The 28-foot-long, 4,400-pound fuel tank was loaded aboard the NASA "Super Guppy" cargo aircraft at Moffett Federal Airfield in Sunnyvale, Calif., for transport to Huntsville. Following pressure and load testing there, the tank will be shipped to Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, Calif., for installation into the X-33.

The composite components for the tank were fabricated in Clearfield, Utah, and then transported to Lockheed Martin's plant in Sunnyvale for bonding and assembly.

Mark Messick, X-33 program manager, Alliant Aerospace Company, said the delivery of the first X-33 composite fuel tank is a major step forward in an important NASA/industry partnership that could revolutionize space transportation.

"Our X-33 team is pleased to celebrate this milestone with Lockheed Martin and NASA," said Messick. "We have made a major commitment to this program in terms of technical talent and capital investment. We are dedicated to its success by providing high-quality composite structures that will reduce vehicle weight while meeting demanding performance requirements."

Messick said the liquid hydrogen fuel tanks for the X-33 are among the most complex composite structures ever constructed.

"The X-33 tanks play a dual role, serving both as storage containers for cryogenic fuel and as the vehicle's major fuselage structure," said Messick. "They have to be extremely durable and stiff to function in their structural role while maintaining their seal as a fuel tank. The technical challenges in fabricating these structures and bonding them to form the tank have been enormous -- and without precedent in our industry."

Messick said the second fuel tank is expected to be delivered to NASA this summer.

Alliant was chosen to produce the composite fuel tanks for the X-33 vehicle in 1996 after Lockheed Martin was named the winner of the NASA X-33 Single-Stage-to-Orbit Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) competition. The X-33 is a half-scale prototype of the Lockheed Martin VentureStar(TM), America's next-generation RLV and the first major new U.S. spacecraft in 25 years.

Production of the VentureStar will begin following a series of X-33 flight tests next year from a specially built launch site at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Alliant also will build the composite fuel tanks for the VentureStar.

Paul A. Ross, senior group vice president, aerospace, said there is strong demand for high-performance, lightweight composite materials for aircraft, satellites, space launch vehicles, and weapons systems -- market segments in which Alliant is well positioned.

"Patented manufacturing techniques together with strict and uncompromising attention to quality, schedule, and low cost have made Alliant one of the world's leading manufacturers of filament-wound, hand laid-up, and fiber-placed composite structures," said Ross.

Alliant operates composite manufacturing facilities in Iuka, Miss., Clearfield, Utah, and Rocket Center, W.Va.