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Pratt & Whitney tests first RL60 Upper Stage rocket engine component

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - July 1, 2002 -- Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Space Propulsion has successfully hot fire tested its first RL60 engine component. A full-scale thrust chamber injector was tested at the company's West Palm Beach, Florida facility at full-power conditions (equivalent to 65,0000 pounds of thrust).

"This is a major first step in the development of what will be the highest performing upper stage engine in the world," stated Rob Bullock, program manager for the RL60 program. The RL60, which passed critical design review in March, is now in the hardware manufacturing and component test phase. "We plan to run a full up engine test in the 2nd quarter of next year," said Bullock.

In April of last year, P&W announced its plans to develop the RL60, a new high-performance liquid-hydrogen-fueled 60,000 pound-thrust-class rocket engine.

Following a successful demonstrator engine program, the RL60 could proceed into full-scale development and be ready for service by the end of 2006. In addition, P&W plans to use the robust RL60 expander cycle technology for even higher thrust applications for reusable launch vehicles (RLV).

This effort supports second-generation RLV trade studies for NASA's Space Launch Initiative and the utilization of the RLX second-stage expander cycle engine for that system.

Pratt & Whitney Space Propulsion, a leader in the propulsion industry, includes liquid, solid and hypersonic propulsion, has facilities located at West Palm Beach, Fla.; San Jose, Calif.; and Huntsville, Ala. Pratt & Whitney's web site address is http://www.Pratt-whitney.com. 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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