Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's RS-27A Sends Solar Observatory on Mission to Study the Sun
CANOGA PARK, CA. – October 25, 2006. A Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) RS-27A rocket engine powered a new observatory into space today that will study eruptions from the surface of the sun. NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory – or STEREO – will provide a new perspective on solar activity by capturing images from twin satellites at the same time. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a business unit of United Technologies [NYSE:UTX].
Generating 200,000 pounds of thrust, the PWR RS-27A engine boosted a Boeing Delta II and its STEREO payload from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The over four-minute RS-27A burn time positioned the Delta II first stage for release of the second stage and payload to complete the mission.
“Through the years our customers have always known they can count on this remarkable engine to do the job,” said Elizabeth Jones, RS-27A program manager. “That’s why the RS-27A has long been the engine of choice in this active segment of the launch business. And that, in turn, is a strong testament to the dedication and skills of the team that builds it.”
In over three decades, the RS-27 has been one of the most reliable booster engines in the world, continuing PWR’s legacy for propulsion excellence – a legacy that goes back more than a half-century. The RS-27 family has scored a 100-percent success record since the 1970s, with 210 launches to date.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc., a part of Pratt & Whitney, offers a complete line of propulsion products from launch vehicles to missile defense to advanced hypersonic propulsion. These have been used in a wide variety of government and commercial applications, including the main engines for the space shuttle, Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, and high altitude defense systems.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies provides high-technology products and services to the aerospace and building industries.
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© 2006, United Technologies Corp. -- Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne media relations contacts:Nancy Colaguori
(561) 796-2219
nancy.colaguori@pw.utc.com
John K. Mitchell
(818) 586-4564
john.mitchell@pwr.utc.com
Bryan Kidder
(818) 586-2213
bryan.kidder@pwr.utc.com
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