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 Chris Chadwick, chief executive of Boeing Defense, Space and
Security, said the failure of the rocket on Tuesday was a "sad and
tragic" reminder that the space business was complex and difficult,
but he did not expect a lasting setback to the overall industry.
The incident underscored growing concerns about U.S. reliance on
Soviet-era and Russian engines that power rockets used for U.S.
civilian space, military and intelligence purposes, Chadwick told
Reuters in an interview.
The Antares rocket was powered by a pair of Soviet-era NK-33 engines
that were rebuilt by Aerojet Rocketdyne, a unit of GenCorp, and
resold as AJ-26 engines. Even before the crash, Orbital had planned
to switch to another engine given the age of the motors and
uncertainty about future supplies.
U.S. lawmakers and defense officials have also raised concerns about
newer Russian-built engines used for the Atlas V rockets built by
United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed
Martin Corp, given concerns that Russia could cut off those
supplies.
"It's a wake-up call that we need to move forward, we need to move
smartly, we need to move together to protect this industry," he
said. "We need to move beyond today’s technology ... and look for
that next generation of engine that’s even more reliable, even more
capable."
U.S. authorities are investigating the explosion, which destroyed
cargo and equipment that was bound for the International Space
Station.
Orbital on Thursday said a preliminary investigation showed the
failure initiated in the first stage of the rocket, which housed the
AJ-26 engines, but it provided few additional details.
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Analysts and industry officials this week said the Antares explosion
over Virginia could accelerate U.S. efforts to develop a homegrown
rocket engine.
The Pentagon is considering its next steps in a bid backed by
congress to replace the RD-180 engines - an initiative that has
drawn great interest from Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Alliant
Techsystems Inc, which is now reviewing its plans to merge with
Orbital, as well as privately held Space Exploration Technologies,
or SpaceX.
Chadwick said he saw great promise in United Launch Alliance's
decision to partner with Blue Origin, a company founded by
entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, and leverage the smaller company's three
years of work and investment in a new rocket engine.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Ken Wills)
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