• Forum
• SITREP
• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security

• Space

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Public Eye

Pratt & Whitney - Aerojet Joint Venture Wins $115 Million NASA Contract to Develop Reusable Liquid Booster Engines

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 17, 2001 -- A new joint venture called Pratt & Whitney - Aerojet Propulsion Associates today was awarded a two-year, $115 million NASA contract to develop booster engines in support of NASA's Space Launch Initiative (SLI) program -- the first phase in building a new space shuttle by 2010.

The joint venture is currently developing three booster engines (COBRA, RLX and AJAX) to support NASA’s 2nd Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle program, which is part of the SLI. This contract is for technology risk reduction activities relative to the COBRA and RLX booster engines. The initiative will identify the best technologies and engine(s) to achieve the safety and reliability goals required for highly reliable, low-cost reusable launch vehicles.

"As a single, stable team with broad capabilities, we can capitalize on our two companies' unique strengths to develop liquid booster engines that offer the best combination of safety, reliability, operability, performance and cost-effectiveness," said Rick Bachtel, director of the new joint venture. "Our team is organized to bring the 'best of the best' capability to develop our products without regard to the company of origin."

The joint venture between United Technology Corporation's Pratt & Whitney Liquid Space Propulsion and Aerojet-General Corporation was formed in March 2001. The goal of the joint venture is to develop next-generation, reusable liquid booster engines for NASA and also for the U.S. Air Force's Phase II Integrated High Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology (IHPRPT) program.

COBRA is a single preburner, staged, combustion hydrogen engine in the 600,000-pound thrust class. RLX is a split expander, hydrogen engine in the 300,000-pound thrust class. AJAX is a U.S.-based single preburner, staged, combustion hydrocarbon engine.

Pratt & Whitney is leading the development of the COBRA and RLX, while Aerojet is leading the development of the AJAX. The two companies bring complementary technical expertise to the partnership. Aerojet has a broad range of expertise in engine cycles and combustion devices. Pratt & Whitney has extensive experience in cryogenic engine technologies; advanced controls and engine health management/maintenance systems; and safe, durable turbopumps.

"We are combining decades of mission-proven, liquid propulsion experience into a strong partnership, as evidenced by this the team’s advanced propulsion concepts and this contract award," said Russ Reavis, Aerojet vice president of programs.

The joint venture is contractual, meaning it provides a single contractual mechanism for customers. Pratt & Whitney is the managing partner and will provide contractual and financial staff for the joint venture. The work for any contract awarded to the joint venture will be divided between Aerojet's and Pratt & Whitney's separate work sites. The two companies will continue to compete separately for contracts and programs outside the joint venture.

Aerojet, a GenCorp company, is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the space electronics, missile and space propulsion, and smart munitions and armaments markets. Aerojet's web site address is http://www.aerojet.com.

Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion, a leader in the propulsion industry, includes liquid rocket and hypersonic propulsion at Liquid Space Propulsion, located at West Palm Beach, Fla.; solid rocket propulsion at Chemical Systems Division, located at San Jose, Calif.; Russian RD-180 rocket engines from RD AMROSS LLC., located at West Palm Beach, Fla.; and automated spray systems and services at Advanced Systems Technology, located at Huntsville, Ala. P&W is a unit of United Technologies Corporation of Hartford, Conn. P&W’s web site address is http://www.Pratt-Whitney.com.

# # #