CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Goodrich Corporation
(NYSE: GR) has been awarded a contract from NASA - Langley to supply an
integral, high-temperature composite flaperon control surface to be tested on
a reusable launch vehicle. Dubbed the X-37, the Boeing-designed test vehicle
is intended to be the first to operate in both the orbital and reentry phases
of space flight. The contract is expected to generate $1.4 million in revenue
for Goodrich over the next 2 years.
Goodrich's Santa Fe Springs, California-based carbon plant will be
manufacturing the test vehicle's flaperon, which helps steer the vehicle. The
flaperon will be made of Goodrich's proprietary high-temperature composites.
Traditional vehicles such as the Space Shuttle use thermal protection tiles on
a metallic frame, the combination of which is quite heavy and costly to
maintain. The X-37 will benefit from Goodrich's lightweight, composite
structure, which becomes stronger as it is subjected to increasing
temperatures.
According to Paul Walsh, Director of High Temperature Composites for
Goodrich, "Interest by NASA and the Department of Defense in composite
technology continues to grow as space vehicles need to become smaller and more
agile. New vehicles on the drawing board will fly at many times the speed of
sound, which will cause localized overheating not only in flight but also when
they re-enter the earth's environment. Our lightweight ceramic and
carbon-based composites are ideally suited to handle the heat generated by
space vehicle reentry and also have the potential for military use. We're
proud to have been selected by NASA for this project that will truly take
space vehicles to the next level of efficiency and safety."
Goodrich's Santa Fe Springs, California facility specializes in composite
materials capable of withstanding the temperatures for use in a variety of
applications from jet engine nozzles to space vehicle reentry surfaces.
Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global supplier
of systems and services to the aerospace and defense industry. If there's an
aircraft in the sky - we're on it. Goodrich technology is involved in making
aircraft fly ... helping them land ... and keeping them safe. Serving a
global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service
facilities, Goodrich is one of the largest aerospace companies in the world.
For more information visit http://www.goodrich.com .
CTGRYSRC:GSAFS
SOURCE Goodrich Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.goodrich.com
CONTACT:
Gail K. Warner of Goodrich Corporation,
+1-704-423-7048
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