SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aerojet PR) – Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE:GY – News) company, announces the successful testing of the state-of-the-art Upper Stage Engine Technology (USET) Hydrogen Turbopump Assembly (TPA) at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Aerojet and its teammate, Florida Turbine Technologies Inc. (FTT), Jupiter, Fla. designed, manufactured, assembled and delivered the turbopump assembly to the AFRL test facility and successfully demonstrated steady state operation at 100 percent power. The USET TPA has undergone 19 tests to date with testing scheduled to continue through the summer months.

The USET program is an AFRL Integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology (IHPRPT) program that started in 2003 and is focused on the next generation of physics-based modeling and simulation design tools that will reduce design time, lower cost and increase fidelity for the next generation engine. The USET TPA was designed using this analytical capability while developing key technologies for insertion to a TPA for a new upper stage rocket engine that could replace the current Delta IV and Atlas V upper stage engines. Aerojet’s USET TPA is designed for a 45,000 pound-force of thrust upper stage engine and operates at 90,000 rpm. It is about the size of a swimming pool pump.

“Our Aerojet/FTT team has developed the key analytical capability and technologies required for a next generation upper stage rocket engine. We’ve demonstrated and validated the models and technologies that will ensure an affordable program and much shorter development schedule than previously possible,” said Linda Cova, executive director, Pump-Fed Engine Development programs at Aerojet. “An upper stage engine turbopump like this hasn’t been successfully developed in decades.”

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.com and http://www.GenCorp.com.

Aerojet is proposing development of a novel combined-cycle propulsion system for reusable hypersonic vehicles which packages current technology to achieve a seamless transition from a standing start to Mach 7 plus.

The concept tackles key problems that developers face in trying to accelerate aircraft to high enough speed for a scramjet to begin operating. Although rocket boosters have been used to accelerate experimental scramjet-powered vehicles like the X-51A to the take-over point, this approach is not suitable for reusable platforms that would operate from a runway.

Major hurdles in the path to successful aircraft-like operation include producing sufficient thrust to punch through the high drag encountered at transonic speeds around Mach 1. Even if this can be overcome, designers also face a “thrust gap” between around Mach 2.5, where current turbine engine power falls off, and Mach 3.5-4, where the transition to a dual-mode ramjet/scram­jet takes place. To date, all attempts to develop a viable high-speed turbine engine to bridge this gap have failed.

Aerojet’s TriJet concept builds on the advantages of two traditional air-breathing propulsion systems extensively studied for this role—the turbine- and rocket-based combined cycles (T/RBCC). However, in isolation, both have disadvantages. TBCCs require turbine engines that are often heavy and large, taking up space for fuel, and have poor transonic acceleration, while RBCCs have significantly lower fuel efficiency than turbine engine-powered concepts. The TriJet combines the two options into one by melding a turbine engine and rocket-augmented ejector ramjet (ERJ) with a dual-mode ramjet (DMRJ) to achieve the final push to hypersonic flight.

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Aerojet's AJ26 engine successfully tested for Taurus II space launch vehicle. (PRNewsFoto/Aerojet)

NASA PROGRAM UPDATE

You see a lot of smiles around the E-1 Test Stand at John C. Stennis Space Center these days. Engineers involved in testing Aerojet’s AJ26 rocket engine for Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Taurus II space launch vehicle have good reason to smile.

In fact, they have several good reasons given that the partnership between NASA, Orbital and Aerojet is off to such an impressive start. Two successful tests of an AJ26 engine that will power the first stage of Orbital’s Taurus II rocket recently wrapped up at Stennis. The two tests were so successful that Orbital engineers decided a planned third test was unnecessary. The AJ26 engine used in the testing was removed from the E-1 stand on Jan. 24, and will be returned to Aerojet in Sacramento, Calif. to be refurbished and used on an upcoming Taurus II mission.

