...the who's who,
and the what's what 
of the space industry

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Copernical Team

Copernical Team

Friday, 08 June 2012 14:29

Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK)

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Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known as ATK, is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally.

ATK is a pioneer in solid rocket propulsion systems, strategic missiles, missile defense, lightweight space deployables, solar arrays and satellite thermal management systems, while developing new technologies for small and micro satellites.

ATK’s human space capability includes solid rocket boosters, engineering services, astronaut tools and solar arrays. Its Reusable Solid Rocket Motors (RSRM)  have been propelling the space shuttle since its beginning. In the commercial market ATK offers its Liberty Launch Vehicle, which includes a five-segment solid rocket first stage and liquid fueled upper stage to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). ATK is also developing the launch abort and attitude control motors for the Ares I Orion crew capsule, as well as the circular shape ultra-light solar arrays that will power the capsule.

Propulsion systems for  strategic missiles and missile defense systems is a core capability. ATK provides all three stages for the Minuteman III and Trident II D-5 missiles. In the missile defense arena, ATK also provides all three stages for the Ground-based Missile Defense (GMD) system. 

ATK’s involvement with Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) extends from launch vehicles to small and micro satellites. With ATK’s versatile product line of solid rocket motors, multiple launch vehicle configurations can be developed to support specific mission requirements.

The company’s small satellite capabilities include responsive development, constellation solutions, single-string and redundant avionics architectures. ATK also provides commercial boosters for the Delta rockets. The company is teamed with Lockheed Martin to provide the commercial Athena launch vehicle. 

Friday, 08 June 2012 19:20

The Spaceship Company

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Headquartered at Mojave Air and Space Port, The Spaceship Company is the aerospace production company, founded by Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites, which will be building a fleet of commercial spaceships (SpaceShipTwos) and carrier aircraft (WhiteKnightTwos) intended to make regular, commercial, manned space travel a reality.

The company has announced plans to build three WhiteKnightTwo aircraft and five SpaceShipTwo rocket planes.

Friday, 08 June 2012 19:07

Northrop Grumman

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Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop.

The former Space Technology sector (now Aerospace Systems Sector) builds satellites and space payloads for the US government, including NASA, NOAA and the US Air Force.

Thursday, 07 June 2012 20:53

Ball Aerospace

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Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. (commonly Ball Aerospace) is a manufacturer of spacecraft, components, and instruments for national defense, civil space and commercial space applications.

This American company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ball Corp., with primary offices in Boulder and facilities in Broomfield and Westminster in Colorado, with smaller offices in New Mexico, Ohio, Georgia, Northern Virginia, and Maryland.

Ball Aerospace began building pointing controls for military rockets in 1956, and later won a contract to build one of NASA’s first spacecraft, the Orbiting Solar Observatory. Over the years, the company has been responsible for numerous technological and scientific projects and continues to provide aerospace technology to NASA and related industries.

Thursday, 07 June 2012 20:45

XCOR Aerospace

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XCOR Aerospace is an American private rocket engine and spaceflight development company based at the Mojave Spaceport in Mojave, California. 

XCOR was formed by former members of the Rotary Rocket rocket engine development team in September, 1999. 

Thursday, 07 June 2012 20:33

Virgin Galactic

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Virgin Galactic is a company within Richard Branson's Virgin Group which plans to provide sub-orbital spaceflights to space tourists, suborbital launches for space science missions and orbital launches of small satellites.

Further in the future Virgin Galactic hopes to offer orbital human spaceflights as well. Virgin Galactic's spacecraft are launched from a large aeroplane, giving the spacecraft more initial speed and altitude than if it were launched from the ground.

Thursday, 07 June 2012 19:54

SAOCOM

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SAOCOM (SAtélite Argentino de Observación COn Microondas, Spanish for Argentine Microwaves Observation Satellite) is a planned Earth observation satellite series of the Argentine Space Agency CONAE. Two satellites are planned, SAOCOM 1A and SAOCOM 1B. Both will be equipped with a L-band full polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Originally launch was announced for 2010 (1A) and 2011 (1B), but later due to delays in satellites' development both launches were postponed to between 2012 and 2013. Further delays pushed the launches date back tentatively towards 2014 and 2015 respectively for 1A and 1B satellites. Those two satellites along with four X-band SAR equipped COSMO-SkyMed satellites from the Italian Space Agency ASI would conform the Italian-Argentine System of Satellites for Emergency Management (SIASGE) constellation.

Thursday, 07 June 2012 15:07

SAC-D

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SAC-D (Spanish: Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas-D, meaning Satellite for Scientific Applications-D), also known as Aquarius after its primary instrument, is an Argentine Earth science satellite built by INVAP and launched on June 10, 2011. It carries seven instruments to study the environment, and a technology demonstration experiment.

