Lockheed Martin Celebrates Completion of Solar Energy Testbed

MOORESTOWN, N.J., April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today observed Earth Day with a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of its solar energy testbed. The testbed supports Lockheed Martin's work in utility-scale renewable power.

The Solar System Test and Engineering Site (SolSTES) array in southern New Jersey enables Lockheed Martin engineers to integrate and test a variety of solar technologies in a high-fidelity test environment. Design and construction of the testbed began in early 2008. Today the facility is a full-scale, functional solar collector assembly, 100 meters long and three stories high, consisting of highly reflective mirrors and solar receivers.

"Through this solar field testbed, we're applying for the utilities the same systems engineering and disciplined integration approach that we do for all of our domestic and international customers," said Chris Myers, Lockheed Martin vice president for Solar Energy programs. "Utility-scale solar power is another way our highly-skilled workforce can help solve a critical security challenge facing our nation. The testbed enables us to validate solar collector technologies and optimize our production skills."

In November 2007, Lockheed Martin teamed with the Starwood Energy Group to provide utility-scale solar power in North America. Lockheed Martin is responsible for engineering, procurement, manufacturing and systems integration. Starwood is primarily responsible for arranging long-term power purchase agreements, site selection, permitting, and for providing construction, permanent debt and equity financing.

Since the teaming agreement was signed, Lockheed Martin and Starwood have been pursuing multiple utility-scale opportunities, and have invested in land acquisition, transmission, permitting, supplier base, technology development, and efficient, low-cost production techniques. The teaming arrangement positions Lockheed Martin and Starwood to provide clean, renewable energy throughout the United States.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 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 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

For additional information about Lockheed Martin, visit: http://www.lockheedmartin.com

ATK Lands Lucrative Orion Deal

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has been selected by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, a division of Lockheed Martin Corporation to design, develop and build UltraFlex solar arrays for NASA's next generation Orion crew exploration
vehicle. The value of the initial design and development contract is expected to exceed $50 million. Program management, design, engineering, analysis, manufacturing, assembly and test work for the solar arrays will be conducted at ATK's facility in Goleta, CA. Because the flight solar array system is expendable for each Orion mission, ATK expects continuous production through 2020 and beyond.

Powered by ATK's solar arrays, Orion is being designed to carry astronauts to the moon. It also will transport crew and cargo to the International Space Station.

ATK's UltraFlex disk shaped solar arrays, each measuring greater than 5 meters in diameter, will track the sun and provide power for Orion during its mission. ATK's UltraFlex arrays offer superior performance characteristics and mission enabling features, including ultra-lightweight,
high strength, high stiffness, and compact stowage volume. The UltraFlex solar array configured for Orion will provide over twenty-five times the strength and ten times the stiffness of ATK's conventional rigid panel solar arrays, at less than one-fourth the weight.

"We are very excited to play such a key partner role on Lockheed Martin's team supporting NASA's Orion crew exploration vehicle," said Mike Cerneck, Vice President and General Manager of ATK Space, headquartered in Beltsville, MD. "ATK is a leader in the development and supply of mission-enabling deployable space systems and we look forward to supporting
NASA's new era of space exploration."

ATK is an industry leader in solar array systems-engineering competencies. It offers a broad range of technologies, skills and products, and a proven production and test capability for solar array systems. To date the company has delivered over 70 solar array wing systems.