Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's Space Shuttle Main Engines Power Delivery of Parts and Cargo Module to the International Space Station

CANOGA PARK, Calif., Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Three Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) today successfully powered the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on Mission STS-133 to deliver spare parts and a modified cargo transfer module that will be permanently attached to the International Space Station (ISS) to provide additional storage space.  The SSME is the only fully reusable high-performance rocket engine rated for human space flight.  Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

Discovery launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on its 39^th flight into orbit.  With a crew of six, Discovery will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) that includes spare parts and supplies. It will also deliver the third ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC), which will provide mechanical mounting surfaces, electrical power, and data-handling services for science experiments.

"We're pleased to help NASA deliver supplies that will allow the International Space Station to achieve its full potential as a working laboratory until at least 2020," said Jim Paulsen, SSME program manager, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.  "Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has played a vital role in U.S. human spaceflight for 60 years, and we look forward to future missions with NASA and our international partners."

To hear directly from some of the people who have dedicated their lives to the success of the SSME program, go to: www.pw.utc.com/FacesoftheSSME

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a part of Pratt & Whitney, is a preferred provider of high-value propulsion, power, energy and innovative system solutions used in a wide variety of government and commercial applications, including the main engines for the space shuttle, Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, missile defense systems and advanced hypersonic engines.  Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is headquartered in Canoga Park, Calif., and has facilities in Huntsville, Ala.; Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Stennis Space Center, Miss.  For more information about Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, go to www.prattwhitneyrocketdyne.com.      

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne