SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp company, used its propulsion to launch the Space Shuttle Discovery on its 14-day mission to deliver needed components to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo Laboratory at the International Space Station. Discovery roared into orbit Saturday from the Kennedy Space Center to begin its rendezvous with the International Space Station. Aerojet propulsion will also be used in on-orbit operations and during landing.
The STS-124 mission is the 123rd space shuttle flight and Discovery's 35th flight. Aerojet's Orbital Maneuvering Engines, primary thrusters, gas generators and Vernier thrusters have flown on every space shuttle mission since the first Shuttle was launched in 1981. "Aerojet is proud to provide the propulsion that Discovery's crew will need throughout this demanding mission," said Aerojet President Scott Neish.
Aerojet engines and thrusters are also planned for use on Orion and Ares -- the new human space flight programs that NASA has under development.
Aerojet is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, defense and armaments markets. GenCorp is a leading technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems with a real estate segment that includes activities related to the entitlement, sale, and leasing of the company's excess real estate assets. Additional information about Aerojet and GenCorp can be obtained by visiting the companies' Web sites at http://www.aerojet.com/ and http://www.gencorp.com/.
