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Aerojet Rocketdyne Powers ULA Launch of National Reconnaissance Office Payload

Dec 11,2020
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Aerojet Rocketdyne Powers ULA Launch of National Reconnaissance Office Payload

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Dec. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aerojet Rocketdyne powered the recent successful launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket yesterday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The rocket launched a classified national security payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Aerojet Rocketdyne supplies the boost engines, upper-stage engines and the composite overwrapped pressure vessels for the Delta IV Heavy rocket. This is the twelfth Delta IV Heavy rocket launch and the eighth for the NRO.

“For nearly two decades, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s reliable, flight-proven propulsion systems have powered the Delta IV Heavy rocket to launch the NRO’s most important missions,” said Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen P. Drake. “Aerojet Rocketdyne consistently supports our nation’s most critical national security requirements in the domains of space and defense.”

The Delta IV Heavy first stage features three common booster cores, each powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68A rocket engine. The RS-68A is the world’s most powerful hydrogen-fueled engine generating 702,000 pounds of thrust at sea level. The three engine first stage provided more than 2.1 million pounds of thrust at sea level to launch the NRO payload.

The rocket’s Delta Cryogenic Second Stage (DCSS) is powered by an Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10B-2 engine that generates 24,750 pounds of thrust at altitude. The flight-proven RL10 family of liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen-fueled rocket engines has been in operation for more than five decades, with over 500 RL10 engines used to power launch vehicle upper stages. Aerojet Rocketdyne also supplied the 12 MR-106 reaction control thrusters that provide roll, pitch and yaw control for the DCSS.

ARDÉ, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne, provided the composite overwrapped pressure vessels on the first and second stages of the launch vehicle.

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:
Mary Engola, Aerojet Rocketdyne, 571-289-1371
Mary.Engola@rocket.com
Todd McConnell, Aerojet Rocketdyne, 561-882-5395
Todd.McConnell@rocket.com

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CA Transparency in Supply Chains Act Notification: The Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc. is a manufacturer of products for the U.S. Government. As such, it is currently accepting contracts with a clause regarding slavery and human trafficking, specifically Federal Acquisition Regulation clause FAR 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons. Aerojet Rocketdyne issued an appropriate internal directive prohibiting conduct proscribed by this clause, and notified its employees of these requirements and possible consequences of noncompliance. Furthermore, Aerojet Rocketdyne requires its suppliers accept the same clause in purchase orders ultimately having federal customers, and requires their lower tier suppliers do the same. Government contractors warrant or certify their contract clause compliance, and the U.S. Government and Aerojet Rocketdyne may conduct reasonable audits of its suppliers for compliance. Aerojet Rocketdyne buyers are being trained that an exception to this clause is not to be allowed, absent a legal review.