ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS has received a $29 million Lockheed Martin contract to produce fibre-placed composite liquid-hydrogen tanks for NASA's X-33 single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) reusable launch-vehicle (RLV) demonstrator.
Alliant's Aerospace Systems Group will manufacture three carbonfibre-epoxy tanks, each 5.2m in diameter and 10.7m long, using automated fibre-placement technology. Two will be used in the X-33, a sub-scale, sub-orbital demonstrator for Lockheed Martin's planned VentureStar SSTO RLV.
The X-33 is due to be flown in March 1999, with development of the full-scale operational VentureStar, to replace the Space Shuttle, to begin around the turn of the century.
Composite tanks will be one-third lighter than conventional metal liquid-hydrogen tanks, reducing launch-vehicle weight and costs and increasing payload capacity, says Alliant. The company uses the fibre-placement process to produce composite components for the Bell Boeing V-22, Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 and McDonnell Douglas C-17 and F-18E/F.
Source: Flight International
