Katie Britt: Alabama is expanding the limits of human achievement
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt highlighted Alabama’s critical contributions to the next era of American space exploration during a recent hearing of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. Britt extolled the many contributions to the advancement of space exploration made by the scientists and engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. 7,000 Alabamians work at Marshall. “They have created a legacy of excellence,” Britt stated. “The men and women there have put in the work to literally take us to new heights, and we are all better for it.” On November 16, 2022, NASA successfully launched the most powerful rocket in history – the Space Launch System (SLS) – for the first time during Artemis I. Marshall’s engineers designed the SLS, and Marshall is tasked with leading the management of and testing for the SLS program. “Tens of thousands of very talented and smart people throughout the country – including in my home state of Alabama – were responsible for a flawless SLS launch,” Britt continued. “I am deeply proud of what they have accomplished, and I’m very interested in making sure we keep this momentum going.” There have been many astronauts and cosmonauts in the last 50 years, but they have all gone to the same place: low Earth orbit. Not since the Apollo missions has man ventured further out. NASA will return Americans to the Moon as early as 2025. The Artemis II mission next year will take astronauts back to Moon orbit. Artemis III will put an American back on the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. Artemis IV in 2028 will set the stage for NASA to continue missions to the lunar surface annually. The SLS will be used to launch a man to Mars sometime in the late 2030s if all goes well. “NASA has set a bold vision for the future, one defined by innovation and exploration throughout the heavens,” Administrator Nelson said in his testimony before the subcommittee. Sen. Britt questioned Administrator Nelson about the funding needed to keep the Artemis program on schedule and meet NASA’s lofty goals. “We have to take advantage of the progress we have made and the workforce that has been built over the years. We need to be preparing now for a more sustained cadence of launches for Artemis IV, V, and beyond,” Britt said. “There will be a new generation of boys and girls across America who look up to the Moon at night, knowing that walking its surface is not just a dream but a reality. Once again, it will be thanks to the innovation, grit, and determination of Alabamians that our nation not only expands the limits of human achievement – but quite literally grows the imagination of what one day might and will be possible.” Landing on the Moon remains a complex engineering feat. A Japanese corporation, ispace, apparently has failed in its recent effort to land two rovers on the Moon. The mission to land a Japanese-designed rover and a United Arab Emirates-built rover has failed to communicate back that it has successfully landed on the Moon. While engineers are still working on establishing communications with the lander, the assumption is that the landing has failed. Ispace would have been the first private company to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon. Only NASA, the former Soviet Union, and China have been able to accomplish that to this point in time. Ispace has signed a contract with NASA to deliver unmanned loads of cargo to the Moon in support of NASA’s ambitious plan to return astronauts to the Moon. At this point, it is unknown how this apparent failure will impact those plans. NASA recently released its first Moon to Mars Architecture review. This is the technology that the space agency needs to accomplish its lofty mission goals in the next twenty years. China also has ambitious plans to send its astronauts to the Moon and Mars. Nelson said it is possible that China could attempt to dominate Moon exploration. “It is a fact: we’re in a space race,” Nelson told Politico. “And it is true that we better watch out that they don’t get to a place on the Moon under the guise of scientific research.” Nelson is scheduled to testify before the House Science Committee on Thursday. Katie Britt was elected in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
First Artemis moon mission to launch on Monday
Americans last walked on the Moon on December 1, 1972, and nobody, not even NASA itself, has even attempted to duplicate the successes of the Apollo missions since then. Now NASA is poised to go back to the Moon and beyond with the launch of the most powerful rocket ever constructed, the Space Launch System (SLS). The SLS is on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral to launch the Artemis 1 mission into space for its first Moon mission. Duplicating many of the precautions of the Apollo program adopted after the loss of the crew of Apollo 1, Artemis 1 will not be manned and will not actually land on the Moon. The Artemis spacecraft, bigger and more capable than Apollo, will fly to the Moon orbit and then return to the Earth to test the capabilities of the system. Artemis 1 is scheduled to lift off from Pad 39B of the Kennedy Space Flight Center in Cape Canaveral on Monday at 7:33 a.m. CDT (1233 GMT), weather permitting. The SLS was designed and developed at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Thousands of Alabamians have devoted years of