US-based Lockheed Martin (www.lockheedmartin.co.uk) has begun building a new $350 million facility on its Waterton Canyon campus near Denver.

The 266,000ft² facility — named the Gateway Center — will begin producing next-generation satellites as soon as 2020. The campus is one of the largest space technology centres in the USA.

Once the Gateway Center is completed, the campus will have more than 3.5 million ft² dedicated to research, engineering and testing — plus office space.

It will also have a ‘state of the art’ high-bay clean room, where workers can build both large and small satellites simultaneously, plus reconfigurable production lines and an advanced test capability.

An expansive thermal vacuum chamber will simulate space for testing satellites, and an anechoic chamber will be used to test sensors and communications systems.

Rick Ambrose, executive vice-president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, said: “This is our factory of the future — agile, efficient and packed with innovations.

We’ll be able to build satellites that communicate with front-line troops, explore other planets, and support unique missions.

"You could fit the Space Shuttle in the high bay, with room to spare. That kind of size and versatility means we will be able to maximise economies of scale; and with all of our test chambers under one roof, we can streamline and speed up production.”