In Phase I, TRW will demonstrate development of manufacturing infrastructures, design features, and manufacturing technology for the establishment of a flexible space vehicle assembly line. In the follow-on phase the company will demonstrate the technology by building spacecraft using the lower-cost manufacturing process. "Our goal for this program is to reduce costs and cycle time by up to 50 percent for both constellation and specialty spacecraft," said Allan Frew, TRW vice-president and General Manager of the company’s Space and Technology Division. The project agreement is part of the Air Force’s Manufacturing Technology for Affordable Space Systems (MASS) program. The program is designed to help industry develop low cost manufacturing techniques for the construction of future spacecraft in the next century.

TRW said it plans to incorporate the results of the Air Force work into their own Space Vehicle Production Facility in Redondo Beach. A second AFRL agreement will focus on reductions in cost, size and weight of spacecraft radio frequency communications electronics. The company and the AFRL have worked on similar initiatives as part of the F-22 fighter program.