Solid rocket booster

X-Bow Systems Announces Update on Air Force Research Laboratory's RE-ARM Program

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Tuesday, March 26, 2024
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- X-Bow Systems Inc. (X-Bow), a non-traditional small business advanced supplier of solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, today announced award of a follow-on contract from the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for its Rapid Energetics and Advanced Rocket Manufacturing (RE-ARM) program. The original Pathfinder I contract, awarded in March 2021, was part of X-Bow's groundbreaking, low-cost advanced manufacturing approach to solid rocket motors and culminated in a 15-month delivery and demonstration of a simulated-energetics factory at Edwards Air Force Base, California in July of 2022.

Key Points: 
  • ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- X-Bow Systems Inc. (X-Bow), a non-traditional small business advanced supplier of solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, today announced award of a follow-on contract from the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for its Rapid Energetics and Advanced Rocket Manufacturing (RE-ARM) program.
  • The program was hugely successful for both X-Bow and AFRL in demonstrating the foundational technology to provide low-cost advanced manufacturing solutions to solid rocket motor production.
  • "X-Bow Systems' Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) manufacturing technology is a central component AFRL's Rapid Energetics & Advanced Rocket Manufacturing (RE-ARM) program.
  • "We are excited about the next phase of development of our advanced manufacturing technology with AFRL's continued support for X-Bow.

With the Lift and Mating of ET-94, the California Science Center Achieves Another Major Milestone in Assembling its Ready-to-Launch Space Shuttle Display; The Next and Final Phase in the Unprecedented Go for Stack Process Will Be the Move, Lift, and Matin

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Monday, January 15, 2024
Weather, LOS, Solid rocket booster, Collection, Endeavour, Exposition Park, Spacecraft, NASA, Air force, Natural History Museum, Science, Space Shuttle external tank, Engineering, Interior design

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Science Center reached another major milestone on Saturday January 13 toward its future display of space shuttle Endeavour in ready-to-launch configuration with the completed mating of the massive External Tank, ET-94, to the Solid Rocket Boosters. Beginning Thursday January 11 around 8 pm and officially wrapping at 11:05 am on Saturday, work lasted approximately 26 hours to complete the lift and mating, not including pauses for optimal weather and to give crews a chance to rest during the day on Friday. The largest component of the stack, ET-94 weighs 65,000 lbs., stands 154 feet top-to-bottom, has a diameter of 27.5 feet, and is the last remaining flight-qualified External Tank in existence. These enormous, orange-colored External Tanks carried the propellants for the Orbiters during launch. They were also the only component of a space shuttle system that were not reused.

Key Points: 
  • ET-94's installation is the penultimate phase in the unprecedented Go for Stack process to create the world's only authentic, ready-to-launch space shuttle system display.
  • When fully installed, the space shuttle stack will tower 200-feet tall and include the Orbiter Endeavour, two Solid Rocket Boosters, and ET-94.
  • Construction of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which began in 2022, will then continue around the 20-story display.
  • The final step is the intricate mating of the Orbiter with the rest of the space shuttle stack.

California Science Center Reaches Major Milestone and Completes Solid Rocket Boosters as Part of Ambitious Go for Stack Configuration

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Wednesday, December 6, 2023
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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Science Center reached a major milestone toward its future display of Space Shuttle Endeavour in ready-to-launch configuration with the completed installation of the massive display's two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs). With the Forward Assemblies installed this week to top off the SRBs, the finished Boosters are the latest achievement in the Science Center's ambitious Go for Stack operation — the unprecedented, multi-phase process of constructing the world's only complete, authentic space shuttle system display. Each SRB is made up of three main components: An Aft Skirt, which forms the base of the 149-foot-tall SRB; the Solid Rocket Motor, which makes up the largest part of the SRB; and the Forward Assembly, the cone-shaped top of the SRB.

