ATK Completes Successful Series of Hypersonics Tests Focused on Maturing Technology for Practical Applications
Sep 26, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a series of recent tests, Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) demonstrated that its hypersonic engine technology has practical, near-term applications for a range of potential missions, including weapons and platforms. The tests were conducted at NASA Langley Research Center using an ATK-designed thermally-throated ramjet combustor rig. ATK's hypersonic combustor completed more than 72 minutes of combustion time with liquid fuel during the series of tests. The ultimate objective is to develop a flight engine designed specifically for wide operability margin and simplicity.
The recent hypersonic tests were conducted in three series ranging from Mach 3.7 to 5.3. The flight-weight, fuel-cooled combustor was tested for a total of 23 minutes of hot (combustion) time. The individual tests lasted up to 2.5 minutes to achieve thermal equilibrium. The duration of the tests also helped ATK gain valuable data in the extreme temperature environment of hypersonic flight.
The fuel-cooled combustor was successfully tested in both open and closed loop configurations where the fuel used for cooling was directly injected into the combustion chamber. ATK also successfully demonstrated an efficient combustor start on cold fuel with subsequent transition to fuel vapor as the rig heated up. The combustor exhibited extremely wide throttleability at all conditions, confirming the robustness of the design and clearing the path to freejet tests of a complete fuel-cooled engine that are now underway.
ATK's hypersonic test program has produced breakthrough technologies that the company believes will lead to the first practical use of hypersonics. ATK sees potential applications for this technology in standoff strike missiles, UAV's, bombers, and access-to-space vehicles.
In 2004, NASA and ATK set the world speed record twice for air-breathing powered flight with the X-43A hydrogen-fueled Scramjet-powered aircraft. The X-43A demonstrated its unique capability after separating from a rocket booster and, under scramjet power, achieving positive acceleration at the hypersonic speed of nearly Mach 7 -- approximately 5,000 miles per hour. In a second flight test, the X-43A set another world record by cruising at nearly Mach 10 -- approximately 7,000 miles per hour. In 2005, DARPA, the Office of Naval Research and ATK set another record by flying the first liquid hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet at Mach 5.5 conditions.
ATK is a $3.4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 15,000 people in 22 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/ .
Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes forward- looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those factors are: the challenges of developing hypersonic flight vehicles; changes in governmental spending, budgetary policies and product sourcing strategies; the company's competitive environment; the terms and timing of awards and contracts; and economic conditions. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and statements contained herein, please refer to ATK's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Media Contact: Investor Contact: George Torres Steve Wold Phone: 801-699-2637 Phone: 952-351-3056 E-mail: george.torres@atk.com E-mail: steve.wold@atk.com
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