Mars Scout mission will study atmospheric processes DENVER, Sept. 18
DENVER, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has been
selected by NASA to design, build and operate the spacecraft for NASA's
Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) program. NASA's newest mission will
analyze the upper atmosphere and past climate change on Mars. The
$485-million project is led by principal investigator Bruce Jakosky of the
University of Colorado's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP).
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center will manage the mission.
MAVEN is scheduled to launch in late 2013 and arrive at Mars in the fall
of 2015. The spacecraft will circle Mars in an elliptical orbit as it studies
current atmospheric losses with an emphasis on the role of the solar wind.
These present-day losses will give insight to the massive climate change Mars
experienced in the past.
"We know from three decades of studying Mars that its surface was
dramatically transformed by water, but we don't know what happened to that
water," said Jim Crocker, vice president of Sensing and Exploration Systems at
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "The MAVEN mission will provide
definitive answers about Mars' climate history and an understanding of what
happened to the liquid water on the surface. Our team is excited to be a part
of this fascinating study."
The spacecraft is based on the flight-proven designs of the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft -- both designed
and built by Lockheed Martin. MRO was launched in August 2005 and Odyssey was
launched in April 2001. Both spacecraft are still performing science
operations as they orbit the planet. Lockheed Martin also conducts flight
operations for both missions for NASA.
"Lockheed Martin brings with it a tremendous wealth of experience in
planetary spacecraft, and in Mars spacecraft and operations," said Jakosky.
"Their MAVEN team is absolutely first rate, and the mission concept we've put
together reflects this. I could not imagine trying to do this mission without
their involvement."
MAVEN is the second mission in NASA's Mars Scout Program -- a series of
small, low-cost, principal investigator-led missions to the Red Planet. The
Phoenix Mars Lander was the first mission under the program. Lockheed Martin
is the industry partner on the Phoenix mission. It designed and built the
spacecraft, and also provided both flight operations and currently surface
operations for the lander. The mission has been extended through Sept. 30,
2008.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, a major operating unit of Lockheed
Martin Corporation, designs, develops, tests, manufactures and operates a full
spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security, civil and
commercial customers. Chief products include human space flight systems; a
full range of remote sensing, navigation, meteorological and communications
satellites and instruments; space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft;
laser radar; fleet ballistic missiles; and missile defense systems.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security
company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged
in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment
of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation
reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gary Napier, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company; (303) 971-4012;
gary.p.napier@lmco.com
SOURCE Lockheed Martin