Key Points: 
  • LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Science Center reached a major milestone toward its future display of Space Shuttle Endeavour in ready-to-launch configuration with the completed installation of the massive display's two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs).
  • When fully installed, California Science Center's space shuttle stack will tower 200-feet tall and include the orbiter Endeavour, the two Solid Rocket Boosters, and ET-94, the last remaining flight-qualified External Tank.
  • The exhibit will be the star attraction in the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a major expansion to the Science Center, which will be completed around the full shuttle stack.
  • The roughly six-month Go for Stack process began in July with the installation of the Solid Rocket Booster Aft Skirts.

California Science Center Completes Installation of Two Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motors for Upcoming Go for Stack Configuration

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Thursday, November 9, 2023
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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, two 116-foot long Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs), each weighing over 100,000 lbs., were securely lifted by crane and stacked in their final vertical position at the California Science Center. The placement is the latest achievement in Go for Stack, the complex, multi-phase process of moving and lifting each of the components into place for the world's only authentic, "ready-to-launch" space shuttle system.

Key Points: 
  • The California Science Center team then mated the SRMs to the previously installed Aft Skirts using 177 2-inch long pins for each motor.
  • The SRMs arrived less than a month ago, after a journey from the Mojave Air and Space Port, and were the final elements of the space shuttle system to arrive at the California Science Center.
  • The space shuttle stack will include the orbiter Endeavour, two Solid Rocket Boosters, and an External Tank.
  • The roughly six-month Go for Stack process began in July with the installation of the Solid Rocket Booster Aft Skirts.

California Science Center to Continue the Next Phase of Go for Stack with the Arrival of the Solid Rocket Motors on October 11, 2023

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Thursday, October 5, 2023
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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 11, 2023, exactly eleven years after Space Shuttle Endeavour made its 12-mile journey across the streets of Los Angeles and Inglewood, the California Science Center invites the public to come out and watch the arrival of two large Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs), the next phase of Go for Stack – the complex, multi-phase process of moving and lifting each of the space shuttle components into place for Endeavour's upcoming awe-inspiring 20-story vertical display. The SRMs, donated by Northrop Grumman, have been stored at the Mojave Air and Space Port, and are the final elements of the space shuttle system to arrive at the California Science Center. The components that will make up the world's only authentic, "ready-to-launch" space shuttle stack include the orbiter Endeavour, two Solid Rocket Boosters, and External Tank.

Key Points: 
  • The components that will make up the world's only authentic, "ready-to-launch" space shuttle stack include the orbiter Endeavour, two Solid Rocket Boosters, and External Tank.
  • The SRMs will be transported by freeway until the last leg of their journey to the California Science Center.
  • The California Science Center will open an hour early at 9:00 a.m. on October 11th as part of a Solid Rocket Motor Arrival Celebration.
  • Next the Solid Rocket Motors and forward assemblies will be stacked to form the Solid Rocket Boosters.

California Science Center Completes the First Milestone in Lifting Space Shuttle Endeavour into Vertical Launch Position

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Thursday, July 20, 2023
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LOS ANGELES, July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on Space Exploration Day, the California Science Center began Go for Stack, the complex process of moving and lifting each space shuttle component into place for Endeavour's upcoming, awe-inspiring, 20-story vertical display. The installation of two Aft Skirts was the first step in the six-month process of creating the world's only authentic, "ready-to-launch" space shuttle stack in the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, complete with the Orbiter Endeavour, Solid Rocket Boosters, and External Tank.

Key Points: 
  • They flew on a combined 15 space shuttle missions dating back to STS-3, the third mission, in 1982.
  • This momentous feat moves us one giant step closer to completing the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center: a major expansion of the California Science Center.
  • Go for Stack will conclude with Endeavour's lift into the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center and mating with the rest of the space shuttle stack.
  • With an impressive artifact collection integrated with hands-on exhibits, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will double the Science Center's educational exhibit space.

Sidus Space Partners with Lulav Space to Offer Solution for Guidance Navigation and Control on Lunar Missions

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Tuesday, May 2, 2023
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"Lulav’s engineers played an integral role in the Beresheet 1 mission, the first private Lunar lander mission, launched in 2019.

