Lockheed Martin [LMT] said recently it was picked by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to receive a Phase I Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) program study contract valued at about $6.2 million.
The ALASA program is a research and development effort to mature technologies that could maintain vital satellite capabilities during a crisis. Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Melissa Dalton said recently in an email those technologies include ones that may reduce launch costs, improve flexibility, improve responsiveness and improve resilience. Dalton said launch costs include range, fuel, control and system costs; flexibility includes on-board command and control; responsiveness includes integrated health management and “wooden round” storage while resilience includes the ability to operate from commercial or military runways.
Dalton also said the company interprets the program as two phases: Phase I is the study contract and, in general, includes no hardware development, while Phase II is the flight demonstration of the ALASA system. Phase II also provides multiple payload launches to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
“Our approach uses a tactical aircraft to provide a high energy-state, reusable first stage, enabling launches from bases worldwide to support the U.S. and its allies,” Derek Bye, Lockheed Martin ALASA Program Manager, said in a statement. “With the connectivity requirements of current and future systems, doing this quickly and affordably is a vital national need that the ALASA program addresses.”
Phase I of the ALASA effort spans 18 months, during which time a team led by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works will define a preliminary system design, culminating with a demonstration system definition review. Dalton said this establishes system and design maturity appropriate for hardware demonstration. Dalton also said this provides the technical basis for Phase II, and in conjunction with a winning Phase II proposal, represents DARPA approval for entering Phase II.
Dalton added because both phases are competitive, participation in Phase I doesn’t guarantee participation in Phase II.
The ALASA team includes subcontractors ATK [ATK] and Defense Propulsion System, LLC. Dalton said both companies will participate in Phase I trade studies and design definition as both have advanced solid and liquid rocket motor technologies.