The same day the engine was removed, the first flight engine was installed to begin regularly planned “acceptance testing” at Stennis. The AJ26 flight unit will be tested in February, and then delivered to Orbital at the Wallops Flight Facility launch site in Virginia for integration with the rocket’s first stage core.

Orbital’s Taurus II rocket will first be used to carry out commercial cargo supply mission to the International Space Station. Orbital is developing the cargo logistics system under the joint Commercial Orbital Transportation Services research and development project with NASA, and is scheduled to carry out the first of eight cargo missions under the Commercial Resupply Services contract beginning in early 2012.

Aerojet Guns for Lead Roles On New Heavy-Lift Rocket
Space News

As NASA settled last year on a congressionally mandated heavy-lift launch vehicle design based on propulsion technologies already in development, rocket-engine manufacturer Aerojet was making a case for opening up key elements of the launcher to competition….
Sacramento, Calif.-based Aerojet — the smallest of the three main U.S. propulsion firms — told NASA last month that it wants a shot at unseating ATK and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne if the agency moves forward with a heavy-lift rocket that incorporates the five-segment boosters and J-2X engine.

“Although we believe an affordable and sustainable NASA [heavy-lift vehicle] must include alternatives to the existing propulsion solutions or new propulsion development, we do intend to compete for the 5-segment solid, the J2X/, and/or expendable RS-25 propulsion solutions if they are selected,” Aerojet’s vice president of space and launch systems, Julie Van Kleeck, wrote in a Dec. 1 letter to NASA’s associate administrator for exploration systems, Doug Cooke….

“If this approach is selected, Aerojet will compete for the RS-25 integration support of the existing engines as well as the development/qualification for the expendable variant,” Van Kleeck wrote in the letter.

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Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE:GY – News) company, announced today that over the next few months it will expand its presence in the Huntsville community by hiring 25 local engineers. This growth will allow Aerojet to provide collaborative engineering expertise, program management support and business development outreach to our government and prime customers located in the Huntsville area and across the Southeastern United States.

“Huntsville is an important location for our DoD, NASA and industry customers,” said Scott Seymour, Aerojet president and GenCorp president & CEO. “Growing Aerojet’s technical capabilities in Huntsville will allow us to better serve our customers and expand Aerojet’s business base.”

The additional Aerojet engineers will include technical expertise in solid, liquid and gel propulsion, warheads, specialty metals and fire suppression systems. They will provide face-to-face, hands-on technical interaction with all of our Huntsville customers for current and future programs. They also will serve as an integral link to the breadth of technical and programmatic capabilities across Aerojet.

The purpose of Aerojet’s expanded presence in Huntsville is to provide a better customer interface for all business development and engineering activities. This includes not only Aerojet’s DoD and NASA customers, but our prime contractors, supplier partners, local and regional universities, professional societies and community development organizations as well. The expansion also will enable Aerojet to examine new product opportunities related to the company’s current business base.

Aerojet is planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the first few months of 2011. Job announcements will be forthcoming and the hiring process will commence around the first of the year. The local lead for Aerojet will continue to be Claude Baldwin, director of Operations for Aerojet’s Huntsville Office.

Aerojet's AJ26 engine successfully tested for Taurus II space launch vehicle. (PRNewsFoto/Aerojet)

AEROJET PRESS RELEASE

Aerojet, a GenCorp company, announced that its AJ26 engine was hot-fire tested today at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. In support of the Taurus® II launch vehicle program, Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital), Aerojet and NASA conducted this first of three hot-fire engine tests to be performed throughout the next several weeks.

Aerojet’s AJ26 engine is an oxidizer-rich, staged-combustion LO2/Kerosene engine that achieves very high performance in a lightweight compact package. Based on the NK-33 engine originally designed and produced in Russia for the Russian N1 lunar launch vehicle, the liquid-fuel AJ26 will provide boost for the first stage of the Taurus II launch vehicle. The engine tested today is the first of four engines to be tested at Stennis throughout the next several months. This testing is being conducted to support the Taurus II Initial Launch Capability (ILC) in the third quarter of 2011.

