The future of space requires advanced manufacturing and high-rate production today. That is what the Gateway Center delivers.
Our Gateway Center is built with maximum flexibility for rapid production, integration and testing all in a highly-configurable space. Through these doors, we can build any size satellite and accommodate multiple classification levels. Over the past five years, we've invested more than a billion dollars in strengthening innovation, infrastructure and partnerships for our customers and will continue to transform our business operations for speed and agility.
The Gateway Center was built for the future of space. Through our transformation, we have the essential capabilities to produce all sizes of satellites in one facility — faster than ever before. We can serve a variety of mission needs, with the quality we have always delivered.
Kevin Ettwein, Vice President of Operations, Lockheed Martin
The high bay is a Class 100k clean room, capable of processing five modernized A2100 satellites or multiple small- to medium-sized satellites at one time. Satellites can move easily from the high bay to the nearby thermal vacuum chamber and anechoic chamber, facilitating a one hour move time versus a two-day operation.
Once the Gateway Center is complete, Lockheed Martin will have a total of 3.5 million square feet of production, engineering, test and office space, making our Denver-based facility one of the largest satellite and space manufacturing centers in the world.
Beyond the streamlined facility layout and self-contained test chambers, enterprise planning tools will be implemented to make every operation and process efficient, mistake-proof and paperless. The integration of these tools will enable on-time parts and components to streamline our assembly process.
Digital features include bluetooth tools that self-check and directly link and record data into the work instruction. We will automate the test process which reduces procedure development time by 30 percent and test execution time by 15 percent. Automation processes can be used on mobile devices, enabling total access to all data, procedures and drawings at the touch of a finger. The Gateway Center will also house pick-and-place robots that will deliver parts directly to technicians.
Through 3D printing, virtual reality design and improved commonality of components, our goal is to deliver satellites that are dramatically more powerful and flexible at a fraction of the cost and delivery time for our customers.