Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and RD AMROSS, LLC successfully powered the launch yesterday of an Atlas V rocket on a mission to deliver a commercial communications satellite into orbit. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V upper stage is powered by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne’s RL10 engine; the booster stage is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine. RD AMROSS is a joint venture formed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and NPO Energomash.
“Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is pleased to provide United Launch Alliance reliable propulsion for this 14th Atlas V launch powered by our engines,” said Graham Webb, general manager, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Florida and Mississippi operations.
“The RD AMROSS team is tremendously proud of the continuing success of the ULA Atlas V program and use of the RD-180 booster engine,” said Jerry Josef, president and CEO, RD AMROSS.
The RL10, the world’s first liquid-hydrogen-fueled rocket engine, has helped power the launch of numerous military, civil and commercial satellites into orbit and powered historic space probe missions to every planet in our solar system. Producing 22,300 pounds of thrust, the RL10 marks 45 years of service this year.
The RD-180 delivers nearly 1 million pounds of thrust, and continues to be flight proven on the Atlas III and V launch vehicles with 20 consecutive launches for 100 percent mission success. The RD-180 is the only liquid oxygen-kerosene fueled engine with an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle flying in the United States today.
RD AMROSS, LLC is a U.S. joint venture between Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and NPO Energomash of Khimky, Russia. NPO Energomash manufactures the RD-180 for RD AMROSS, and is a world leader in designing, manufacturing, testing and providing services for liquid propulsion rocket engines.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc., a part of Pratt & Whitney, is a preferred provider of high-value propulsion, power, energy and innovative system solutions used in a wide variety of government and commercial applications, including the main engines for the space shuttle, Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, missile defense systems and advanced hypersonic engines.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.
