Lockheed Martin
Author: Tianjiang Shuo
Source: Lockheed Martin Official Website and public sources
Site: https://cislunarspace.cn
Company Overview
Lockheed Martin Corporation is one of the world's largest defense contractors, formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation (founded in 1912) and Martin Marietta Corporation (founded in 1913), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. The company's business covers five major areas: aviation, aerospace, missiles, fire control, and rotary-wing aircraft. Lockheed Martin holds a core position in NASA's and the U.S. Space Force's supplier systems. In January 2025, China's Ministry of Commerce added Lockheed Martin Corporation and several of its subsidiaries to its export control list, prohibiting the export of dual-use items to these entities.
Space and Cislunar-Related Business
Gateway Project
Lockheed Martin is one of the primary contractors for NASA's Artemis program Lunar Gateway:
- Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO): Leveraging its Orion spacecraft design experience, Lockheed Martin developed the HALO module for the Gateway — the first habitation segment of the Lunar Gateway, providing docking, communications, and life support support for deep space missions.
- Power and Propulsion Element (PPE): The Gateway's Solar Electric Propulsion system (PPE) is led by Maxar, with Lockheed Martin participating in systems integration.
DRACO Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Project
Lockheed Martin is a key contractor for the DARPA/NASA jointly led DRACO (Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations) nuclear thermal propulsion project:
- Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP): DRACO aims to develop a thermal rocket engine based on a nuclear fission reactor, with a target specific impulse (Isp) of approximately 900 seconds — roughly twice that of chemical propulsion — significantly reducing flight time for cislunar transfer and deep space exploration missions.
- 2027 Flight Demonstration: Planned to complete the first flight verification of nuclear thermal propulsion technology in cislunar space in 2027, which would be the first nuclear thermal rocket engine to fly in cislunar space.
Orion Crew Spacecraft
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for NASA's Orion crew spacecraft:
- Deep Space Flight Capability: The Orion spacecraft is the only vehicle in the Artemis program capable of crewed flight and return in cislunar space, having completed the Artemis I uncrewed lunar orbit mission and preparing for the Artemis II crewed lunar orbit mission.
- Cislunar Round Trip: The Orion's service module (ESM) uses Aerojet Rocketdyne engines to execute translunar injection and orbital insertion.
Other Space Business
- GPS Satellites: Lockheed Martin is the primary manufacturer of third-generation GPS satellites (GPS III), supporting the operation of the global positioning system.
- U.S. Space Force Satellites: Provides military communications satellites (MUOS) and early warning satellites (SBIRS/Next Gen OPIR) for the Space Force.
Major Products and Technologies
| Product/Technology | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Orion Spacecraft | Crewed Spacecraft | Artemis crewed lunar orbit and landing missions |
| HALO Module | Gateway Segment | Lunar Gateway Habitation and Logistics Outpost |
| DRACO NTP | Nuclear Thermal Propulsion | Cislunar nuclear thermal rocket flight demonstration (target 2027) |
| GPS III Satellite | Navigation Satellite | Third-generation GPS satellite with enhanced anti-jamming capability |
| MUOS Satellite | Military Communications | Mobile User Objective System satellite communications |
Connection to Cislunar Space Missions
Lockheed Martin is one of the most central contractors in the cislunar space mission architecture:
- Crewed Cislunar Round Trip: Orion is currently the only spacecraft capable of crewed flight and return in cislunar space.
- Gateway Infrastructure: The HALO module is a core node for the Gateway's commercial and international cooperation.
- Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Technology: If the DRACO project succeeds, it will fundamentally change transportation efficiency in cislunar space, reducing cislunar transfer time from several days to under one day.
- Navigation Infrastructure: Improved accuracy of GPS III satellites will enhance positioning capabilities in cislunar space.
Related Terms
- Nuclear Thermal Propulsion: /en/glossary/other/nuclear-thermal-propulsion/
- Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit: /en/glossary/orbits/nrho/
- Artemis Program: /en/research-frontiers/directions/security-governance/orbital-game/artemis/
References
- Lockheed Martin Official Website: https://www.lockheedmartin.com
- NASA Artemis, "Gateway HALO contract", 2021.
- DARPA, "DRACO program overview", 2023.
- China's Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 1, January 2, 2025.