ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) released the following statement regarding NASA's announcement of its Space Launch System architecture:

"ATK applauds NASA's decision to move forward with a Space Launch System for human deep space exploration.  We are proud that NASA will utilize ATK's five-segment solid rocket motors as the baseline design for the initial flights.  ATK's five-segment boosters provide unmatched capability and we will deliver this performance within the current budget.  We are confident in the design and look forward to the early test flights to demonstrate our capability.  We are also well positioned to compete for the final design because of our proven performance and a thrust-to-weight ratio of our solid rocket motors which are ideally suited for first stage propulsion."

ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 23 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion.  News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.  The media statement issued today does contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved.  Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those factors are: assumptions related to costs and performance of advanced solid rocket motor technology.

SOURCE ATK