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Shuttle Atlantis Flies with Three New P&W Fuel Turbopumps

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- April 8, 2002 -- Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Space Propulsion achieved a significant milestone today with the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-110) from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. This launch marks the beginning of Shuttle flight with the new P&W fuel (hydrogen) high-pressure turbopump installed on each of the three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) as key components of the upgraded Block II engine design.

"Our fuel turbopump now joins our LOX (liquid-oxygen) turbopump as standard equipment on all future Shuttle missions," stated Larry D. Knauer, President, Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion & Russian Operations. "This is a tremendous accomplishment and represents the culmination of many years of dedication on the part of our customers, Pratt & Whitney and the Shuttle Team."

P&W’s tubopumps, featuring fewer welds, a stronger integral shaft/disk and more robust bearings, provide improved safety margins and life expectancy, which extends the number of Shuttle flights allowed between major overhauls. In addition to the high-pressure fuel and LOX turbopump on each SSME, P&W provides 16 booster separation motors for each Shuttle launch.

Last July, a single P&W fuel turbopump flew successfully on Shuttle Atlantis (STS-104) in the debut of the Block II SSME. A second Block II SSME with P&W’s fuel turbopump was flown on Shuttle Endeavour (STS-108) last December.

P&W will provide overhaul and refurbishment (O&R) for its LOX and fuel turbopumps at each overhaul interval (approximately 10 missions). After refurbishment, each turbopump will be returned to Shuttle service for an additional 10 missions. A minimum service life of 3 overhaul intervals, or 30 missions, is anticipated for each turbopump. P&W’s turbopump O&R activity will continue throughout the Space Shuttle’s operational life, which is currently expected to extend beyond 2012.

The new fuel turbopump is produced by P&W at its West Palm Beach, Fla. facility and is tested at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The SSME Program is managed by NASA’s Space Shuttle Projects Office located at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion designs, develops, manufactures, tests and supports space propulsion systems; providing industry with solid, liquid and hypersonic propulsion for launch and missile applications. Liquid rocket and hypersonic propulsion systems are produced at the company’s headquarters in West Palm Beach, Fla. and solid rocket propulsion systems are produced at its San Jose, Calif. facility.

The company provides Russian rocket engines to the launch industry through RD AMROSS LLC., which is located at West Palm Beach, Fla. Advanced Systems Technology, located at Huntsville, Ala., is also a part of P&W Space Propulsion and provides automated spray systems and services to a variety of customers, including the aerospace industry.

Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies company (NYSE:UTX), is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines.

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