Lockheed Martin, an American global defense, aerospace, security & advanced technology company has invested $350 million in a facility that is anticipated to build next-generation satellites. The site is located near Denver, on the company’s Waterson Canyon Campus, which aims at reducing cost and turnaround time for the upcoming innovations. The Gateway Center is estimated to be completed by 2020, including a state-of-art clean room that would build a range of satellite – macros and micros both.
The facility provides a digitally-enabled, paperless production environment incorporating high-paced test potentials and reconfigurable production lines. Besides these, it is supposed to include a thermal vacuum chamber to invigorate harsh space environment and an advanced analysis and operation center.
Company Aims to Provide Technological Advancement Along With Employment
The company expects to employ around 1500 contractors during their construction phase. It had also employed a workforce of 750 people in its Colorado workspace since 2014, including about 350 current job openings in Denver. As said by the company’s executive vice president, Rick Ambrose that this space is a ‘factory of future’ which would be highly agile, efficient, and full of innovations.
The vision is to build a satellites that could explore other planets, interact with front-line troops and contribute in the unique missions for the advancement of the technology. It is worth noting that Lockheed Martin has been a platform for space innovations since 1950s comprising of more than 4000 employees and huge range of technological advancements and innovations.