Charlotte company had hand in building NASA's Orion spacecraft

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Bill Ingalls | NASA

The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket with NASA’s Orion spacecraft mounted atop, lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37 at 7:05 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, in Florida.

Jen Wilson

Associate Editor/Online- Charlotte Business Journal

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The Orion spacecraft that completed its exploration flight test from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Friday carried with it work done by a Charlotte firm.

UTC Aerospace Systems, the company formed when United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) acquired locally based Goodrich Corp. in 2012, provided a range of control systems, including active thermal control, pressure control, power control and switching hardware for the spacecraft.

"We are honored to partner with Lockheed Martin and United Launch Alliance in this important milestone for NASA," said Allen Flynt, general manager for human exploration and launch vehicles for UTC Aerospace, in a news release. "Orion is the vehicle for the next generation of space exploration, and our employees are helping to make that a reality."

Flynt noted that results from today's flight test will shape the development of the crewed version of the Orion spacecraft, which UTC Aerospace employees are already working on.

The Orion multipurpose crew vehicle, expected to eventually take humans farther into space than any other craft to date, will be capable of low-earth orbit and lunar or deep-space missions.

UTC Aerospace also provided components for the Delta IV launch vehicle that put the Orion capsule into orbit.

Based in Hartford, Conn., United Technologies provides high-tech products and services to the building and aerospace industries. Its Charlotte-based UTC Aerospace subsidiary designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries.

Jen Wilson coordinates the Charlotte Business Journal's online operations and social-media efforts, chronicles local events for CBJ Seen and takes photographs.