Aerojet originally purchased approximately 40 NK-33 engines in the mid-1990s and, under contract with Orbital Sciences Corporation, the company has modified the engines specifically for Orbital’s Taurus II medium-class launch vehicle. Throughout the years, more than 200 NK-33 engines were built and 575 engine tests conducted, totaling more than 100,000 seconds of test time. Aerojet has been developing design modifications to the NK-33 since that time to ensure that the AJ26 is suitable for commercial launchers.

“Aerojet is looking forward to more successes like this throughout the Taurus II program,” said Executive Director, Pete Cova. “This is a great opportunity to take the NK-33 engines and convert them into another application for medium-class launch vehicles.”

Orbital, Aerojet and NASA Stennis personnel completed facility upgrades to accommodate today’s AJ26 testing. In addition to the AJ26 certification testing, each AJ26 engine to be used in the Taurus II program will come through the Stennis facility for pre-launch acceptance testing prior to being integrated with the rocket at NASA’s E-1 test stand.

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.

About Taurus II

The Taurus II medium-class space launch vehicle is being developed to boost payloads into a variety of low-Earth and geosynchronous transfer orbits and to Earth escape trajectories. Taurus II incorporates proven technologies from Orbital’s Pegasus®, Taurus® and Minotaur rockets, and is supported by a “best-in-class” network of suppliers from the U.S. and around the world.

The Taurus II rocket will also be available to civil government and U.S. military customers for dedicated launch services for medium-class scientific and national security satellites. Taurus II will also be capable of supporting mid-inclination and polar orbiting spacecraft weighing 10,000 lbs. and 5,500 lbs., respectively.

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is pleased to announce that Aerojet has joined the Federation. With over 3,000 employees nationwide including locations in California, Arkansas, Washington State, Virginia, New Mexico, Utah and Tennessee, the company is a leading provider of aerospace propulsion systems.

Julie Van Kleeck, Aerojet’s Vice President for Space Programs, stated, “Aerojet welcomes the opportunity to join the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. Joining CSF will enable Aerojet to work better with industry to serve NASA’s exploration programs and the expanding commercial space market.”

Van Kleeck continued, “Aerojet propulsion systems have flown on every U.S. human spaceflight mission. We are actively engaged in developing propulsion to power the next generation of human spaceflight systems – both launch vehicles and spacecraft. We’re proud of our work on Orion, EELV and a number of new commercial systems such as Taurus II and Sundancer. We are building on Aerojet’s proven capabilities in rocket engine and spacecraft propulsion development, human-rating, propulsion system verification, and operations to power the next generation of U.S. human space flight capabilities.”

Van Kleeck added, “Aerojet believes that affordability and innovation are key to the future of human space flight – and competition is fundamental to both. Aerojet’s membership in CSF will provide new opportunities to support NASA’s efforts to use safe, affordable and innovative commercial systems to transport crew to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) while NASA also continues to reach beyond LEO. We believe that NASA’s plans for new investments in propulsion systems are vital to spurring innovation, driving down cost and fostering both LEO access and human exploration beyond LEO.”

John Schumacher, Aerojet’s Vice President for Washington Operations, added, “Aerojet is at work to field new technologies for both launch and in-space propulsion that foster a new era of affordable, sustainable missions. CSF membership offers unique opportunities to work with other member companies to advance these efforts.”

Mark Sirangelo, Chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, commented, “On behalf of the member companies of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, we are proud to welcome Aerojet. Their expertise in propulsion technology is widely known and it’s a privilege to have them join the Commercial Spaceflight Federation.”

Bretton Alexander, President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, added, “It is great to see the aerospace industry continue to unite behind a common goal of expanding our nation’s commercial space economy. Creating thousands of new high-tech jobs, enhancing our nation’s access to space, and exciting a new generation of young people to embark on science and technology careers are some of the benefits this growing industry aims to realize. The Federation is pleased to welcome the entire Aerojet team.”