their lives into this rocket and returning Americans to the Moon. Marshall leaders have released a video explaining what they are hoping to achieve with the SLS. “The Space Launch System is really the backbone of the Artemis missions,” said John Blevins – SLS Chief Engineer at Marshall. “It is the truck. It is the big carry vehicle.” “It will lift up from Earth with more power than a Saturn V,” said Van Stickland – SLS Program Manager at Marshall. “This time it is more than a race it is about establishing a longtime presence “The difference between the Apollo program and the Artemis program is really the focus on sustainability and using the Moon as an outpost for further exploration,” Blevins said. “The Space Launch System is the culmination of sixty years of building rockets.” “We are moving from low Earth orbit like you see in the International Space Station to moving beyond that to take the next step in exploration,” said Sharon Cobb – SLS Associate Program Manager at Marshall. “This time, we are going back to learn how to live and work on the Moon.” If this and subsequent Artemis missions go well, the plan is for a manned mission to land on the Moon in 2024. That mission will include the first woman to step on the Moon and the first African-American to do so. NASA plans to begin their Moon base in 2028. No one under the age of 55 can remember a manned Moon mission outside of documentaries or history studies. If NASA has its way it could become commonplace. You can watch the launch live online on Monday starting at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT), courtesy of NASA TV. NASA’s meteorologist estimates that there is over a 70% chance that weather conditions will be favorable for a Monday launch. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Boeing investing in future growth at its Alabama operations
While aerospace giant Boeing grabs headlines with major deals at the Farnborough International Airshow, its Alabama operations are having a far-reaching impact on the company’s global business. Boeing workers in Alabama provide critical support and expertise in weapons systems, space exploration, advanced avionics research and more. One of the latest developments in the company’s 56-year history in the state is the expansion of its Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile seeker facility in Huntsville, which is taking support of its customers and warfighters to a whole new level. Meanwhile, Boeing is investing about $70 million in capital in Alabama to prepare its facilities for future growth. “It is an exciting time to work in aerospace in Alabama,” said Norm Tew, vice president and general manager of the Missile and Weapon Systems Division, and Huntsville senior site executive. “Boeing’s Alabama employees are designing, building and supporting some of the most advanced and most critical aerospace systems in the world, through our work on NASA’s Space Launch System, advanced air and missile defense systems, strategic deterrence systems, our engineering design centers and the many other projects and programs we support at our facilities in Alabama,” Tew said. “As the largest aerospace company in the state, we continue to grow our portfolio of work here and we’re making the investments to do so.” PAC-3 seeker The new PAC-3 seeker expansion is a 28,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility with investment from Boeing, as well as its customers. Gov. Kay Ivey joined company officials in April to mark the completion of the project. “This facility houses the latest production and test equipment and gives us additional capacity required to produce PAC-3 seekers for our customer and partner, Lockheed Martin – ultimately helping support the growing needs of the U.S. Army and its allies for the PAC-3 missile capability,” said Boeing spokeswoman Jen Wollman. The Boeing seeker technology provides key target data to the PAC-3 missile guidance system, and the company has produced more than 3,000 PAC-3 seekers over the history of the program, which spans more than 20 years, she added. Boeing’s Alabama-made seekers provide active data to the PAC-3 missile, which enables it to acquire, intercept and destroy enemy ballistic and cruise missiles as well as hostile aircraft using hit-to-kill technology. The company invested $45 million to expand the Huntsville PAC-3 missile seeker production line in 2011, and last year workers produced the 3,000th seeker at the Alabama location. Alabama presence Boeing employs about 2,700 people in Alabama at two key facilities in Huntsville, in the Jetplex Industrial Park and at Redstone Gateway. The company generates an estimated $2.3 billion of economic activity in the state annually. Last year, it spent $606 million with nearly 200 suppliers, supporting about 18,000 direct and indirect jobs. In addition, Boeing and its employees contributed more than $1.6 billion to charitable organizations throughout the state in 2017. “Boeing has been a pillar of Alabama’s aerospace industry for more than half a century, buoyed by the skill and dedication of its Huntsville workforce,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The company continues to deepen its roots here in the state, setting the stage for even more groundbreaking research, developments and products.” Boeing’s core business areas in Alabama are: Missile and Weapons Systems: Includes Ground-based Midcourse Defense, designed to detect, intercept and destroy long-range ballistic