The technologies behind Lockheed Martin’s proposal for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) program contain three major elements: a reusable space servicing vehicle called Jupiter; a large, versatile cargo container named the Exoliner; and a robotic arm.
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Unveiled March 12 in Washington, the company’s approach to the CRS-2 program offers NASA extensive cargo capacity and the opportunity to host commercial payloads, and builds a foundation for future deep space exploration systems.
CRS-2 is a NASA program to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) with food, equipment and other critical supplies.
“We know how important it is to get astronauts on the ISS the supplies they need on time, every time,” said Wanda Sigur, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Space Systems’ Civil Space line of business. “Our approach is designed to deliver a large volume of critical supplies and cargo with each flight, and do so on schedule. That’s why we’re bringing together flight-proven technologies that are reliable, safe and cost-effective.”
The Jupiter spacecraft builds upon the design of MAVEN, now in orbit around Mars, and OSIRIS-REx, currently under construction for an asteroid sample return mission. The Exoliner container is based upon teammate Thales Alenia Space’s cargo carrier used on the Automated Transfer Vehicle.
The robotic arm, built by teammate MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, draws from technology used on the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle for more than 30 years.
The Lockheed Martin CRS-2 solution brings many affordability benefits with it. Not only does it employ a reusable spacecraft and create the option to host commercial payloads, it’s also designed to support future exploration missions in deep space. Jupiter and the Exoliner cargo carrier can be pre-positioned with supplies of food, fuel, water and equipment for astronauts to use as they travel on manned missions farther into space than ever before.
“Our top priority is safe, reliable and affordable delivery of cargo to the ISS,” said Jim Crocker, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Space Systems’ International line of business. “At the same time, as NASA continues on the journey to Mars, we’re excited by the possibilities CRS-2 can offer to accelerate that goal.”
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