Lockheed Commercial Launch Unit Sees Potential in Hosted Payloads

摘要

The U.S. Defense Department's need for commercial satellite communications services - and its willingness to explore innovative partnerships with satellite operators - is creating a new opportunity for commercial launches of Lockheed Martin's Atlas 5 rocket, which is used primarily to loft U.S. government payloads, according to a company official. David Markham, president of Denver-based Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services, which markets the Atlas 5 to commercial customers, says the Pentagon's interest in so-called hosted payloads aboard commercial satellites could drive business to his company. The Pentagon, he said, might insist that commercial satellites with U.S. military payloads on board be launched aboard U.S. rockets like the Atlas 5.