SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp
(NYSE: GY) company, successfully completed 250 hot-fire test sequences of
its legendary R-4D 100-pound-thrust bipropellant engine. The test included
over 20,000 starts under a broad variety of conditions expected for NASA's
Orion Service Module. The objective of the test program was to retire risk
to the Orion vehicle by an early demonstration of engine performance at
expected Orion operating conditions. "Through collaboration with Lockheed
Martin and NASA, Aerojet engineers have conducted a valuable R-4D engine
test program that will lead to a low-risk propulsion approach for NASA's
Orion Service Module," said Julie Van Kleeck, Aerojet's vice president for
Space Programs. "Aerojet's contribution of development hardware to the
program enabled the team to complete our milestones earlier than expected."
The R-4D originally provided in-space propulsion for the Apollo Service
Module and was used during the Apollo 13 rescue. Since the Apollo era, the
engine has become a workhorse for providing reliable in-space propulsion
for positioning geosynchronous satellites. In another new role, the R-4D
will provide precise in-space propulsion for two International Space
Station support vehicles -- the Japanese H-II transfer vehicle (HTV) and
the European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).
Aerojet will be providing propulsion to Lockheed Martin for NASA's
Orion Crew Module as well as all engines aboard the Orion Service Module.
This engine complement includes sixteen 25-pound thrust engines, eight
100-pound- thrust bipropellant engines and a 7,500-pound-thrust Orion Main
Engine. Additionally, Aerojet will supply twelve 160-pound-thrust
monopropellant engines for the Orion Crew Module.
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.
SOURCE Aerojet
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Related links:
http://www.aerojet.com
http://www.GenCorp.com
CONTACT:
Glenn Mahone, +1-202-302-9941,
Glenn.Mahone@Aerojet.com, or Kristin Conner, +1-916-355-2143,
Kristin.Conner@Aerojet.com, both of Aerojet; or Linda Cutler of
GenCorp, +1-916-351-8650, Linda.Cutler@GenCorp.com
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