Northrop Grumman Rockets Support Successful Abort Test of NASA’s Orion Crew Capsule

Successful test puts U.S. one step closer to launching humans from American soil again

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – July 2, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) provided major support for the booster and two additional motors for today’s successful test of the NASA Orion crew spacecraft’s abort system. The Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) test is a key milestone paving the way for human space flight aboard NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS). Orion and SLS are part of NASA’s exploration program to return astronauts to the moon and beyond to Mars.

“The flawless operation of spacecraft launch abort safety systems is critical to keeping our astronauts out of harm’s way,” said Blake Larson, president, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. “We are proud to play a role in ensuring crew safety and to contribute to this major step in America’s space exploration future.”

The ATB was provided to NASA under a contract with the U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), and it is based on Northrop Grumman’s Minotaur family of launch vehicles. The AA-2 mission is led by NASA in partnership with SMC’s Launch Enterprise Systems Directorate (SMC/LE) and Rocket Systems Launch Program (SMC/RSLP), located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. SMC/RSLP provided the refurbished legacy SR118 Peacekeeper ICBM first stage motor for the ATB.

AA-2 provided engineers with critical abort test data to help validate computer models of the spacecraft’s Launch Abort System (LAS) performance and system functions. This test and the previous Pad Abort-1 test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico on May 6, 2010, demonstrate that the LAS is ready to perform effectively during the most stressful missions.

Weighing approximately 16,000 pounds, the LAS can activate within milliseconds to pull the Orion vehicle to safety and position it for a safe landing. The LAS is comprised of three solid propellant rocket motors: the abort motor, an attitude control motor and a jettison motor.

Boeing Sending Last Shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson Back to Space

Veteran of three space shuttle missions will be first corporate astronaut to fly a new spacecraft with NASA astronauts

Astronauts (from left) Eric Boe, Chris Ferguson and Nicole Mann will be the inaugural crew of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner when it begins service to the International Space Station. Ferguson, who led NASA’s final Space Shuttle mission in 2011, has made three prior trips to space; Boe is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and F-15 pilot making his third spaceflight; Mann is a U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Colonel and F/A-18 Hornet pilot. She will be the first woman to fly the inaugural mission of a new spacecraft. (Bob Ferguson, Boeing photo)

HOUSTON, Aug. 3, 2018 — Chris Ferguson, who led the final space shuttle mission, will make his fourth spaceflight when he and NASA astronauts Eric Boe and Nicole Mann take the new Boeing [NYSE: BA] CST-100 Starliner commercial crew spacecraft to the International Space Station.

The three pioneers will help restore American access to space from U.S. soil, a capability that ended when the shuttle was retired seven years ago. Mann will also make history as the first female astronaut on the inaugural crewed flight of a new U.S. spacecraft.

“We’re immensely proud of Chris and thrilled he will be part of first Starliner crew,” Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said. “We congratulate all the astronauts chosen to fly to the space station on commercially developed systems. We’re taking important steps for this nation and toward development of a thriving commercial space ecosystem.”

Ferguson has been an integral part of the Starliner program since retiring from NASA and joining Boeing in 2011. He spent more than 40 days in space for NASA during three shuttle missions.

"The engineer in me always thought if I'm not flying a spaceship, I ought to be part of the team building one," Ferguson said. "My fingerprints are all over the Starliner and I'm thrilled to get the chance to go back to space on a vehicle that I helped design from the ground up. Riding along with me are all of the members of the Boeing team who have put their hearts and souls into this spacecraft."

The Starliner flight will be Mann’s first journey to space. Boe will be making his third trip to space. Mann is a U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and pilot of the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet, while Boe is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who was a test pilot on the Boeing F-15. He also helped make the space station a home by delivering a kitchen, bathroom, sleeping quarters, water recycling system and exercise machine during the STS-126 mission.

The development of a safe, reliable, and cost-effective solution for crew transportation services to and from the International Space Station will allow the on-orbit research facility to continue to fulfill its promise as a world-class laboratory. With NASA as the anchor customer, Boeing's Starliner is setting the foundation for commercial passenger flights to and from low-Earth orbit destinations, to include international astronauts, scientists and even tourists.

For more information on Defense, Space & Security, visit www.boeing.com. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense and @BoeingSpace.