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ATK Successfully Test Fires Independently Developed Solid Propulsion Rocket Motor

Apr 30, 2001

ATK (NYSE: ATK)(Alliant Techsystems) said ATK Aerospace Propulsion Company, Magna, Utah, successfully completed a static test firing of its independently developed Material Qualification Motor (MQM), which incorporates new technologies in rocket motor propellant formulation, nozzle materials, and insulation to reduce costs and enhance reliability.

The static firing, which took place at ATK Thiokol Propulsion Company's Promentory, Utah, test facility, will support the integration of the new technologies into ATK's Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM) and Orion family of solid rocket boosters flown on Boeing Delta launch vehicles and the Pegasus® launch vehicle, respectively.

Steve Earl, vice president, engineering, ATK Aerospace Propulsion Company, said the MQM motor design is based on ATK's highly successful GEM 40 booster, which has helped the Boeing Delta II vehicle set the standard throughout the world for launch reliability and predictable performance.

"As part of our commitment to continuous product improvement, we have taken the benchmark GEM 40 motor -- which has a long history of providing low-cost access to space -- and made it even better," said Earl. "The new technologies demonstrated in the successful static test firing will reduce the cost of the motor while enhancing its reliability."

The ATK-funded MQM project began in April 2000. In the year leading up to the test, candidate technologies were selected, the design was finalized, a new low-cost propellant was formulated, and manufacturing and system tests were completed. Manufacture of the test motor and nozzle also required the development of new manufacturing processes and the design and procurement of new tooling. The program was completed on schedule and under budget.

The MQM nozzle was funded and manufactured by HITCO Carbon Composites, Inc., Gardenia, Calif., which provides the nozzles for all the solid rocket motors in the ATK GEM family.

In addition to the GEM 40, ATK manufactures the GEM 46 motor for the Boeing Delta III launch vehicle and the GEM 60 motor for the Boeing Delta IV launch vehicle. The company's strict and uncompromising adherence to statistical process control guidelines together with state-of-the-art automated production capabilities enables it to accurately control manufacture of the motors to ensure high quality and repeatability.

ATK Aerospace Propulsion Company is one of four operating companies within ATK's Aerospace Group.

ATK is a $1.6 billion aerospace and defense company with leading positions in munitions, precision capabilities, propulsion, and composite structures. The company, which is headquartered in Hopkins, Minn., employs approximately 10,000 people and has two business segments: Aerospace and Defense. ATK news and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/

SOURCE: ATK

Contact: Media, Rod Bitz, 952-931-5413, rod_bitz@atk.com, or Investors,
Steve Wold, 952-931-6747, steve_wold@atk.com, both of ATK