Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE:GY) company, announced that its engines contributed to Space Shuttle Endeavour’s (STS-130) on-orbit operations and docking to the International Space Station (ISS). Endeavour lifted off on Feb. 8 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and docked with the ISS this morning.
On this 13-day mission, the STS-130 crew plans to make three space walks; one of which will be to deliver and install the Tranquility module, thereby increasing the interior space of the ISS.
Aerojet’s Orbital Maneuvering Engines, 38 primary and six Vernier thrusters on each Orbiter as well as gas generators supporting the Auxiliary Power Units, have flown on every shuttle mission since its launch inception in 1981. This technology is critical to the shuttle’s maneuvering abilities, the external tank separation, control of the entry vehicle and de-orbit efforts. “Aerojet is proud of its long-standing partnership with NASA and we look forward to that continued relationship throughout the rest of the shuttle missions,” said Aerojet’s Vice President of Space Systems, Julie Van Kleeck.
STS-130 is the shuttle’s 130th flight and Endeavour’s 24th flight. This is the 32nd shuttle flight to the ISS.
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/.
