NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has signed a Space Act Agreement with Rocketplane Kistler Inc. of Oklahoma City. The agreement calls for Rocketplane Kistler to assemble the company's K-1 Space Transportation System at the NASA-managed Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

Rocketplane Kistler is developing its K-1 reusable launch vehicle to conduct a demonstration flight to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation System Project, with a goal of providing commercial orbital cargo services in the future. NASA's partnership with private industry will demonstrate a cost-effective means of delivering cargo to and from the space station. An option to develop crew transportation is included in the Commercial Orbital Transportation System Space Act Agreement.

The K-1 incorporates proven technologies from successful aerospace programs. The kerosene-liquid oxygen powered vehicle is approximately 121 feet long, 22 feet in diameter and weighs approximately 840,000 pounds at liftoff. It is designed to be fully reusable and is expected to provide reliable and safer transportation to Earth orbit.

The agreement with Marshall provides facilities for use by some 200 skilled workers at Michoud. Approximately 100 more Rocketplane Kistler subcontractor employees will go to the New Orleans area during assembly and checkout phases of the project.

According to the agreement, Rocketplane Kistler will assemble and perform system testing of the first and second stages of the K-1 launch vehicle at Michoud. The company also may use the NASA facility to assemble and check out the vehicle's pressurized and unpressurized cargo modules, used to demonstrate the ability to safely and reliably berth with the space station.

The K-1 vehicle is in advanced stages of development. First and second stage liquid oxygen tanks built by Lockheed Martin Corp. stand ready for installation at Michoud. External panels from Northrop Grumman Corp. are at the facility, with others being transported to Michoud. In addition, preparation for vehicle assembly is well underway.

For more information about Rocketplane Kistler and the K-1 vehicle, visit:

+ http://www.rocketplane.com/

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/


+ Photo