ATK Supports Delta II Launch of the New Joint Boeing and Lockheed Martin United Launch Alliance
Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK propulsion and composite technologies supported Saturday’s successful launch of the United Launch Alliance’s Delta II rocket carrying NASA’s Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) satellites. Five spacecraft make up the THEMIS configuration.
Nine GEM-40 solid propulsion strap-on boosters manufactured in ATK’s Salt Lake City, Utah facility provided augmented thrust for the launch. ATK’s Clearfield, Utah facility produced the composite cases for the GEM-40 boosters using an automated filament winding process developed and refined through its 40-year-heritage in composite manufacturing. Six of the boosters ignited at lift-off with the first-stage main engine and provided over 850,000 pound maximum thrust for the launch vehicle.
Just over one minute later, the remaining three boosters ignited to provide an additional 450,000 pound maximum thrust. The spent motors were jettisoned from the rocket as it continued its ascent. Following burnout and separation of the GEM-40 boosters and the rocket’s liquid second stage, an ATK-produced STAR(TM) 48B third-stage rocket motor completed payload separation approximately 58 minutes into flight.
The five THEMIS satellites were encapsulated by a 10 ft. diameter composite fairing manufactured by ATK in Iuka, Miss. This launch marked the seventh ATK 10 foot composite fairing flown on a Delta II mission.
ATK is a $3.4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 15,000 people in 21 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com .
