ARLINGTON, Va., 27 Aug. 2013. ATK (NYSE:ATK) won a contract from Orbital Sciences Corp. (NYSE:ORB) to provide first and second stage propulsion for the Air Launch Vehicle (ALV). Orbital is designing and building the ALV for Stratolaunch Systems Corp.; the ALV will serve as part of the novel Stratolaunch air-launched space transportation system.
The contract from Orbital includes the design, development, and flight hardware for initial Stratolaunch missions.
"Our design solution for the ALV will take full advantage of ATK's experience with large diameter solid rocket motors, like those built for the Space Shuttle and for the Titan IVB launch vehicle. The stages for ALV will also use high-strength, low-weight graphite composite cases, advanced propellants, and heritage materials from ATK's extensive line of commercial solid rocket motors," explains Scott Lehr, vice president and general manager of ATK's Defense and Commercial Division.
"Solid rocket motors use stable propellants and have proven highly reliable in a wide variety of systems. They are highly engineered systems that are designed for simplified operations, and minimize ground support infrastructure requirements," Lehr adds.
ATK has manufactured more than 1600 commercial solid rocket motors to date for a wide variety of launch vehicles, including Delta II and Delta IV, as well as Orbital's Pegasus, Taurus, Minotaur, and Antares space launch vehicles.
"ATK is pleased to receive this award for the development and production of first and second stage propulsion for the Stratolaunch ALV," says Blake Larson, president of ATK Aerospace Group. "Our innovative propulsion concept combines both proven and state-of-the-art technologies that will provide a high-performing, cost-effective solution for the ALV."
