SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a
GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced that its engine helped propel the
Delta II that launched the Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) /JASON-2
satellite into orbit today from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The
mission, an international collaboration between NASA, NOAA, the European
Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), will use the Jason-2
satellite's scientific instruments to gather critical measurements leading
to more accurate weather forecasting and climate monitoring capabilities.
Aerojet, under contract to United Launch Alliance, provided the Delta
II rocket's second stage engine. This was Aerojet's 265th successful Delta
launch since 1960. Aerojet's second stage liquid rocket engine's flawless
record owes its longevity to its robust design. "It was exciting to be part
of another successful Delta II flight," says Rich Yanick, director of Delta
II and Space Tank Production Programs. "The complexity of making this
happen correctly each time is an amazing achievement."
This same engine has also supported NASA's launches of such missions as
Phoenix Mars Lander, Dawn, GLAST, THEMIS, STEREO, Deep Impact, MESSENGER
and the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) spacecraft, which delivered Rovers
Spirit and Opportunity to the surface of Mars. This particular engine's
launch history began in 1958 when Aerojet provided second stage propulsion
for the Vanguard-1 mission. Over the years, the engine's performance has
been improved so that today it has the power needed to assist in critical
missions such as today's OSTM spacecraft launch.
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
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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