Lockheed Martin signs agreement with NM Spaceport
New Mexico Business Weekly - NMBW Staff
Lockheed Martin has signed an agreement with the New Mexico Spaceport Authority to conduct operations at Spaceport America in Upham.
Lockheed -- the world's largest aerospace company, with $42 billion in revenue -- has already tested some new launch technologies at the Spaceport through subcontracts with Colorado-based UP Aerospace. Lockheed uses UP because it can provide low-cost, fast-turnaround launch services year-round from the Spaceport. Lean ground operations mean Lockheed can do more testing more quickly, giving the company a competitive edge in developing technologies.
In December, UP carried out a small demonstration launch to test proprietary technology currently under development by Lockheed Martin. The Spaceport was able to host the launch safely and efficiently, which led to the new MOU with the state of New Mexico, said Spaceport Authority Executive Director Steve Landeene in a news release.
"Having this relationship with Lockheed Martin validates the concept behind commercial space activity, and proves that Spaceport America can deliver on the promise of lower-cost, quicker-turnaround launch activity," Landeene said. "More and more companies are expressing commitments to the state, wanting to make Spaceport America a key part of their future plans."
Landeene said planning and design of the Spaceport is nearly complete, and the first bid package for construction work is being prepared for release. Construction on the Spaceport can begin once the Authority receives its site operator's license from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Launch activity by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will continue in 2008 under the amateur class until the FAA vertical launch site license is issued, likely in 2009.
Die Firmen UP Aerospace und Lockheed Martin haben einen Kooperationsvertrag unterzeichnet. Demnach will der Rüstüngskonzern Lockheed neue Starttechnologien testen. UP Aerospace soll diese dann als Subunternehmen auf dem Spaceport America durchführen. Die Wahl fiel auf das Unternehmen UP Aerospace, da das Unternehmen ganzjährig günstige Flüge auf dem Spaceport America anbieten kann. Mit den schnelleren Tests erhofft sich Lockheed einen Wettbewerbsvorteil. Kurz zuvor hatte UP Aerospace einen Vorvertag mit der New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA), dem Betreiber des Spaceport America, abgeschlossen. Dieser beinhaltet eine Nutzungserlaubnis des Weltraumbahnhofs durch das Unternehmen für die nächsten zehn Jahre.