Lockheed Martin packing up for Jupiter

By Ann Schrader, The Denver Post

Lockheed Martin employees are in the midst of assembling the Juno spacecraft in south Jefferson County, equipping it with "armor" to withstand the radiation rigors of Jupiter.

Juno is scheduled to be launched by Centennial- based United Launch Alliance in August 2011. It will begin a year-long mission of exploring Jupiter's origin and evolution in 2016.

The first of eight instruments was installed this month, along with a centimeter-thick titanium "vault" the size of an SUV trunk that will shield the electronics hub.

Lockheed designed and is building the spacecraft, vault, avionics and solar arrays, said Tim Gasparrini, Lockheed's Juno program manager. About 300 Lockheed employees worked on the project at its peak.