ATK promises Liberty flights into space by 2016
updated 11:59 am EDT, Thu May 10, 2012
ATK to offer seats on Liberty system space flights in 2016
Aerospace, defense, and sporting gear and systems giant Alliant Techsystem (ATK) this week announced that it will begin testing flights of its Liberty crew transportation system in 2014, with commercial flights starting as soon as 2016. Manned missions are scheduled to take place in 2015, with low-orbit flights to destinations like the International Space Station.
The company hopes to provide trips to NASA crew and other customers, suggesting well-heeled private sector individuals will be able to purchase one of the seven seats onboard. It's also hinted that pricing will be lower than Russia's Soyuz rocket. Virgin Galactic's spaceflights may also be undercut but ATK doesn't go on record to promise so.
ATK also announced that noted aerospace and engineering firm Lockheed Martin will support the project as a major subcontractor. [via The Verge]
