Aerojet engines
contributed to the successful launch of a Boeing Delta II vehicle Saturday
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The payload on the Delta II was a
Lockheed Martin NAVSTAR Global Positioning System military navigation
satellite, GPS IIR-13.
Not only did Aerojet provide the second stage liquid engine and third
stage control thruster on the launch vehicle; the company’s 16 monopropellant
thrusters also provided thrust for attitude and orbit control on the GPS
satellite. Aerojet has produced the thrusters for every GPS block to date, and
is currently making propulsion systems for Boeing’s GPS IIF, a next generation
system. The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978, with thruster
development beginning at Aerojet’s Redmond Operation in 1975.
Aerojet, a GenCorp Company, is a world-recognized aerospace and
defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, and
defense and armaments markets. GenCorp is a technology-based manufacturer with
positions in the aerospace and defense and real estate industries. 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 .
