Aerojet, a GenCorp
Inc. company, provided essential lifting power to place the NASA
spacecraft “Deep Impact” in orbit on Wednesday, Jan. 12, and the company’s
propulsion systems will support every phase of this unique mission. Aerojet’s
large second stage liquid engine and its third stage control thruster on the
Delta II launch vehicle aided in the launch of Deep Impact on its Discovery
Mission to study the Comet Tempel 1.
Launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., the “Deep Impact”
spacecraft will perform fly-by maneuvers of Tempel 1 after releasing an
“impactor” to collide with the comet and study the collision outcome. Small
Aerojet thrusters will provide spacecraft adjustment during cruise, and guide
the impactor into the comet’s path after separation from the spacecraft. Those
thrusters will also position the fly-by spacecraft as it observes and records
the impact, including characteristics of the ejected material blasted from the
crater and the structure of the crater’s interior.
“Deep Impact” is the eighth of 10 NASA Discovery Missions. The Discovery
Missions aim to achieve ground-breaking science within strict cost and
schedule limitations. Aerojet has provided propulsion for every Discovery
Mission launched to date.
Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally
serving the missile and space propulsion, and defense and armaments markets.
GenCorp is a leading technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense
products and systems with a real estate business segment that includes
activities related to the development, sale and leasing of the Company’s 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.