missiles during their midcourse phase of flight, and Strategic Deterrence Systems, which integrate Boeing’s support of the U.S. Air Force’s nuclear deterrence mission. Space and Launch: The world’s largest satellite manufacturer, which also provides other space and intelligence systems and manages Boeing’s share of United Launch Alliance and United Space Alliance. Also includes Space Launch System, responsible for design, development, testing and manufacture of the core and upper stages and avionics for the nation’s next-generation human-rate rocket to take people and cargo to deep space and to the International Space Station. Boeing Global Services: Support services for U.S. Army helicopters. Huntsville Design Center: Includes a team of nearly 250 engineers that support a wide variety of programs, including military and commercial aircraft. Boeing Research and Technology: The Alabama research center houses about 300 engineers, scientists and technicians who are working on advances in avionics systems, composite materials, cybersecurity and other areas. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Boeing ramping up Alabama aerospace employment, investment
With a legacy in Alabama that spans more than half a century, Boeing Co. is looking toward the future with plans for new jobs, investment and breakthrough developments at its operations in the state. The aerospace manufacturer, which has about 2,700 Alabama employees, expects to add 400 more by 2020, along with an additional capital investment of $70 million. “As the leading aerospace manufacturer in Alabama, Boeing supports a diverse portfolio of programs from missile defense programs such as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system – which recently successfully intercepted a mock Intercontinental ballistic missile during a test — to space exploration programs such as the Space Launch System family of rockets that will take us to Mars,” said Ken Tucker, director of State and Local Government Operations for Boeing in Alabama. “Boeing is investing in the future of Alabama as a center of innovation, continuing to bring highly skilled jobs and growth to the region.” The company is one of the key success stories touted by business recruiters as they seek to expand the state’s aviation and aerospace industry. Last week, the team was working at the Paris Air Show, where leaders of the world’s top aerospace firms convened. “Boeing’s continued growth in Alabama is a testament to the company’s strategic vision, as well as the skillful execution by its workforce in the state,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Boeing innovation in Alabama is key to our nation’s defense and space programs, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.” A major Boeing missile project in Alabama is the Ground-based Midcourse Defense initiative. (Missile Defense Agency) Alabama operations Boeing’s Alabama operations are centered at two main facilities in Huntsville, in the Jetplex Industrial Park and at Redstone Gateway. The company first established a presence in Huntsville in 1962 to support the new U.S. space programs, and today the local operations provide a wide variety of innovations and capabilities for both the commercial and defense sectors. In addition to the successful performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, which happened at the end of May, another recent development for Boeing in Alabama is the expansion of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Seeker facility in Huntsville. The 28,000-square-foot facility will include machinery and other capabilities to support the missile defense program for the U.S. Army. The expansion is progressing well and is on track to provide enhanced production capabilities by the end of the year, said Jennifer Wollman, a Boeing spokeswoman. Other Boeing operations in Alabama include the Huntsville Design Center, which supports 20 major programs such as the new 777X, 737 Max and 787, and Boeing Research & Technology, a research center that develops future aerospace solutions for defense and commercial businesses. Huntsville also is home to NASA’s Space Launch System program, where Boeing is responsible for the design, development, testing and manufacture of the core and upper stages, as well as the avionics for the nation’s next-generation rocket to transport people and cargo to deep space. Aerospace giant Boeing opened its Alabama Research & Technology Center in Huntsville in June 2015, building on its long-standing presence in the Rocket City. (Boeing) Moving forward A recent economic impact study showed the company contributes more than $2 billion annually to the state’s economy and sustains nearly 8,400 direct and indirect jobs. The study also showed that Boeing: Supported 8,393 direct and industry jobs in the state. Distributed an annual payroll of $264 million in Alabama. Spent an additional $749 million in the state, including $532 million to suppliers. Contributed nearly $1.7 million to nonprofit organizations. When the study was released, Boeing also announced an additional 400 jobs and $70 million in capital investment by 2020. “While our employment in the state currently remains steady with approximately 2,700 employees, we expect to see that increase in the coming years,” Wollman said. “We also continue moving forward with our capital investment plans and expect to have more to share on that later this year.” Republished with permission of Alabama NewsCenter.
