Commercial Space Launch and Northrop Grumman Launch … · •Government experience facilitated...

Commercial Space Launch

and Northrop Grumman

Launch Solutions

October 2018

John SteinmeyerDirector, Space Launch Business Development,

Launch Vehicle Division

Flight System Group

Wernher von Braun Symposium

Evolution of Commercial Space Launch

2

Government and Commercial are Symbiotic

• Government experience facilitated

development and successful flight

demonstration of components

later used in commercial systems

• Significant current synergy with

NASA and defense programs

enables economies of scale

3

• Active Launch Vehicle Programs

‒ Pegasus: Proven class 3 air-launch

‒ Minotaur USAF: Tailorable government launch

‒ Minotaur Commercial: Affordable commercial

small launch

‒ Antares: International Space Station cargo

resupply

• New launch system under

development (intermediate and heavy

class)

• Northrop Grumman space launch

programs serve DoD, NASA and

commercial markets

Northrup Grumman Space Launch Services

4

Successful NASA/Commercial Partnership

Cygnus spacecraft Antares launch vehicle5

• Successful COTS development and CRS-1 cargo delivery

• More than 50,000 lbs. delivered to date

• Optimized volume solution provides

maximum utility

• Awarded multiple follow-on missions

including at least

six CRS-2 missions

6

5M Diameter

Composite

Payload Fairing

3rd Stage - LOx/H2 Cryogenic Liquid

Propulsion Using RL10-C-5 Engines

2nd Stage -Solid, Single Segment

CASTOR 300 Motor

1st Stage - Solid, Two-Segment

CASTOR 600 Motor

- Four-Segment CASTOR 1200 Motor for

Heavy Vehicle

GEM 63XLT Strap-On Solid Motors to

Augment Performance – 0-6

Future NASA/Commercial Cooperation

7

Integrated solutions for cislunar

and other exploration goals

SLS booster production and

performance enhancements

Continued execution of cargo resupply missions