Orion

Orbital ATK has secured a $90m contract from Lockheed Martin to provide attitude control motor (ACM) for Orion’s launch abort system (LAS).

With the LAS, the astronaut crew will be able to safely escape in case of an emergency during flight, as the capsule gets separated from launch vehicle.

Capable of generating up to 7,000lb steering force, the ACM will provide steering controls to the LAS, to manoeuvre Orion as jettisons from the launch vehicle.

The motor will use a solid propellant gas generator with eight proportional valves spaced around its 3ft diameter.

"Orion represents the future of manned spaceflight, and will take humans deeper into space than ever before."

Orbital ATK Defense Systems group president Mike Kahn said: "This critical work supporting Lockheed Martin on the Orion programme recognises our long history of safety, reliability and innovation."

Designed and built for Nasa, the Orion spacecraft will transport astronauts to deepspace destinations and return safely back to Earth.

Orbital ATK Defense Systems group missile products division vice-president and general manager Cary Ralston said: "Orion represents the future of manned spaceflight, and will take humans deeper into space than ever before.

"Working with Lockheed Martin and Nasa, Orbital ATK is committed to making spaceflight safer than ever before for our astronauts."

The company has so far completed several ground tests on the ACM, provided a working unit for pad abort test in 2010, and an inert unit for Orion’s first test flight in December 2014.

Image: The Orion spacecraft will transport astronauts to deep space destinations and return safely back to earth. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.