Alliant Aerospace Company today successfully completed the first of three static test firings to qualify a solid rocket motor for The Boeing Company’s new Delta IV Medium-plus family of launch vehicles.
The Delta IV vehicles are the latest derivative of the Delta family of rockets that has been lifting satellites into orbit since 1960. The new graphite epoxy motor for Delta IV, known as GEM-60, is designed to provide a lift capacity ranging between 12,890 and 14,475 pounds to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
Alliant Aerospace Company is leasing the state-of-the-art Thiokol Propulsion test facilities near Brigham City, Utah, to test the new Delta IV motors. The company previously conducted all test-firing operations at a remote site 80 miles west of Salt Lake City named Tekoi.
Paul Ross, senior group vice president, Aerospace, said today’s test represents a major milestone not only for Alliant Aerospace Company, but for the entire commercial satellite industry.
“The new Delta IV family of launch vehicles provides increased launch capability at a lower cost that is passed on to the satellite industry and their customers,” said Ross. “We are pleased to be partnered with Boeing on this new venture.”
Jeff Foote, vice president, Propulsion, Alliant Aerospace Company, said the test is a tremendous milestone for the Delta IV program.
“This event demonstrates again ATK’s capability to perform on-time development of new solid rocket motors,” said Foote. “This has been a great team effort between Boeing and our Delta IV team.”
The Delta IV Medium-plus family of launch vehicles is being developed to meet the commercial satellite industry’s growing demand for reliable and affordable access to space. The more affordable Delta IV family is designed to lower the cost of putting a pound of payload into orbit.
