the agreement ATK will become the lead contractor for the K-1, responsible for vehicle development, assembly, integration, and testing. ATK will also provide composite structures and subsystems for the K-1's payload module. ATK will make a cash investment of $2.5 million into RpK to restart development of the K-1. ATK takes the role in the K-1 project previously held by Orbital Sciences Corporation, which backed out of a previous agreement with RpK back in September. RpK shortly thereafter signed an agreement with a smaller company, Andrews Space, although company officials said that Andrews was not to completely replace Orbital. RpK revived the long-dormant K-1 program this year, winning a $207-million award from NASA in August as part of the agency's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration program to develop commercial alternatives to sending cargo and crews to the ISS.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  Wall Street Journal article (subscription required)
•  ATK press release