Space

AEROJET SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES FINAL QUALIFICATION TEST FIRING OF ATLAS V SOLID ROCKET MOTOR

SACRAMENTO, CA, December 11th, 2002 -- Aerojet today successfully completed the final qualification test firing of the full-scale, 67-foot Atlas V solid rocket motor for 95 seconds at thrust levels ranging from 285,000 to 390,000 lbf. The motor, strapped horizontally to a massive test stand, burned according to design in this assessment of the performance, quality and processing of the solid rocket motor assembly. Preliminary review of post-test data indicates the motor achieved all performance objectives that were specified for the test. The test conducted today marked the last of three qualification tests firings for application on Lockheed Martin's Atlas V. Completion of the qualification phase is expected by February 2003 and production of flight motors is underway to support a planned first flight in 2003.

"Today's test was the final critical milestone for use of the Aerojet solid rocket motor on Lockheed Martin's Atlas V launch vehicle," said Mark Kaufman, Aerojet Atlas V program director. "The test demonstrated Aerojet's strong capabilities in designing, manufacturing, and producing the world's longest monolithic solid rocket motor." Up to five solid rocket motors can be strapped to an Atlas V 400 or 500 series vehicle, depending on the mission requirements.

Aerojet's solid rocket motor design derives much of its technology from the company's extensive experience producing solid rocket motors for past programs developed to defend our nation, as well as pioneering work on numerous other large and small defense and space systems. Engineers have been able to capitalize on the inherent reliability of Aerojet solid rocket motors that is the result of decades of flight-testing and real mission experience.

Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, and defense and armaments markets. For more information, please visit http://www.aerojet.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements as defined under the federal securities laws, including statements about the beneficial use of the Aerojet solid rocket motor. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the statements.

Other risk factors are described in more detail in GenCorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2001 and its subsequent periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent 10-Q filed for the period ending August 31, 2002. Additional risks may be described from time to time in future filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All such risk factors are difficult to predict, contain material uncertainties that may affect actual results, and may be beyond GenCorp's contro.

Susan Bassett, Aerojet, 916.355.2310
susan.bassett@aerojet.com

Linda Cutler, GenCorp, 916.351.8650
linda.cutler@gencorp.com