Aerojet, a GenCorp company, announced its key role in today’s successful launch of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket carrying the Intelsat-14 commercial communications satellite. The launch services by ULA were performed on behalf of Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services.
Aerojet provided three solid rocket boosters for the launch vehicle, eight retro rockets for the Atlas Centaur separation from the launch vehicle, 12 reaction control thrusters for the Centaur stage as well as the 100-lbf bipropellant apogee engine that will boost the Intelsat-14 satellite to its final geosynchronous orbit.
Three solid propulsion strap-on boosters provided increased thrust for the launch. The three boosters ignited at lift-off with the first stage main engine and provided more than 1.1 million pounds of maximum thrust for the launch vehicle. Just over two minutes later, the spent motors were then jettisoned from the rocket as it continued its ascent.
Aerojet manufactured the Atlas V Solid Rocket Boosters at its Sacramento, Calif. facility. All Atlas V launches requiring extra boost performance have flown Aerojet-produced solid rocket motors. These motors have a proven 100 percent mission success record in flight, having flown 10 missions with vehicle configurations ranging from one to five SRBs.
Eight Aerojet retro rockets assisted with the Atlas Centaur separation from the launch vehicle. The retro rockets were designed and developed by Aerojet in Gainesville, Va. and manufactured in Camden, Ark.
In addition, 12 Aerojet monopropellant (hydrazine) thrusters on the Atlas V Centaur upper stage provided roll, pitch and yaw control as well as settling burns for the upper stage main engine. Aerojet also provided the Intelsat-14 spacecraft with a 100-lbf bipropellant apogee engine. Aerojet’s Redmond, Wash. team designed, developed and manufactured the reaction control thrusters as well as the apogee engine for the successful Atlas V launch.
“Aerojet is very proud of our continued contribution to the outstanding mission success track record of the Atlas program,” said Aerojet’s Vice President of Space Systems, Julie Van Kleeck. “Aerojet has supplied flight-critical hardware to the Atlas program for more than 20 years with 100 percent mission success.”
Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, defense and armaments markets. GenCorp is a leading technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems with a real estate 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.
