Aerojet Rocketdyne, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, played a critical role in successfully placing the third of five planned Mobile User Objective System (MUOS-3) satellites, designed and built by Lockheed Martin, into orbit for the U.S. Navy. The mission was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, with five Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ60 solid rocket boosters (SRB), an RL10C-1 upper-stage engine and multiple spacecraft attitude control thrusters.
“Being part of the means that delivers MUOS’ state-of-the-art communications capabilities, allowing warfighters to connect from virtually any location around the world, is very satisfying,” said Steve Bouley, vice president of Space Launch Systems at Aerojet Rocketdyne. “It also speaks to the passion, dedication and commitment of every one of our employees involved in producing our unique products.”
MUOS-3 is part of a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system designed to provide mobile U.S. forces with reliable and secure global communications, including simultaneous, high-speed voice and data capabilities. Once complete, MUOS will replace the UHF Follow-On (UFO) satellites currently used by the U.S. Navy, providing up to 16 more times the capacity of the legacy system. The Navy’s Program Executive Office for Space Systems and its Communications Satellite Program Office are responsible for the MUOS program. MUOS uses 12 MR-103G 0.2 lbf and six MR-106L 5.0 lbf Aerojet Rocketdyne monopropellant hydrazine thrusters for attitude control aboard the spacecraft.
The five AJ60 SRBs were ignited at lift off, increasing the launch thrust of the Atlas V rocket by more than 1.9 million pounds. All Atlas V launches requiring extra boost performance have flown Aerojet Rocketdyne-produced SRBs. These motors have demonstrated a 100 percent success record in flight since the first Atlas V launch with SRBs on July 17, 2003.
A single RL10C-1 engine delivers 22,890 pounds of thrust to power the Atlas V upper-stage, burning cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants. In addition to the five SRBs and upper-stage engine, 12 Aerojet Rocketdyne monopropellant (hydrazine) thrusters in four modules on the Atlas V Centaur upper stage provided roll, pitch and yaw control as well as settling burns for the upper stage main engine. ARDÉ, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne based in New Jersey, provides the pressure vessels on the first and second stages on the launch vehicle.
Aerojet Rocketdyne is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader providing propulsion and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, tactical systems and armaments areas, in support of domestic and international markets. GenCorp is a diversified company that provides innovative solutions that create value for its customers in the aerospace and defense, and real estate markets. Additional information about Aerojet Rocketdyne and GenCorp can be obtained by visiting the companies’ websites at www.Rocket.com and www.GenCorp.com.
