Bidding Farewell to a Space Industry Workhorse
14 September 2018 - 2:00AM
The upcoming launch of a NASA ice monitoring satellite, ICESat-2,
will be the last for United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) medium-lift
Delta II rocket, whose reliability made it a workhorse for civil,
military and commercial space customers. The Delta II features main
and upper-stage engines supplied by Aerojet Rocketdyne.
With roots tracing back to the dawn of the space age, the Delta
II has an admirable success record since debuting almost three
decades ago in 1989. A successful launch of NASA’s ICESat-2
satellite, currently scheduled for Sept. 15 from Vandenberg
Air Force Base, California, would mark the 100th successful launch
in a row for the vehicle, whose payloads have ranged from national
security missions to commercial communications satellites to Mars
rovers.
“The Delta II will go down in history as one of the world’s most
successful launch vehicles, and we’re proud to be part of that
legacy,” said Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s CEO and
president.
The Delta II’s RS-27A first-stage engine, fueled by
liquid-oxygen and kerosene, is descended from Aerojet Rocketdyne’s
H-1 engine, which powered the main stages of the Saturn I and IB
rockets. The RS-27A generates 200,000 pounds of thrust at sea level
and features two vernier engines for roll control during
flight.
The AJ10-118K engine that powers the second stage of the Delta
II has its origins in the ballistic missile programs of the 1950s.
Fueled by hydrazine, the engine generates 9,850 pounds of thrust at
altitude.
“This final Delta II launch will mark the 241st flight of the
RS-27 and the 277th flight of the AJ10; all delivering 100 percent
reliability to ensure mission success for our customers,” continued
Drake. “This outstanding track record represents the hard work and
dedication of generations of Aerojet Rocketdyne employees over the
decades.”
Although the ICESat-2 launch likely marks the end of the
evolutionary line for the RS-27A, the AJ10 engine family will
continue to fly as part of NASA’s Orion spacecraft program. The
main engine on Orion’s European-built Service Module is derived
from the space shuttle’s Orbital Maneuvering System engine, which
shares a common heritage with the AJ10-118K.
About Aerojet Rocketdyne: Aerojet Rocketdyne, a
subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), is a
world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides
propulsion systems and energetics to the space, missile defense and
strategic systems, and tactical systems areas, in support of
domestic and international customers. For more information, visit
www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com. Follow Aerojet
Rocketdyne and CEO Eileen Drake on Twitter at @AerojetRdyne and
@DrakeEileen.
Media Contacts:Todd McConnell, Aerojet
Rocketdyne, 561-882-5395Todd.McConnell@rocket.comMary Engola,
Aerojet Rocketdyne, 571-289-1371Mary.Engola@rocket.com
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