Lockheed Martin Friction Stir Weld Now Under Way on Orion Test Article

NEW ORLEANS, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has begun
its first friction stir weld process on an Orion crew module Ground Test
Article at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, La.

This ground test article will serve as a production pathfinder to validate the
flight vehicle production processes and tools. When completed, this first
full-sized, flight-like crew module will be tested on the ground in equivalent
flight-like environments, including static vibration, acoustics and water
landing loads. Results will be used to correlate sizing models for all
subsystems on the vehicle.

The initial weld joined an Aluminum-Lithium (AL) 2195 cone panel and AL 2219
longeron using an innovative friction stir welding process. This
high-strength, high quality welding process will be used for all crew module
welds. Weld operations on the test article will continue for approximately
three months. The structure will then undergo mechanical assembly,
integration and testing in New Orleans and Denver.

"Orion is applying the latest materials and manufacturing technologies, and
most efficient processes to produce the lightest weight structure possible.
We are excited about successfully achieving this production milestone on our
critical path schedule," explained Blaine Brown, Orion Crew Module Integrated
Product Team director for Lockheed Martin.

Orion weld operations take place on a Universal Weld System II (UWS II) that
includes a 22-foot diameter turntable, a self-reacting friction stir weld head
and a modular t-grid floor. The system affords virtually unlimited five-axis
welding on fixture-mounted hardware.

The UWS II is part of the National Center for Advanced Manufacturing, managed
by the University of New Orleans Foundation in partnership with NASA and the
State of Louisiana.

Derek Townsend, Orion Crew Module senior manager noted, "The Orion team is
excited to build NASA's next generation spacecraft. This is the beginning of
a new era in human space flight and America's space program."

To see high- and low-resolution photos of the Orion weld, click on
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ssc/michoud/MichoudImages/orioncrewmodule.html

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for the Orion crew exploration
vehicle, which is scheduled to make its first crewed flight in 2015. Orion
will be a complex, state-of-the-art spacecraft with more capability,
flexibility and adaptability than any previous human space flight vehicle.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company
that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of
advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported
2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

Media Contacts: Marion LaNasa, 504-257-1307, 504-220-2072 or
marion.a.lanasa@lmco.com
or Linda Singleton, 281-283-4219, 832-526-8089 or linda.singleton@lmco.com

For additional information, visit our website
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/orion

RN2009-005

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Marion LaNasa, +1-504-257-1307, +1-504-220-2072, marion.a.lanasa@lmco.com, or
Linda Singleton, +1-281-283-4219, +1-832-526-8089, linda.singleton@lmco.com,
both of Lockheed Martin