NASA's success in narrowing the expected four-year gap in U.S. human space access will hinge on how well Lockheed Martin meets the cost goals it set to win the $8-billion Orion crew exploration vehicle (CEV) prime contract. The company will use a lot of heritage hardware to hold down expenses as it builds Orion. Details of the Lockheed Martin concept, released last week after the deadline passed for the losing Northrop Grumman/Boeing team to protest the contract award, show a ve- hicle that will use components from the space shuttle, X-33 and even Boeing's 787 Dreamliner to pick up at the Moon where Apollo 17 left off.
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