Aerospace

NASA Orders Three More Orion Spacecraft From Lockheed Martin

NASA Orders Three More Orion Spacecraft From Lockheed Martin.

Now that Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has a contract to provide NASA with three Orion spacecraft for its Artemis VI–VIII missions, the agency can continue to get exploration vehicles to help with the Artemis programme by sending astronauts into deep space and around the Moon.

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It is a privilege for Lockheed Martin to work with NASA to provide Orion spacecraft for the Artemis missions. This contract, which extends into the 2030s, includes spacecraft, mission planning, and support, according to Lisa Callahan, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Commercial Civil Space division. “This contract demonstrates NASA is making long-term planning toward living and working on the Moon, while still having a forward emphasis on getting humans to Mars,” the statement reads. “We’re on the eve of a historic launch starting off the Artemis era.

As a result of OPOC, Lockheed Martin and NASA were able to build Orion vehicles for Artemis III through Artemis V at a 50% lower cost per unit than those constructed during the design and development stage. An additional 30% of the cost will be cut from the vehicles made for Artemis VI, VII, and VIII.

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Additionally, the company will reduce the cost of these production vehicles through bulk supplier purchases of materials and components as well as a quicker mission cadence.

Two additional Orion spacecraft, Artemis II and III, are being assembled at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida beside Artemis I, which is now perched on the Space Launch System rocket. Work on the Artemis IV craft is well under way, with the pressure vessel being joined at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Site close to New Orleans and the heat shield at a Lockheed Martin facility close to Denver. Work on the Artemis V vehicle has also already started.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.