DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Aerojet Propulsion Maneuvers Second ATV Vehicle To ISS

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Aerojet Propulsion Maneuvers Second ATV Vehicle To ISS

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Aerojet

(NSI News Source Info)

SACRAMENTO, Calif.,

- February 24, 2011:

Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced today that ESA Spacecraft PR6-2011 (Johannes Kepler) - the second of five European Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV) - successfully launched aboard the European expendable launch system, Ariane 5, out of Kourou in French Guiana.

For the ATV mission, Aerojet delivered four model R-4D-11 110 lbf bipropellant rocket engines that are used to accomplish the circularization maneuvers and approach to docking with the International Space Station (ISS). When preliminary orbit was achieved, the ATV engines operated to place the spacecraft into an elliptical orbit after which a second firing was used to circularize the vehicle's orbit. Once in circular orbit, the ATV uses the model R-4D engines to provide the main propulsion and braking in its approach to the ISS. At the completion of the mission, the R-4D main engines will again be used for the de-orbit maneuver.

"Aerojet is pleased to support EADS Astrium and ESA in the ATV program," said Carl Stechman, chief bipropellant engineer and Apollo-era veteran. "The successful launch of the Johannes Kepler transfer vehicle is critical to maintaining the viability of the ISS after the space shuttle retires."

Aerojet's model R-4D 100 lbf force class bipropellant main engines are a derivative of the 32 engines flown on the Apollo lunar and service module. They are used for achieving orbit on many geosynchronous satellites and also will be used on the next-generation Orion Service Module. The four model R-4D engines were delivered to the prime contractor, EADS Astrium in Bremen, Germany, for use on the Johannes Kepler ATV.

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' websites at http://www.Aerojet.comand http://www.GenCorp.com.

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This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Aerojet

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Aerojet to Provide MK 125 Warhead for Standard Missile System

SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 4, 2010, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced that the company has been selected to provide the MK 125 warhead for Raytheon Missile Systems' family of Standard Missile programs, with deliveries beginning in 2010.
The MK 125 warhead is the lethality mechanism for the SM-2 and SM-6 missile systems. This important missile system provides the U.S. Navy's fleet long-range protection from aerial threats and ensures the ability of the fleet to safely accomplish its primary mission of force projections wherever and whenever the nation calls. The program management and manufacturing will take place at Aerojet's modern, low-cost, load assembly and pack facility in Camden, Ark.
Vice President of Tactical Programs, John Myers, said, "The competitive selection of Aerojet to provide this critical warhead is a clear indication that our efforts to cut costs have been effective, while continuing to provide high-quality and on-schedule deliveries. The MK 125 consolidates our position as Raytheon and the U. S. Navy's major energetic systems provider for the SM-2 and SM-6 missiles, complementing our MK 104 and MK 72 propulsion programs."
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.

Aerojet's Engine Powers Delta II Second Stage for DigitalGlobe's WorldView-2 Satellite Mission Launch

Aerojet ~ October 8, 2009
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY - News) company, announced that its engine helped propel today's Delta II launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California, putting the Ball Aerospace-built WorldView-2 imaging satellite into orbit. The satellite will collect and record high resolution commercial Earth imagery from space.
Under contract to the United Launch Alliance, Aerojet provides the Delta II rocket's liquid second stage engine. The United Launch Alliance supplies the Delta II launch vehicle and other mission services to Boeing Launch Services, under contract with satellite imagery company, DigitalGlobe (NYSE: DGI - News).
This same engine has supported launches of critical NASA missions such as MESSENGER, Phoenix Mars Lander, GLAST, THEMIS, STEREO, Deep Impact and the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) spacecraft as well as the USAF Global Positioning System (GPS) Block IIR fleet. This particular engine's launch history began in 1958 when Aerojet provided second stage propulsion for the Vanguard-1 mission.
"It is a privilege to be part of such a great team that provides a high reliability vehicle to both government and commercial users," said Richard Yanick, director of Delta II and Space Tank Production Programs. "This is an important mission for DigitalGlobe and we are glad to have played an important role in their venture."
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.

Aerojet Propulsion Supports Delta IV and GOES-O Launch

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY - News) company, played a key role in Saturday's successful launch of United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., carrying the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite O, or GOES-O, for NASA and NOAA. Aerojet provided reaction control thrusters for the Delta IV upper stage, as well as bipropellant chemical propulsion for the satellite.
Twelve Aerojet monopropellant (hydrazine) thrusters on the Delta IV upper stage provided roll, pitch and yaw control as well as settling burns for the upper stage main engine. Aerojet also provided the Boeing GOES-O spacecraft with a 100 lbf bipropellant apogee engine which will be used for circularizing the spacecraft's orbit.
"Aerojet is proud to support the GOES-O satellite in its weather monitoring and prediction mission," said John Whaley, Aerojet's executive director of Redmond Operations. "By successfully guiding the satellite to orbit, Aerojet has helped improve the accuracy of our weather predictions."
Aerojet's Redmond, Wash. team manufactured the reaction control thrusters for ULA, and the apogee engine was designed, produced and tested under contract to The Boeing Company.
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.