Orion Is A STAR In Titusville

STAR Facility. Image Credit: Lockheed Martin

July 19, 2021 – Creating a whimsically appropriate acronym along with some great jobs for Titusville, Lockheed Martin is ramping up production at the new Spacecraft Test, Assembly and Resource (STAR) Center.  Located at the former Space Camp facility near Kennedy Space Center, STAR will be used to assemble the Orion components that will carry astronauts back to the moon as part of the Artemis program.

Image Credit: Marcia Gaedcke

A true 21st century manufacturing hub, STAR uses cloud-based computing systems that  allow rocket scientists to share databases for real-time collaboration.  Many assembly tasks will utilize virtual reality.

The 55,000-square foot STAR facility is ready to go after a $20 million modification over 18 months.  Engineers at STAR will work on the Orion heat shield, propulsion components and a wide variety of other subsystems.  Ultimately, everything will be assembled and stacked on a Space Launch System rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC.  The maiden test launch is scheduled for late this year.

Source: CBS News