Orbital ATK, Inc, a supplier of composite materials for aerospace and defense, has been awarded a contract from United Launch Alliance (ULA) to make large-size composite structures for the Atlas V and Delta IV rocket launch vehicles.
Orbital ATK will produce large composite structures for ULA, with deliveries commencing in 2016 and continuing into early 2019. Hardware from the new order will support both Atlas V and Delta IV launches through approximately 2021.
The order consists of a variety of composite structures 13 to 18 et (4 to 5.5 ms) in diameter with lengths up to 63 ft (19 m), including fairings, payload adapters and diaphragms, interstages, nose cones and structures providing main engine thermal/aerodynamic protection. All of the structures will be made in Iuka, Mississippi, USA, using fiber placement and hand lay-up processes, automated machining and ultrasonic inspection techniques.
‘Our support of ULA EELV missions is a critical element of our aerospace structures business, and we are proud to provide support for these marquee launch vehicle programs,’ said Steve Earl, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK’s Aerospace Structures Division.
This story uses material from Orbitak ATK, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
