Lockheed Martin HST teams receive NASA honors (Forwarded)

Lockheed Martin

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Buddy Nelson, (510) 797-0349

July 25, 2005

LOCKHEED MARTIN HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE TEAMS RECEIVE NASA HONORS

GREENBELT, MD -- In a ceremony at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] employees and
teams engaged in operating and servicing the Hubble Space Telescope
(HST) have been recognized for their work with Goddard Awards of Excellence.

"We have found that working on the Hubble Space Telescope is more than
just a job. It is a passion," said James Crocker, vice president, Civil
Space, at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "We are very proud of
our individuals and teams honored here today, but not surprised by their
outstanding work because of the excellence that Hubble inspires."

James Simrall of Lockheed Martin Technical Operations was presented a
Customer Service Excellence Award for leading the effort to upgrade and
enhance HSTNet -- the computer network that serves the Hubble project --
into a state-of-the-art computer communications backbone network that
supports hundreds of HST Project users. The network has significantly
improved electronic communications for the HST Project and provides
exceptional communications between all program elements at GSFC and
other sites.

The enhanced network also features the latest technology with routing,
switching and security features. Additionally, it includes redundancy
elements that provide the reliability essential for an operational
network. HSTNet is now a model for other network initiatives underway at
GSFC and contractor facilities.

The HST Robotic Servicing and De-orbit Mission (HRSDM) Operations
Development Team received an Outstanding Teamwork Award that recognizes
their outstanding contributions to the HST Robotic Servicing/De-orbit
Mission and the success of the System Requirements Review (SRR) and the
Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Lockheed Martin members of the HRSDM
team include employees from Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
(LMSSC), Lockheed Martin Technical Operations (LMTO), Lockheed Martin
Integrated Systems & Solutions (IS&S) and Lockheed Martin Space
Operations (LMSO).

As alternatives were being considered for servicing Hubble, the HRSDM
Operations Development Team pioneered the development of robotic
servicing operations concepts. For the first time, robotic servicing
technologies and autonomous rendezvous and capture technologies were
applied to the servicing of a space observatory. The team utilized
experience from previous HST shuttle-based servicing missions and
developed new tools and techniques to satisfy the HRSDM mission
requirements. The Operations Development Team also developed the
concepts and produced operations documentation for the SRR and PDR,
including the HRSDM Operations Concept Document (OCD).

As the proper mode for servicing Hubble was being decided, it was
important to extend the time during which important science could be
accomplished by the telescope. Because of their outstanding commitment
to the successful development, testing and flight implementation of the
HST Two-Gyro Science Mode, the HST Two-Gyro Science Mode Development
Team has been recognized with an Outstanding Teamwork Award. Previous to
this development effort, science gathering on Hubble required that at
least three of the telescope’s six gyros be operational.

The Two-Gyro Science mode provides the pointing control needed for
Hubble's mission to investigate the universe, make scientific
discoveries and educate the public, and will enable the telescope to
remain scientifically productive longer than it otherwise might have.
The innovative operations capability the team developed also protects
the spacecraft by maintaining safe modes in case of failures. The entire
process was accomplished without impact to on-going operations or to the
robotic servicing development effort. The Two-Gyro Science mode was
developed, tested and implemented in 22 months, on schedule and well
within budget. Most significantly, the new mode’s performance has
significantly exceeded expectations.

Lockheed Martin members of the HST Two-Gyro Science Mode Development
Team include individuals from LMSSC, LMTO, and LMSO.

The Hubble telescope, designed and built at the Lockheed Martin Space
Systems Sunnyvale, Calif. facility, was launched in 1990 and has
revolutionized astronomy with its thousands of discoveries, while
opening up the universe to the public through its beautiful and
inspiring pictures. During its 15 years in orbit, the telescope has
taken more than 700,000 snapshots of celestial objects such as galaxies,
dying stars, and giant gas clouds, the birthplace of stars. Astronomers
are looking forward to more great discoveries by Hubble.

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. manages the HST
project for NASA. Since the 1990 launch, under contract to NASA,
Lockheed Martin Space Systems and team members LMTO, LMSO, IS&S, Jackson
and Tull, Orbital Sciences Corporation, and Honeywell Technology
Solutions, Inc. have helped manage the day-to-day spacecraft operations
of the telescope, and have provided extensive preparation and training
for telescope servicing missions. The Space Telescope Science Institute
in Baltimore, MD selects observing programs from numerous proposals and
analyzes, archives, and disseminates incoming astronomical data.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems,
products and services. The corporation reported 2004 sales of $35.5 billion.