Orbital ATK/Northrop Grumman

Orbital ATK Inc. is an American aerospace manufacturer and defense industry company. It was formed in 2015 from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alliant Techsystems (ATK). It was recently bought by Northrop Grumman. Orbital ATK designs, builds and delivers space, defense, and aviation-related systems to customers around the world both as a prime contractor and as a merchant supplier. It has workforce of approximately 12,000 employees.

On September 18, 2017, Northrop Grumman announced plans to purchase Orbital ATK for $7.8 billion in cash plus assumption of $1.4 billion in debt. Closing of the deal is expected in the first half of 2018.

Headquarters: Dulles, VA

Launch/Test sites: Wallops Island VA. Vandenberg AFB, CA. Pacific Spaceport Complex, Alaska.

Launch Planes: "Stargazer" L-1011 carrier aircraft. (the Pegasus rocket detaches from this plane and launches).

Take off places of L-1011carrier aircraft: Wallops Island VA. Vandenberg AFB, CA. Pacific Spaceport Complex, Alaska. Kennedy Space Center FL; USA. Canary Islands, Spain. Dryden Flight Research Center.

Rockets

Antares Rocket

Overview (Antares)

The Antares rocket is an expendable orbital launch system originally developed and manufactured by Orbital ATK and Yuzhnoye Design Bureau. It is used to launch the Cygnus spacecraft to the ISS as part of the COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services) program for NASA. It has launched 12 times and has had 1 failure. It measures 40.5 meters and can deliver 8.000 to LEO. The first stage of the 200 version of rocket uses 2 RD-181 engines that use RP-1 (kerosene) and LOX (liquid oxygen) and produce 3,844 kN (864,000 lb_f). It burns for up to 215 seconds before it detaches from the second stage. The second stage is powered by an Orbital ATK Castor 30-series solid-fuel rocket. The engines use TP-H8299 (Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene) and aluminium. It produces 293.4 kN (65,960 lb_f) average and 395.7 kN (88,960 lb_f) maximum thrust. It burns for approximately 156 seconds. There is an optional third stage that can be used to increase payload capability and provide accurate insertion capabilities for high energy insertions. Each launch costs about 80-85 million US$

Data (Antares)

Height: 40.5 m

Diameter: 3.9 m

Stages: 2 (Optional 3)

LEO: 8,000 kg

First Launch: April 21st 2013

Launches: 12

Successes: 11

Partial Failures: 0

Failures: 1

Success Rate: 91.6%

Launch Cost: 80-85 Million USD

Reusability: None

First Stage

Engine (Version 200): RD-181

Engine Number: 2

Thrust (Sea Level): 3,844 kN (864,000 lb_f)

Burn Time: 215 s

Fuel: RP-1 (kerosene) and LOX (liquid oxygen)

Second Stage

Engine: Castor 30-series

Engine Number: 1

Average Thrust (vacuum): 293.4 kN (65,960 lb_f)

Burn Time: 156 s

Fuel: TP-H8299 (Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene) and aluminium

Minotaur Rocket

Overview (Minotaur)

Minotaur is a family of expendable orbital rocket originally developed and manufactured by Orbital ATK. They derive from converted Minuteman and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles. There are different versions of the rocket (Minotaur I, II, III, IV, V, VI (conceptual), C). The Minotaur C is the only rocket available for commercial missions due to laws against selling government equipment. The Minotaur II and III versions are suborbital rockets and the I,IV, V, VI, C versions are orbital.

Pegasus Rocket

Overview (Pegasus)

The Pegasus is an expendable, air launched orbital rocket originally developed and manufactured by Orbital ATK. It can carry payloads of up to 443 kilograms (977 lb) into LEO. It was first launched on April 5, 1990 and it has launched 43 times, having 38 succesful attempts. The Pegasus (which has been discontinued) measures 16.9 meters but it has an Pegasus XL variant which measures 17.6 meters (which is active). They both have a diameter of 1.27 meters and a wingspan of 6.7 meters. It is launched by a L-1011 aircraft after reaching an altitude of 12 km (40.000 ft). The first stage uses an Orion 50S, the second stage uses an Orion 50 motor, the third stage uses an Orion 38 motor.

Data (Pegasus)

Height: 16.9 / 17.6 m

Diameter: 1.27 m

Wingspan: 6.7 m

Stages: 3

LEO: 443 kg

First Launch: April 5th 1990

Launches: 44

Successes: 39

Partial Failures: 2

Failures: 3

Success Rate: 88.6%

Launch Cost: 40 Million USD

Reusability: None

Launch Method: L-1011 aircraft

Launch Height: 2 km (40,000 ft)

First Stage Engine: Orion 50s

First Stage Engine Number: 1

First Stage Thrust: 726 kN

Second Stage Engine: Orion 50

Second Stage Engine Number: 1

Third Stage Engine: Orion 38

Third Stage Engine Number: 1

Omega Rocket

Overview (Omega)

This is an expendable, orbital rocket in development by Northrop Grumman and its partners. It is planned to be 59.84 metres (196.3 ft) meters high. It is planned to deliver up to 10,100 kilograms (22,300 lb) to GTO. The first flight is projected to occur in 2021. It will have from 0 to 6 boosters that will measure 1.6 meters in diameter and will use HTPB (Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene). The first stage will use either Castor 600 or 1200 engines and will use solid fuel. The second stage will use 1-segment Shuttle-derived Solid Rocket Booster with a Castor 300 engine adapted for the vacuum of space. The third stage will use 2 × RL-10C-5-1 engines that will produce 101.8 kN (22,890 lbf) and will use LOX (liquid oxygen) and LH2 (liquid hydrogen).

Data (Omega)

Height: 59,84 m

LEO: 10,100 kg

First Launch: 2021

Boosters

Number: 0-6

Diameter: 1,6 m

Fuel: HTPB (Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene)

First Stage

Engine: Castor 600 or 1200

Engine Number: 1

Fuel: Solid

Second Stage

Engine: Vacuum Castor 300

Engine Number: 1

Fuel: Solid

Third Stage

Engine: RL-10C-5-1

Engine Number: 2

Thrust: 101.8 kN (22,890 lbf)

Fuel: LOX (liquid oxygen) and LH2 (liquid hydrogen)

Engines

GEM: GEM is a family of solid rocket boosters that were used on the Space Shuttle, Delta II, Delta IV and will be used on ULA´s Vulcan rocket. There have been different models of boosters in the GEM family (40, 46, 60, 63, 63XL).

GEM Rocket Engine

Castor: This is a family of solid rocket boosters developed by Thiokol (now Orbital ATK). They were based on the MGM-29 Sergeant missile. There are different boosters in this family (1, 2, 4, 30, 120, 300, 600, 1200). Some of this engines are also based on the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster.

Castor Rocket Engine

SLS SRBs: NASA´s Space Launch System will use 2, 5 segment solid rocket boosters developed by Orbital ATK. They will measure 54 meters high and 3.66 meters in diameter. They will produce 16013 kN (3.6 million Ibf) and will be the most powerful solid rocket boosters ever built.

SLS SRB

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