Orbital, ATK merging

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) of Arlington, Va., is merging its aerospace and defense segments with Orbital Sciences, the Dulles-Va.-based commercial space firm. The $5 billion transaction is expected to be completed later this year. The new company will be Orbital ATK, based in Dulles. ATK, a major ammunition maker, is spinning off its hunting gear segment into a separate company. ATK is looking to bolster its aerospace business and Orbital Sciences hopes to boost the scale of its existing operations and gain a foothold in the defense sector. Last year Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station, the second commercial company to do so after SpaceX. ATK is also involved in space activities, building aerospace structures and rocket engines. This month it received a contract from United Launch Alliance (ULA) to deliver hardware for the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. (Sources: multiple, including Washington Post, Reuters, GovConWire, 04/29/14) Orbital Sciences' Antares rocket is powered by AJ-26 engines tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss.; ULA's Delta IV is powered by RS-68 engines tested at SSC; ATK also has operations in Huntsville, Ala., and an aerospace structures business in Iuka, Miss.

Exercise involves SSC

The ninth annual Emerald Warrior military exercise got underway Monday in Northwest Florida. It's sponsored by the Special Operations Command and is an irregular warfare exercise. Last year about 1,900 service members from different branches participated, and organizers expect the number to be about the same this year. About 90 aircraft will participate in the exercise, which will run through May 9 at Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Apalachicola, all in Florida, Camp Shelby and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, Pelham Range, Ala., and Melrose Range, N.M. Participants will interact using actual aircraft and personnel, as well as virtual simulators and computer-generated emulators that will interact in a live scenario. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 04/28/14)

SSC tech in Spinoff 2013

A host of products, including three with ties to Stennis Space Center, Miss., are featured in Spinoff 2013, an online publication that highlights commercial products created using NASA-developed technology. The SSC products include cloud based data sharing for emergency managers, an early warning system to identify potential threats to the nation's forests, and smart sensors to monitor components on rocket engine test stands in order to avert equipment failure. Also featured in the 2013 edition is an air purification system that can sustain miners in the event of a disaster, a solar-powered vaccine refrigerators saving lives in remote areas throughout the world, and a powerful heat shield used on the first commercial spacecraft to successfully achieve orbit and return to Earth. (Source: NASA, 04/28/14)

NASA, SSC top innovative list

For the fourth consecutive year NASA tops the list of most innovative large federal agencies, according to the Partnership for Public Service. The agency scored 76 out of 100 points on the innovation scale. It also accomplished a first in 2013: NASA is the parent agency to the top five most innovative sub-agencies on the list, with John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi ranking No. 1. The analysis, compiled by the Partnership for Public Service, Deloitte and the Hay Group, is based on the Office of Personnel Management's 2013 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. (Source: Government Executive, 04/24/14) Previous: SSC No. 2 in best places to work

QinetiQ selling U.S. services division

British defense technology firm QinetiQ agreed to sell its U.S. services division for up to $215 million. The former research arm of Britain's Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday the sale to U.S. engineering group The SI Organization would allow QinetiQ to focus on its core British defense and products business and on expanding in cybersecurity. QinetiQ expects the deal, which requires shareholder approval, to complete in the second quarter of 2014. (Source: Reuters, 04/22/14) Note: QinetiQ has an office at Stennis Space Center, Miss., supporting more than 50 personnel providing services to Naval Research Laboratory, Naval Oceanographic Office, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Expertise includes oceanography, acoustics, mapping and charting, the use of remote sensing in research, and scientific software development.