Its primary instrument, Aquarius, was built by and is operated by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

SAC-D is operated by CONAE, the Argentine space agency. The satellite is expected to operate for five years; however the Aquarius instrument is only expected to operate for three.

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As a specialized agency of the Argentine State, CONAE is the only government body to understand, design, execute, control, manage and administer space projects and entrepreneurships throughout the country.  It represents the Nation's civil research and development capabilities in space activities. 

To accomplish its mission, CONAE has to plan, execute and evaluate a National Space Program for peaceful use of space science and technology.

For more info: http://www.conae.gov.ar/

Wednesday, 06 June 2012 16:05

BOEING

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Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. A top U.S. exporter, the company supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in 150 countries. Boeing products and tailored services include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training.

Boeing has a long tradition of aerospace leadership and innovation. The company continues to expand its product line and services to meet emerging customer needs. Its broad range of capabilities includes creating new, more efficient members of its commercial airplane family; integrating military platforms, defense systems and the warfighter through network-enabled solutions; creating advanced technology solutions; and arranging innovative customer-financing options.

With corporate offices in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 170,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries. This represents one of the most diverse, talented and innovative workforces anywhere. More than 140,000 employees hold college degrees -- including nearly 35,000 advanced degrees -- in virtually every business and technical field from approximately 2,700 colleges and universities worldwide. Our enterprise also leverages the talents of hundreds of thousands more skilled people working for Boeing suppliers worldwide.

Boeing is organized into two business units: Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Supporting these units are Boeing Capital Corporation, a global provider of financing solutions; the Shared Services Group, which provides a broad range of services to Boeing worldwide; and Boeing Engineering, Operations & Technology, which helps develop, acquire, apply and protect innovative technologies and processes.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Boeing has been the premier manufacturer of commercial jetliners for more than 40 years. With the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas in 1997, Boeing's leadership in commercial jets, joined with the lineage of Douglas airplanes, gives the combined company a 70-year heritage of leadership in commercial aviation. Today, the main commercial products are the 737, 747, 767 and 777 families of airplanes and the Boeing Business Jet. New product development efforts are focused on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and the 747-8. The company has nearly 12,000 commercial jetliners in service worldwide, which is roughly 75 percent of the world fleet. Through Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, the company provides unsurpassed, around-the-clock technical support to help operators maintain their airplanes in peak operating condition. Commercial Aviation Services offers a full range of world-class engineering, modification, logistics and information services to its global customer base, which includes the world's passenger and cargo airlines, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities. Boeing also trains maintenance and flight crews in the 100-seat-and-above airliner market through Boeing Training & Flight Services, the world's largest and most comprehensive provider of airline training.

Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS)

Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) provides end-to-end services for large-scale systems that enhance air-, land-, sea- and space-based platforms for global military, government and commercial customers. In addition to designing, producing, modifying and supporting fighters, bombers, transports, rotorcraft, aerial refuelers, missiles, munitions and spacecraft for military, civil and commercial use, BDS is developing enhanced capabilities through network-enabled solutions, communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies. BDS supports the U.S. government as a system integrator on several programs of national significance, including NASA's International Space Station and, the Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense program. BDS is also expanding into new markets and adjacencies, including unmanned systems, cyber security, energy management, and support and logistics.

Boeing Capital Corporation

Boeing Capital Corporation is a global provider of financing solutions. Working closely with Commercial Airplanes and Defense, Space & Security, Boeing Capital Corporation arranges, structures and provides financing to facilitate the sale and delivery of Boeing commercial and military products. With a year end 2011 portfolio value at approximately $4.3 billion, Boeing Capital Corporation combines Boeing's financial strength and global reach, detailed knowledge of Boeing customers and equipment, and the expertise of a seasoned group of financial professionals.

Engineering, Operations & Technology

EO&T enhances Boeing's growth and productivity by driving technical and functional excellence across the enterprise. Its primary objectives are to support the company's business units by delivering high-quality, low-cost technical services in information technology, research and technology, and test and evaluation; integrated enterprise strategies that ensure technology is ready when needed, competitively protected and environmentally progressive; and highly disciplined and efficient engineering, operations and supplier management support that ensures program success. The organization pays particular attention to ensuring the success of development programs, and strives to attract, develop and retain a world-class technical and functional work force.

Shared Services Group

Shared Services Group allows business units to focus on profitable growth by providing the infrastructure services required to run their global operations. The group provides a broad range of services worldwide, including facilities services, employee benefits and services, staffing, recruitment, wellness programs, security, fire protection, site operations, disaster preparedness, construction, reclamation, conservation programs, virtual workplace, creative services, transportation, business continuity and the purchase of all non-production goods and services. It also offers comprehensive travel services to Boeing employees and manages the sale and acquisition of all leased and owned property for Boeing. By integrating services, Shared Services Group delivers greater value, creates "lean" processes and operations, leverages buying power and simplifies access to services for all of Boeing.

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