ARLINGTON, Va., 12 Dec. 2012. ATK (NYSE:ATK) composite technology protected portions of the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket that launched the U.S. Air Force’s Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) into orbit.
The ULA Atlas V rocket flew in the 501 vehicle configuration with a 5.4-meter fairing and a single-engine Centaur upper stage, with no solid rocket boosters.
ATK engineers, using advanced fiber placement manufacturing techniques, produced the 10-foot-diameter composite heat shield that provides protection for the first stage of the launch vehicle, the 10-foot-diameter Centaur Interstage Adapter (CISA), and the 18-foot-diameter boat tail that connects the CISA to the payload fairing. The parts were fabricated ATK’s Iuka, Miss., and Clearfield, Utah, facilities.
The Reaction Control System (RCS) propellant tank for the Atlas V rocket was manufactured at ATK's Commerce, Calif. facility. This is the 34th Atlas V launch using ATK-built composite structures.
ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 21 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally.
