> home / about RPK / RPK team / contractors

K-1 Contractor Team

Executive Team
Technical Team
Board of Directors
Contractor Team


 

Rocketplane Kistler developed the K-1 vehicle and operations concept. RPK is leading the K-1 systems engineering and integration through an integrated team composed of RPK and contractor personnel. The detailed design, development, fabrication, and test of the K-1 are the result of teamwork and effort of the dedicated K-1 team. RPK has systems level managers, lead engineers, and integrated working group participants working in each major technical area and with each contractor.

Each of RPK's contractors is a leader in its respective field of the aerospace industry and has significant experience in the construction of similar components. Seven main contractors and twenty supporting contractors are involved with the K-1 program. The K-1 is a U.S. manufactured vehicle. Click here for a K-1 Contractor map. States highlighted in grey represent locations of the K-1 prime and supporting contractors.

Team Management/Engineering
   
    Rocketplane Kistler provides customer services, program management, systems engineering and integration, launch systems development, and launch operations.

  
   
 
Main Contractors
    GenCorp Aerojet supplies the propulsion system for the
K-1 Vehicle. The propulsion system consists of the main engines, orbital maneuvering system, attitude control system, and associated pressurization and control systems. Aerojet has designed modifications of the NK-33/43 engines for the K-1 vehicle and will conduct an engine test program prior to first flight.

 
   
    Charles Stark Draper Laboratory provides guidance, navigation and control software design and development, space vehicle systems engineering, mission control software design and development, and integrated verification and validation of the K-1 flight systems. The Draper-developed Hardware-In-The-Loop Integrated Vehicle Simulation is demonstrating system performance and validating software operations.

  
   
    Honeywell provides the K-1 avionics hardware, software, and vehicle management system.

  
   
    Irvin Aerospace is providing the K-1 landing system. This includes all parachutes, airbags and associated activation and control systems.

  
   
    Lockheed Martin Michoud Space Systems provides the aluminum liquid oxygen tanks for the first and second stages, and the aluminum fuel tank for the first stage.

  
   
    Northrop Grumman Corporation is building the K-1 vehicle composite structures. This includes the first and second stage structural components, second stage composite fuel tank and payload module.

  
   
    Oceaneering is providing the Thermal Protection System for the K-1 including tiles and blankets on both stages.

 
   

Systems Contractors
    ATA Engineering provides loads and thermal systems analysis for the K-1.

  
   
    Vibro-Acoustic Sciences, Inc. provides vibration and acoustic analyses for the K-1.

  
   
    Lockheed Martin Vought Systems has conducted wind tunnel tests on the K-1.

  
   
    NASA Langley Research Center has conducted Hypersonic wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) on the K-1.  
   
    NEAR Incorporated is conducting the K-1 aerodynamic analysis.
 
   

Launch Sites
    Leighton Contractors is building the Woomera, Australia
K-1 launch facilities.

Kistler has signed a use permit with the The Nevada Test Site Development Corporation for the K-1 Nevada launch site.

 
   
    Reynolds, Smith & Hills has designed the K-1 launch facility and ground support equipment.

  
   
    Kistler Woomera Pty Ltd provides K-1 launch operations at the Woomera, Australia lauch site.

  
   
    Spaceport Woomera Pty Ltd provides K-1 logistics and facilities at the Woomera, Australia launch site.