Atlas II rocket with AMC-11 Satellite launched by Lockheed Martin (courtesy of Ben Cooper)
Atlas II rocket with AMC-11 Satellite launched by Lockheed Martin
AMC-11 was ordered by GE Americom as GE-11 and built by Lockheed Martin based on their A2100A satellite bus. In 2001 GE Americom was acquired by SES from Luxembourg, making SES the world’s biggest satellite service provider. After the acquisition GE Americom was renamed SES Americom and later SES World Skies, and resulted also in renaming the satellite assets, GE-11 became AMC-11.
Delta rockets have been built and launched since 1960. Delta’s origins go back to the Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile, which was developed in the mid-50 for the US Air Force. The Thor, a single-stage, liquid-fueled rocket, was modified to become the Delta launch vehicle, which later evolved into the Delta II. Delta IV was developed in partnership with the US Air Force EELV program and is the most advanced family of Delta rockets. Delta IV blends advanced and proven technology to launch virtually any size medium-to-heavy class payload to space.
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security and advanced technologies company with worldwide interests. In March 1995 the company was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, (Washington DC area), USA. Lockheed Martin employs 126,000 people worldwide.
Lockheed Martin is one of the largest companies in the aerospace, defense, security, and technologies industry. The biggest portion of Lockheed Martin’s revenues comes from military sales. The company is the largest of US federal government contractors and receives nearly 10% of the funds paid out by the Pentagon.
Lockheed Martin operates in five business segments:
- Aeronautics,
- Information Systems & Global Solutions,
- Missiles and Fire Control,
- Mission Systems and Training,
- Space Systems.
The company received the Collier Trophy six times, including in 2001 for being part of developing the X-35/F-35B LiftFan Propulsion System and most recently in 2006 for leading the team that developed the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Lockheed Martin is currently developing the F-35 Lightning II and leads the international supply chain, leads the team for the development and implementation of technology solutions for the new USAF Space Fence (AFSSS replacement), and is the primary contractor for the development of the Orion Spacecraft command module. The company also invests in healthcare systems, renewable energy systems and intelligent energy distribution and compact nuclear fusion.
Lockheed Martin major competitors are Boeing, Space Systems/Loral, Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Defense & Space and JSC Information Satellite Systems.