Key Points: 
  • "Lulav’s engineers played an integral role in the Beresheet 1 mission, the first private Lunar lander mission, launched in 2019.
  • We look forward to capitalizing on this agreement to bring their next-generation GN&C solutions to the US market," said Carol Craig, Sidus Space Founder and CEO.
  • “Our highly validated, robust lunar GN&C suite, which our team gained from the first private lunar flight in 2019, the Beresheet 1, represents a game changer for all lunar missions,” said Noam Leiter, CEO at Lulav Space.
  • Additionally, Sidus plans to provide lunar communications capability using our LizzieSat satellite bus and lunar mission operations as a service in the future.

X-Bow Systems Announces Opening of New Luling, Texas Campus

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 24, 2023
City, Workforce, Growth, Solid rocket booster, SRM, Canadarm, KTM X-Bow, BAE Systems Inc., X-bow, Hunting

LULING, Texas, Feb. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- X-Bow Systems Inc. (X-Bow), a new non-traditional small business defense supplier of solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, announced today the official opening of its new 21st century commercial Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) manufacturing campus in Luling, Texas, just south of Austin. The expansion brings dozens of jobs to the area, with potential to significantly increase over the coming years.

Key Points: 
  • X-Bow is converting and revitalizing a section of the former Caldwell County Carter Memorial Airport that was decommissioned last year.
  • "Our new Texas campus will enable X-Bow to compete as a reliable, innovative, economical source for solid rocket motors as we expand our capacity to build, manufacture, test and fly."
  • We look forward to seeing what the future holds in the aerospace industry for X-Bow Systems, Luling, Caldwell County and the whole State of Texas."
  • X-Bow's entry into the industry, including its new campus in Texas, represents a welcomed change to the uncompetitive and diminished domestic supplier base for solid rocket motors.

X-Bow Systems to Deliver World's First Rocket Factory In-A-Box to US Air Force Research Laboratory

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Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Department, United States Air Force, Science, Edwards Air Force Base, Program, Research, AFRL, Ministry of Education (Malaysia), Workforce, Goal, Air Force Research Laboratory, Atmosphere, Pathfinder, BAE Systems Inc., Automation, SRM, Solid rocket booster, Technology, United States Department of the Air Force, CA, Air force, Canadarm, Method, Synthetic rubber, Transport, Communications satellite

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- X-Bow Systems Inc. (X-Bow), a new non-traditional small business supplier of Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, announced today that its Pathfinder I, a mobile energetics factory demonstration unit (aka Rocket Factory In-A-Box) will be delivered this month to the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Edwards, California. Pathfinder I is part of X-Bow's groundbreaking, low-cost additive manufacturing approach to solid rocket motors, developed in conjunction with, and as part of, AFRL's Eternal Quiver Program.

Key Points: 
  • X-Bow's Rocket Factory In-a-Box (RFIB) Pathfinder I is an inert demonstration unit of a mobile, containerized Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) "factory" that combines innovative design, automation, and additive manufacturing techniques.
  • X-Bow's design and modular manufacturing techniques, together with state-of-the-art automation and digital engineering, enable affordable rocket propulsion anytime, anywhere.
  • "I look forward to our continued collaboration with X-Bow Systems and witnessing their technology change and modernize how we manufacture solid rocket motors.
  • For more information visit www.xbowsystems.com
    The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force.

Fairbanks Morse Defense Acquires Welin Lambie Ltd.

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021
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Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), has acquired Welin Lambie Ltd. (Welin Lambie), a U.K.-based leading designer and manufacturer of davits used specifically for the launch and recovery of all types of craft from ships or shore-based installations.

Key Points: 
  • Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), has acquired Welin Lambie Ltd. (Welin Lambie), a U.K.-based leading designer and manufacturer of davits used specifically for the launch and recovery of all types of craft from ships or shore-based installations.
  • Our acquisition of Welin Lambie brings Fairbanks Morse Defense one step closer to becoming a full-service provider for our core marine customers so we can better support their mission-critical operations .
  • Welin Lambie has established strong marine defense customer relationships because of our ability to seamlessly adapt to changing regulations and requirements, Welin Lambie Managing Director Norman Rose said.
  • Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) is a leading provider of high value equipment for naval defense customers.