Boeing and Lockheed Push Separate Designs for 2020 Moon Mission

Source URL: http://www.space.com/spacenews/businessmonday_050613.html
Posted at: http://www.air-attack/com/news/news_article/491

Although Boeing and Lockheed Martin plan to combine production of their respective Delta 4 and Atlas 5 rockets in the near future, for now the companies are pushing separate solutions based on those vehicles to help NASA achieve its goal of returning astronauts to the Moon by 2020.

The U.S. Air Force spent a decade and well over $1 billion developing the Delta 4 and Atlas 5 under its Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, and the White House and Department of Defense want NASA to leverage that investment in carrying out U.S. President George W. Bush's vision for space exploration. The alternative is a vehicle that uses the propulsion elements of NASA's space shuttle orbiter - its main engines, solid-rocket boosters and giant external tank.

Both companies would have a major role if NASA ultimately selects a shuttle-derived vehicle to meet its anticipated launch needs, as would ATK Alliant Techsystems of Edina, Minn., builder of the solid-rocket boosters. But for Boeing's Delta 4 team and their counterparts at Lockheed Martin, the focus is on finding a stable government customer for the EELV besides the Air Force, which is straining to keep both rockets in service.

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