Raptor tests begin within month

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – Testing of a new, more powerful SpaceX engine will begin within a month at NASA's rocket engine test facility in South Mississippi. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting was held today marking the start of a partnership between SpaceX and Stennis Space Center. SpaceX, which has already successfully completed resupply missions to the International Space Station, plans to test its methane-fueled Raptor rocket engine on the E-2 test stand. The reuseable engine is being developed for a heavy-lift launch vehicle. "In partnership with NASA, SpaceX has helped create one of the most advanced engine testing facilities in the world, and we look forward to putting the stand to good use," said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX. "These types of activities are opening new doors of commercial space exploration for companies," said Stennis Center Director Rick Gilbrech. SpaceX's Dragon space capsule successfully docked with the ISS Sunday in its third resupply mission. (Source: GCAC, 04/21/14)

NASA gears up for RS-25 tests

RS-25 tests begin this summer.
Aerojet Rocketdyne photo

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- With testing of the J-2X engine completed April 10, engineers at Stennis Space Center are now focusing their attention on preparing the RS-25 engine for the test stands. Four RS-25 engines, previously known as space shuttle main engines, will power the core stage of Space Launch System that will take astronauts deeper into space than ever before. More than 200 feet tall with a diameter of 27.6 feet, the core stage will store cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen that will feed the RS-25s. Modifications to the engines, like higher thrust levels, were needed on the engines for the SLS. Gary Benton, J-2X and RS-25 test project manager at SSC, said the J-2X powerpack testing began in late 2007, and a wide range of full-engine developmental tests have been done. A number of J-2X tests benefit the upcoming RS-25 tests. (Source: NASA, 04/11/14) Background story: SSC does what's needed for stand

Orion powers through test

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- NASA's Orion spacecraft passed a test designed to determine readiness for its first flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1. EFT-1 later this year will send the spacecraft more than 3,600 miles from Earth then back. The spacecraft ran for 26 uninterrupted hours during the final phase of a major test series completed April 8 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The test verified the crew module can route power and send commands that enable the spacecraft to manage its computer system, software and data loads, propulsion valves, temperature sensors and other instrumentation. (Sources: Space Travel, 04/16/14, NASA, 04/11/14) Orion is built in part at Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans. Engines that will power the Space Launch System are tested at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

SpaceX ribbon-cutting slated

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- There will be a ribbon-cutting Monday at NASA's Stennis Space Center in South Mississippi to mark the beginning of SpaceX's new engine component test operations. SpaceX, the first commercial company to successfully send supplies to the International Space Station, said in October 2013 that it would use SSC to test its new Raptor methane rocket engines. Another company that can send cargo to the ISS, Orbital Sciences, uses Aerojet AJ26 engines to power its Antares rocket. Those engines also are tested at SSC. Scheduled to attend the 3 p.m. CDT ribbon-cutting is SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, SSC Director Rick Gilbrech, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, Sen. Thad Cochran and Rep. Steven Palazzo. (Source: GCAC, 04/16/14) Previous

Brown tapped for promotion

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced Tuesday that the president has nominated Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Brian B. Brown for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Brown is currently serving as commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Source: DoD, 04/15/14)

Option exercised on NICS contract

NASA has exercised an option with Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) of McLean, Va., to provide and manage the majority of NASA's IT communications infrastructure services on the NASA Integrated Communications Services (NICS) Contract. The contract consists of a three-year base period, one two-year option, one three-year option and one two-year option. The option is a two-year option with a value more than $250 million. The NICS Contract is administered by the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) at Stennis Space Center, Miss. (Source: NSSC, 04/14/14)

Scholegel honored for leadership

BAY ST. LOUIS -- More than 350 people gathered at the Hollywood Casino ballroom in Bay St. Louis to honor former Gulfport Mayor George A. Schloegel with the Roy S. Estess Public Service Leadership Award. "I am grateful to you for this recognition. I am humbled by it and I can promise you this will stay very close to my heart," said Schloegel. Al Watkins, of A2Research and former chairman of Partners for Stennis, said Schloegel "is a man of great character and integrity. He believes that science and innovation are critical to America's success in the 21st century." (Source: Sun Herald, 04/05/14)

NASA to extend contracts

Orbital Sciences and SpaceX could be hauling cargo to the international space station through 2017 under planned two-year contract extensions NASA announced March 31. NASA said it plans to extend the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts it gave Orbital and SpaceX in 2008 "for up to 24 months from December 2015 to December 2017." It was unclear whether NASA will be ordering additional missions. (Source: Space News, 03/31/14) Orbital's Antares launch vehicle uses Aerojet AJ26 engines tested at Stennis Space Center; SpaceX last year announced it will test its Raptor methane rocket engines at SSC.