Aerojet Engines Power Japanese HTV Mission to International Space Station

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, announced today that the second Japanese re-supply vehicle, HII Transfer Vehicle (HTV) -- named KOUNOTORI2, was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The HTV was launched on Saturday, Jan. 22 aboard an H-IIB vehicle and is carrying essential equipment and supplies to the Station. KOUNOTORI, meaning "white stork," conveys the image of carrying something precious and symbolizing the HTV mission.

KOUNOTORI2 will deliver up to six tons of food, clothes, and various experiment devices to the ISS. While the HTV is berthed to the ISS, the crew will enter and remove supplies from the HTV Pressurized Logistics Carrier and pack the HTV with waste materials, including used experimental equipment and clothing. The HTV will remain on station for more than one month, then undock and separate from the ISS and re-enter the atmosphere. The entire module will be deliberately burned up during re-entry.

In support of the mission, Aerojet provided all of the rocket engines aboard the HTV: four model R-4D liquid bipropellant (100 lbf thrust) main engines and 28 model R-1E (25 lbf thrust) reaction control engines. The R-4D engines are primarily used for delta-v raising and orbital maneuvers, while the smaller R-1Es are used for attitude control during docking.

"Aerojet is pleased to support the second mission of the HTV," said Dr. Scott Miller, Aerojet director of Chemical Propulsion Programs. "The launch of the second re-supply vehicle is a triumph for Japan and performs an essential service for the International Space Station."

Aerojet's R-4D bipropellant main engines are a derivative of the engines flown on Apollo. They are used for achieving orbit on many geosynchronous satellites and also will be used on the next-generation Orion Service Module.

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' websites at http://www.Aerojet.com and http://www.GenCorp.com.

SOURCE Aerojet