Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Energy News .




ROCKET SCIENCE
ATK and United Launch Alliance Test GEM-60 Motor
by Staff Writers
Promontory UT (SPX) Sep 12, 2012


File image

ATK and United Launch Alliance (ULA) conducted a successful cold-temperature ground test of a Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM-60) solid rocket motor used to boost ULA's Delta IV launch vehicles.

The 60-inch diameter and 53-feet long motor, which was chilled to a core temperature of 30 degrees F, performed as designed, producing approximately 270,000 pounds of thrust and burned for 90 seconds. The test was the second in a series to qualify new fixed and vectorable nozzles manufactured by ATK for flight readiness.

"This test further qualifies ATK's in-house capabilities in manufacturing commercial nozzles as flight ready," said Scott Lehr, vice president and general manager, ATK Aerospace Group, Defense and Commercial Division. "Utilizing ATK nozzles not only provides better value to our customer, it also helps further secure employment of our skilled workforce."

During the GEM-60 static motor firing, the rocket motor performed at cold temperatures within specifications. The successful test qualifies the new fixed nozzle for flight motors and validates the performance of new nozzle insulation at the lowest range of operational temperatures.

"GEM-60 motors have successfully boosted ULA's Delta IV Medium+ launch vehicles 11 times since 2002," said Mark Wilkins, ULA's vice president of Program Operations. "These ground tests are an important part of qualifying modifications and upgrades to flight hardware, as well as ensuring mission success on future flights."

The GEM-60 motor is a strap-on booster that was developed for ULA by ATK in 2000 to increase the payload-to-orbit capability of the Delta IV Medium+ launch vehicle. The first two-motor configuration boosted the inaugural flight of the Delta IV launch vehicle family in November 2002, and the first four-motor configuration flew in 2009.

.


Related Links
ULA
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








ROCKET SCIENCE
Russian Companies Design Space Tour Plane
Moscow, Russia (RIA Novosti) Aug 31, 2012
Russia's NPO Molniya design bureau and the Myasischev Experimental Factory (EMZ) are designing a space-plane for sub-orbital "space tourism" and small satellite launch flights, according to a company specialists' report seen by RIA Novosti. The sub-orbital craft will be launched from a subsonic carrier aircraft such as the existing high-altitude Myasischev M-55 Geofizika or 3M-T transport ... read more


ROCKET SCIENCE
Panda Power Funds Breaks Ground on 758 MW Temple, Texas Power Plant

France aims at tiered energy pricing to encourage savings

Renewable Energy Sources Could be the Key to Reaching Through to Iran

Electricity prices spark welcome political collaboration

ROCKET SCIENCE
Philippines tags coast 'West Philippine Sea'

S.Africa to start processing shale gas applications

LEDs winning light race to save energy, the environment

China hikes fuel prices for second month

ROCKET SCIENCE
Long-planned Scottish wind project OK'ed

South Australia blown away by wind power this week

Analysis sets price of global wind farms

SeaRoc charter MPI Adventure for Narec's Offshore Anemometry Hub Installation

ROCKET SCIENCE
DuPont Photovoltaic and Distributed Sun Collaborate on High Reliability Solar Modules

China 'deeply regrets' EU solar panel probe

EU hits Chinese solar companies with massive dumping probe

Constellation announces the completion of 16MW solar installation

ROCKET SCIENCE
Japan to have new nuclear watchdog

Jordan king says Israel disrupted nuclear plans

Indian nuclear power protest turns deadly

Japan to abandon nuclear power by 2030s: report

ROCKET SCIENCE
France reconsiders plans to boost biofuel use

World Energy and Hydro Dynamics team up to promote SPR cavitation reactor technology

West Coast distributor expands biodiesel offering

California Clean Fuel Standard Poised to Drive Growth in Biofuels Industry

ROCKET SCIENCE
Tiangong Orbit Change Signals Likely Date for Shenzhou 10

China Focus: Timeline for China's space research revealed

China eyes next lunar landing as US scales back

China unveils ambitious space projects

ROCKET SCIENCE
Climate change: Research questions 'worse drought' warnings

Ecosystems cope with stress more effectively the greater the biodiversity

Research reveals contrasting consequences of a warmer Earth

Climate: Kyoto scheme sees billionth tonne of saved CO2




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement