A hypersonic vehicle capable of traveling at speeds of Mach 10 and components of the next generation of spacecraft that will carry astronauts to the moon and Mars may both be born in Maryland.
The programs aretwo projects under development by Alliant Techsystems Inc., commonly known by its stock exchange symbol ATK, which will expand its presence in the state this year with the establishment of a new Space Systems Group. The new sector will be the company?s fourth group and the second headquartered in Maryland, alongside its Baltimore-based Mission Systems Group.
“In the United States, there are two states that have a particular capability in space, and that?s Maryland and California,” said Jack Cronin, president of the Mission Systems Group.
That group posts annual sales of more than $1.2 billion, with a total payroll statewide of more than $100 million, according to ATK spokeswoman Tracy Imm.
Cronin said the new Space Systems Group would be headquartered somewhere in the state and would create new jobs, though specifics have not yet been determined. The core of the group will consist of the Rockville offices of a portion of Canadian firm MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates, acquired by ATK earlier this month.
Maryland offers several advantages for ATK, which gains much of its business from government contracts and looks to local schools for high-tech employees.
Cronin said the company has several hundred job openings and would continue to grow, with expansion assured due to the high-tech employees available in the state.
“We live and die by our work force, and so we?re very pleased with the results we?ve seen here,” Cronin said. “The second part is … right in the middle of our customer base, with the proximity to Washington.”
Maryland ranked third among 25 comparison areas for high-tech growth, posting a 2.3 percent increase in that sector between 2002 and 2005, according to the Greater Baltimore Committee?s State of the Region report issued earlier this month. The GBC attributed the growth to the federal government?s presence and numerous federal laboratories.
