Aerojet’s Second Stage Engine Achieves Milestone With 100 Percent Mission Success
Aerojet, a GenCorp Inc. (NYSE: GY – News) company, provided the second stage engine for The Boeing Company’s Delta 2 rocket as it launched the Micro-Satellite Technology Experiment (MITEX) for the Department of Defense today from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Today’s launch was the 250th Delta launch supported by Aerojet’s reliable and versatile second stage storable liquid rocket engines with 100 percent mission success. The experimental military mission features two small satellites and a Navy-developed fourth stage headed for geosynchronous orbit. The launch occurred at 6:15 p.m. EDT.
Aerojet’s second stage liquid rocket engine owes its longevity to a robust design and the use of proven components that have evolved over the engine’s lifetime to enhance performance and meet customer requirements. The 9,800 lbs. of thrust provided by the Aerojet second stage engine propels the satellite to achieve gravitational escape velocity, placing it into the proper orbit. Aerojet’s second stage engine has also flown on Japan’s N-II launch vehicles as well as the third stage for the U.S. Air Force Titan.
“Aerojet is proud to be an important contributor in support of Boeing’s Delta Program,” said Aerojet President Scott Neish. “The continuing success of Aerojet engines has played an important role in NASA space exploration missions, Air Force GPS constellation placement and many commercial ventures. With this major milestone of 250 launches with 100 percent mission success, Aerojet continues to demonstrate its technical leadership and product reliability.”
Aerojet is currently under contract with the Boeing Company to build the second stage engine and provide launch and field support services for the U.S. Air Force, NASA and commercial satellite launch customers. The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched the MITEX for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion and armaments markets. GenCorp is a leading technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems with a real estate business segment that includes activities related to the entitlement, sale, and leasing of the Company’s excess real estate assets. Additional information about Aerojet and GenCorp can be obtained by visiting the Companies’ web sites at http://www.Aerojet.com and http://www.GenCorp.com.
