Spaceflight

US rocket motor manufacturer Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has been selected by NASA to develop the first stage of the Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV), which is to put the agency’s Crew Exploration Vehicle into orbit. The CLV will use a solid rocket first stage, based on the Space Shuttle’s solid rocket boosters (SRB). ATK provides the SRB’s motor and is the only company in the world that makes solid rocket motors that big. The CLV will have a second stage powered by a Space Shuttle main engine.