Test firing of Orion's main engine. (Credit: Aerojet)

AEROJET PRESS RELEASE

Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE:GY – News) company, in conjunction with Lockheed Martin and NASA, successfully completed acceptance testing on the second R-4D development engine. The R-4D is the Aerojet engine that will be used on NASA’s Orion crew exploration vehicle for the service module auxiliary propulsion. Eight R-4D engines, arranged in four pods of two each, will provide thrust for critical Orion maneuvers.

The R-4D acceptance testing was a critical milestone in the Orion Service Module Auxiliary Propulsion Program. Completion of this testing demonstrates incremental progress and opens the way for the next phase of development testing.

This testing achieved several firsts for the program including flight design bimetallic (Columbium-Titanium) nozzle; flight design valves (120V and 72.25 ohm coils); flight-like pressure transducer; validation of Orion-specific fabrication and test processes; verification of Orion-specific tooling and special test equipment; and demonstration of new processes that include the Aerojet Electric Discharge Machined (EDM) R-4D -11 injector.

“It was very gratifying to see the fruits of a three-year design effort come together in a very successful engine test. It was a flawless demonstration of engineering and manufacturing expertise,” said Aerojet Orion Program Manager Scott Jennings.

Aerojet supplies the complete engine complement for the Orion Service Module including: 16  25-pound-thrust engines arranged in four pods providing RCS capability, eight 100-pound-thrust bipropellant engines arranged in four pods providing auxiliary axial thrust for system maneuvers and a 7,500-pound-thrust Orion main engine providing axial thrust for major position changes and deorbit. Additionally, Aerojet will supply 12 160-pound-thrust monopropellant engines for the Orion crew module reaction control system and the jettison motor that provides thrust needed to separate the launch abort system from the crew module in either a nominal or aborted launch scenario.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for the Orion crew exploration vehicle, which is being developed as the nation’s next generation spacecraft for future human exploration throughout our solar system. Aerojet is part of the nationwide Orion industry team led by Lockheed Martin, which includes five major subcontractors and an expansive network of minor subcontractors and small businesses working at 88 facilities in 28 states across the country. Orion is scheduled to make its first orbital test flight in 2013.

NASA's Orion spacecraft

AEROJET PRESS RELEASE

Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced today that it successfully conducted a static firing of the third nozzle risk reduction motor in support of the Orion jettison motor, a critical component of the launch abort system (LAS) for NASA’s Orion crew exploration vehicle. This successful test firing validates several nozzle design changes implemented to enhance the safety and reliability of the jettison motor.

Today’s test was conducted under contract to Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and represents a collaborative effort between design teams at Aerojet, Lockheed and NASA. The third nozzle risk reduction test successfully met all test plan objectives, providing data to validate analytical models and demonstrate the increased robustness of the new nozzle design modifications. “Congratulations to the entire Orion launch abort team,” said Aerojet Vice President of Space and Launch Systems, Julie Van Kleeck. “Today’s test demonstrates increased margin in an already proven system.”

Orion’s jettison motor reliability was proven during the successful fully-integrated launch abort system flight test, Pad Abort 1, conducted at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range on May 6, 2010.

Orion’s LAS is designed to pull the crew module away from the rocket to safety in the event of an emergency on the pad and during the initial ascent phase. Aerojet designed and manufactured the jettison motor, which is required on every mission to jettison the LAS away from the crew module for both nominal and abort scenarios.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for the Orion spacecraft, which is being developed as the nation’s next generation spacecraft for future human exploration throughout the solar system. Aerojet is part of the nationwide Orion industry team led by Lockheed Martin, which includes five major subcontractors and an expansive network of minor subcontractors and small businesses working at 88 facilities in 28 states across the country. The Orion team is preparing for the spacecraft’s first orbital flight test as early as 2013.