Aerojet Rocketdyne to build AR1 rocket engine, add 800 Alabama jobs in expansion
Aerojet Rocketdyne announced plans Monday to expand its presence in Huntsville with a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the company’s AR1 rocket engine and the relocation of engineering, program management, and other jobs. Aerojet Rocketdyne’s overall growth plans for Huntsville call for the California-based company to add 800 jobs to support the U.S. space and defense programs for the next quarter century and beyond. As part of a strategic Competitive Improvement Program, Aerojet Rocketdyne previously selected Huntsville as the home of its Defense division headquarters and its Rocket Shop advanced programs. “We are two years into the first phase of our CIP affordability drive and the consolidation progress, and overhead cost reductions achieved to date have exceeded our expectations,” Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake said. “We intend to build on this success by expanding our CIP-related consolidation efforts so we can deliver the value our customers demand and position our company for further growth.” New rocket engine Aerojet Rocketdyne has been developing the AR1 rocket engine since 2014 as a replacement for Russian engines used on the Atlas V rocket, which is assembled in Decatur by the United Launch Alliance. In addition, the AR1 is being advanced for use on the Space Launch System (SLS), NASA’s Mars rocket now under development at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. The AR1 production facility in Huntsville will include advanced functions such as additive manufacturing (3-D printing), composites fabrication, and research and development. The company expects the facility to be ready for production in mid-2019. “Huntsville’s legacy in the development of rocket propulsion systems makes it the ideal choice for Aerojet Rocketdyne’s AR1 rocket engine assembly center and its advanced manufacturing and engineering operations,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Aerojet Rocketdyne’s decision to base these cutting-edge activities in Huntsville is a powerful endorsement of the capabilities found there,” he said. The company said it plans to move all Defense-related program management, engineering and support positions to Huntsville by the end of 2018. Some positions at a Gainesville, Virginia, facility that is being closed will also move to Huntsville. “We believe these actions are essential for the performance of our business and the growth of the company. The results from this initiative will benefit our valued employees, customers and shareholders alike,” Drake said. ‘Rocket City USA’ Huntsville officials welcomed the company’s expansion news. “This project is another great example of our effort to diversify Huntsville’s economy with high-quality advanced manufacturing, and yet, Aerojet Rocketdyne is here because of Huntsville’s outstanding role in research and defense technology,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “This project works all facets of our economy by marrying R&D with advanced manufacturing. We are both rocket scientists and rocket builders,” he said. Madison County Commission Chairman Dale W. Strong said, “The announcement by Aerojet Rocketdyne today selecting Huntsville, Alabama, to build their rocket engines reaffirms we are and will continue to be Rocket City USA and our world will be better because of this decision.” Aerojet Rocketdyne has worked with Huntsville-based Dynetics on the AR1 rocket engine project. This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website. Republished with permission of Alabama NewsCenter.
Alabama Congressional members join President at White House for signing of NASA Authorization bill
Several members of the Alabama delegation trekked across town in Washington, D.C. Tuesday morning to join President Donald Trump at a bill-signing ceremony.
