Lockheed Martin to Invest $350Mln in Satellite Factory

According to US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, a full range of satellites, from micro-size to giant orbs, will be produced in a next-generation factory.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – A full range of satellites, from micro-size to giant orbs, will be produced in a next-generation factory that is slated to open in 2020, the US defense contractor Lockheed Martin disclosed in a press release on Wednesday.

"The facility's paperless, digitally-enabled production environment incorporates rapidly reconfigurable production lines and advanced test capability," the release said.

Lockheed Martin explained the facility will cost $350 million and will include an expansive thermal vacuum chamber to simulate the harsh environment of space, an anechoic (echo-free) chamber to test sensors and communications systems as well as an advanced test operations and analysis center.

Companies selected by Lockheed Martin for the project include Hensel Phelps as the general contractor, Matrix PDM Engineering and Dynavac for the thermal vacuum chamber and ETS-Lindgren for anechoic chamber, the release said.