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.

Testing firing of Orion's main engine. (Credit: Aerojet)

AEROJET PROGRAM UPDATE

Aerojet, a GenCorp company, under contract to Lockheed Martin, has successfully completed more than 20 injector tests for the 7500-pound thrust Orion main engine (OME) for NASA’s Orion crew exploration vehicle. The tests are a combination of checkout, development, and qualification that will anchor models and satisfy combustion stability qualification requirements. The OME is a pressure-fed, regeneratively cooled, storable bi-propellant engine that is a technically advanced, increased performance version of Aerojet’s flight-proven 6000-pound thrust space shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System Engine (OMS-E).

“Successful completion of this test series represents a major milestone in the OME development program and clears the way for further testing with the regeneratively cooled flight design chamber in 2011,” said Sam Wiley, Aerojet’s Orion technical director.

The injector has performed exceptionally well to date, verifying the engine’s combustion stability and additionally providing chamber wall heat flux and injector performance data to anchor mathematical models. All testing is being performed in heavy-weight combustion chambers specifically designed for these tasks. This early demonstration of the engine’s combustion stability at expected Orion operating conditions is being conducted to retire risk to the Orion vehicle.

The OME injector combines the reliability and combustion stability of the OMS-E injector with current Aerojet best practices in design and manufacturing to reduce process variability affecting injector performance and cost for the Orion program. The OME injector is a diffusion-bonded platelet device with the same injector element type, face pattern layout, and element quantity as the OMS-E, but with improvements in the injector body design and platelets to provide more uniform flow to the injector elements.

The current Aerojet platelet manufacturing capability results in significantly less dimensional variability than was possible for the OMS-E, enabling improved uniformity of propellants injected into the combustion chamber. The improvements in injection uniformity are also expected to result in improved nominal and minimum vacuum specific impulse for the OME.

The OME will provide thrust for events requiring large velocity changes such as Earth orbital insertion, translunar/trans Earth injection, Earth de-orbit, and emergency thrust for high-altitude abort scenarios. Orion’s engine complement also includes 16 25-pound thrust engines and eight 100-pound-thrust bipropellant engines for the Orion service module. Additionally, Aerojet supplies 12 160-pound-thrust monopropellant thrusters for the Orion crew module. Aerojet is providing all of the engines for the Orion spacecraft which is comprised of a crew module for crew and cargo transport, and a service module for propulsion, electrical power and fluids storage. Risk reduction testing of critical subsystems has been ongoing throughout Orion’s development phase to maximize mission success and crew safety.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for the Orion spacecraft, which is being developed as the nation’s next generation spacecraft for future human exploration throughout our solar system. Aerojet is part of the nationwide Orion industry team led by Lockheed Martin, which includes five major subcontractors and an expansive network of minor subcontractors and small businesses working at 88 facilities in 28 states across the country.

AEROJET PRESS RELEASE

Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE:GY) company, and Florida Turbine Technologies (FTT) announced today that the companies have entered into a strategic partnership to compete for research, development and production on NASA’s new hydrocarbon engine and advanced upper stage engine. This expands the very successful teamwork that Aerojet and FTT have underway on the U.S. Air Force Hydrocarbon Boost Technology Demonstrator (HBTD) and Upper Stage Engine Technology (USET) programs.

The HBTD program is developing key, high-impact components and enabling technology for a world-class hydrocarbon engine. Aerojet and FTT will provide the innovation to expand this effort into a comprehensive engine development program that provides transformational propulsion capability for NASA, DoD and commercial launch vehicles. In 2007, Aerojet and FTT competed and won the HBTD program which is the only U.S. engine development program working on an advanced rocket engine cycle.

“NASA’s plans for innovative propulsion R&D on a new hydrocarbon engine are critical to America’s leadership in space launch,” said Aerojet CEO Scott Seymour. “Winning the opportunity to work on these new NASA investments will allow Aerojet and FTT to expand and employ a whole new generation of engineers and scientists in developing the world’s best hydrocarbon engine – and then to produce these engines in a new facility located in the United States. Aerojet is excited about joining in a strategic partnership with the innovative professionals at FTT to compete for and win this very important work.”

“We look forward to growing our relationship with Aerojet, and the opportunity to build on our Air Force hydrocarbon engine technology with NASA,” said FTT CEO Shirley Brostmeyer. “We are also proud of the opportunity to help build new high technology R&D engineering and manufacturing positions within the state of Florida.”

Aerojet and FTT are the premier hydrocarbon engine team in the United States.

Aerojet continues to be a pioneer in developing world-class U.S. hydrocarbon engine capabilities. Aerojet is providing the AJ26 engine (derived from the NK-33, the world’s first oxidizer-rich, staged-combustion, oxygen/kerosene rocket engine, which achieves very high performance in a lightweight, compact package) for Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Taurus II launch vehicle. This summer Aerojet will begin acceptance testing of the AJ26 engine at NASA Stennis Space Center leading to a planned first flight of the Taurus II in June 2011. Aerojet also just successfully hot-fire tested a 5,500 lbf liquid oxygen – liquid methane engine at NASA White Sands Test Facility under a contract with NASA Glenn Research Center with support from NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Florida Turbine Technologies is working closely with AFRL, NASA, and Aerojet to develop state-of-the-art technologies for next generation turbopumps which provide extremely high pressure fuel to the rocket’s engine. These technologies include cavitation models, bearing and seal components, flowpath design, and health management sensors, which are being developed and tested as part of the USET, HBTB and other R&D programs.

Artist's conception of Obital Sciences Corporation's Taurus II rocket set for launch at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia.

AEROJET PRESS RELEASE

Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, and its Russian partner United Engine Corporation (UEC), announced today the signing of a cooperation agreement regarding their next steps in the companies’ cooperative efforts to provide NK-33 and AJ26 rocket engines to the commercial launch market.

The cooperative efforts of Aerojet and UEC will include marketing, sales, technical support, testing and a range of activities for the eventual re-start of engine production – all designed to provide commercial customers with high-performing, cost-competitive NK-33 and AJ26 hydrocarbon engines. This agreement builds on more than 15 years of cooperation between Aerojet and JSC “N.D. Kuznetzov” (NDK), which is managed by UEC, to provide launch propulsion for the growing global commercial space market.

Under the agreement, UEC will be responsible for marketing and sale of the modern NK-33 in the Russian Federation; checkout, testing and delivery of additional NK-33 rocket engines to Aerojet for modification into the AJ26; and eventual re-start of NK-33 production in Russia. UEC will also provide support of the NK-33 on vehicles launched from the Russian Federation.

Aerojet, with an exclusive license for NK-33 and AJ26 in the U.S., is responsible for U.S. marketing and sale of the engines; modifying the NK-33 into the AJ26; and support of these engines on vehicles launched from the U.S. Aerojet will continue to evaluate U.S. production of the AJ26, based on market demand.

Aerojet currently provides the AJ26 rocket engine for the first-stage of Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Taurus II launcher. UEC provides the NK-33 to Russian Federation customers. Both Aerojet and UEC are offering AJ26 and modern NK-33 engines to additional customers in the United States and Russia, respectively.

Aerojet, UEC and NDK recently completed a series of NK-33 rocket engine tests in Samara, Russia in support of Orbital’s Taurus II launch vehicle development. This testing is built on the extensive engine database that includes more than 17 years of development testing as well as approximately 1,500 engine-level tests totaling 194,000 seconds of firing duration. The recent ‘hot-fire’ extended-time testing verified that the AJ26 has the significant engine performance margins and durability required for today’s commercial launch vehicles.

About the NK-33 and AJ26 Rocket Engines

The AJ26 is a commercial derivative of the NK-33 engine that was first developed for the Russian rocket that would have taken cosmonauts to the moon. As the world’s first oxidizer-rich, staged-combustion, oxygen/kerosene rocket engine, it achieves unexcelled high performance in a lightweight, compact package. Aerojet’s AJ26 incorporates design and modifications that make the NK-33 engine suitable for today’s and future commercial launcher vehicles. Aerojet and NDK have worked together to provide the AJ26 to the U.S. commercial space market since the mid-1990s.

AEROJET PRESS RELEASE

Aerojet, a GenCorp company, and Orbital Sciences Corporation, along with Aerojet’s Russian partner, SNTK, announced today that a series of NK-33 rocket engine tests conducted in Samara, Russia were successfully completed in support of the development of Orbital’s Taurus® II space launch vehicle.

The purpose of the extended-time testing of the NK-33 engine, on which the AJ26 first-stage engine for the Taurus II rocket is based, was to demonstrate a ‘hot-fire’ duration equal to two times a normal Taurus II acceptance testing and launch profile duty cycle. Over the last two weeks, three tests were conducted by SNTK with a cumulative duration of more than 600 seconds. These tests verified the significant technical margins on engine performance and durability required by Orbital’s Taurus II development program.

GenCorp President and CEO and Aerojet President, Scott Seymour, said, “Completing the margin testing is a significant milestone in Aerojet’s contract with Orbital. This success demonstrates the engine’s robust design and its ability to operate at the power levels and duration times compatible with the Taurus II flight profile with additional performance margin.”

“The success of the NK-33 engine tests in Russia is an important step forward in the development of the Taurus II rocket,” said Ron Grabe, Orbital’s Executive Vice President and General Manager of its Launch Systems Group. “With the performance of the heritage engine now confirmed and well understood, we can move forward with confidence to configuration verification and acceptance testing of AJ26 engines at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi beginning in April.”

Aerojet is the provider of the AJ26/NK-33 rocket engine for the first stage of the Taurus II launcher. The basic NK-33 engine was originally designed and produced in Russia for the Russian N1 lunar launch vehicle. Aerojet subsequently purchased approximately 40 of the basic NK-33 engines in the mid-1990s and, under contract with Orbital, the company is currently modifying the engines specifically for the Taurus II launch vehicle.

Aerojet and Orbital are scheduled to begin ground testing of the AJ26 engine at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi in less than two months. The U.S.-based testing will validate the Taurus II specific engine configuration and continue to build on the extensive engine database that includes more than 17 years of development testing, encompassing approximately 1,500 engine-level tests totaling 194,000 seconds of firing duration. After the design verification tests are completed at Stennis, regular production acceptance testing will be initiated, paving the way to the first flights of the Taurus II rocket in 2011.

About the AJ26 Rocket Engine

The AJ26 is a commercial derivative of the NK-33 engine that was first developed for the Russian rocket that would have taken cosmonauts to the moon. As the world’s first oxidizer-rich, staged-combustion, oxygen/kerosene rocket engine, it achieves very high performance in a lightweight, compact package. Aerojet has been developing design modifications to make the engine suitable for commercial launchers since the mid-1990s.

About the Taurus II Launch Vehicle

Orbital is developing the Taurus II medium-class space launch vehicle to boost payloads into a variety of low Earth and geosynchronous transfer orbits and to Earth escape trajectories. Taurus II incorporates proven technologies from the company’s Pegasus®, Taurus and Minotaur rockets, and is supported by a “best-in-class” network of suppliers from the U.S. and around the world.

The Taurus II program currently has a backlog of nine launches, beginning with the demonstration flight in 2011 for the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) project, a joint research and development effort with NASA to develop a system capable of safely and reliably supplying the International Space Station (ISS) with essential cargo. Orbital is also under contract with NASA for the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program with an eight-mission, $1.9 billion agreement to deliver cargo to the ISS from 2011 through 2015.

In addition to its work with NASA on the COTS and CRS programs, Orbital is also offering the Taurus II rocket to U.S. civil government and military customers for dedicated launch services for medium-class scientific and national security satellites. From its Wallops Island, Virginia launch site, Taurus II will be capable of supporting mid-inclination and polar orbiting spacecraft weighing approximately 10,500 lbs. and 5,500 lbs., respectively.

AEROJET PRESS RELEASE

Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, and NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) announced today that the companies will explore the feasibility of jointly supplying low power ion propulsion systems for the U.S. and Japanese aerospace markets. Ion propulsion systems can be used for geosynchronous satellite propulsion systems and deep space missions providing significant advantages over traditional chemical propulsion systems due to the higher fuel efficiency.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NEC have jointly developed a low power “Microwave Ion Engine” that uses microwaves for ion generation, enabling long life and high mission reliability. NEC’s Microwave Ion Engine is currently flying on JAXA’s HAYABUSA asteroid rendezvous and study mission, and has proven to be robust and reliable, with more than 30,000 hours of in-space operation.

“Aerojet is a leading supplier of satellite propulsion systems in the United States and has broad experience and technical capabilities with satellite propulsion systems,” said Kunio Kondo, senior general manager, Aerospace and Defense Operations Unit, NEC Corporation. “Collaborating with Aerojet will help NEC to expand its low power Microwave Ion Engine business in the U. S. market.”

Aerojet’s electric propulsion products are currently flying on more than 150 operational satellites and span a broad range of electric propulsion products. Dr. Roger Myers, general manager of Aerojet’s Redmond operations, states that “the low power Microwave Ion Engine from NEC provides an excellent complement to Aerojet’s broad electric propulsion product offerings.”

About NEC’s Space Business

NEC is a pioneer of Japan’s space exploration program. It has been engaged in the development of more than 60 satellites since Japan’s first satellite “Ohsumi” launched in 1970. NEC’s recent achievement includes development and production of a control system and robotic arm deployed in the Japanese Experimental Module “KIBO” of the International Space Station as well as system integration of HAYABUSA.

About Aerojet

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.

About NEC Corporation

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Aerojet's jettison motor for NASA's Orion crew vehicle.

AEROJET PRESS RELEASE

This first jettison motor shipment increases the technical readiness of the Launch Abort System (LAS) and is a major operational accomplishment as the first full-scale rocket propulsion element to proceed into a system-level flight test.

The jettison motor — a key component of Orion’s Launch Abort System — was shipped to White Sands for this year’s Pad Abort-1, the first test flight for NASA’s next generation human spaceflight program. The LAS is a complex system that must, within milliseconds, be able to pull the crew module to safety away from the Ares 1 crew launch vehicle in the event of an emergency on the pad or during the initial ascent phase.

Orion’s LAS components are being delivered by Orbital Sciences Corporation, (NYSE: ORB – News) for Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT – News), the prime contractor for Orion. Aerojet is responsible for the jettison motor, which would be used on every Orion mission. The jettison motor is a solid rocket motor designed to separate the spacecraft’s LAS from the crew module after it is no longer needed during launch.

“The shipment marks a significant accomplishment for the Orion LAS program. This flight system delivery culminates the past year’s successful Jettison Motor Demonstrator development program where two full-scale hot fire tests and numerous other successful subscale and structural tests verified the design,” said Vice President for Aerojet Space Systems, Julie Van Kleeck.

The Orion crew exploration vehicle is an advanced capsule design utilizing state-of-the-art technology and will be the successor to the space shuttle in transporting humans to and from the International Space Station, the moon and other destinations beyond low-Earth orbit.

The LAS design, using Lockheed Martin’s and Orbital’s expertise in small rocket systems and Aerojet’s advanced propulsion technology, is a key element in vastly improving the safety of the flight crew as compared to current human spaceflight systems.

The NASA Orion Project is managed out of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston. NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. manages the Orion Launch Abort System element development and integration in partnership with the Orion industry team.