MINNEAPOLIS --- Alliant Techsystems has received a $17.5 million contract from Orbital Sciences Corporation for CASTOR 120 motors. The motors will be used on the Taurus XL launch vehicle and will support NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) and Glory earth science satellite missions scheduled for launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. in 2008. ATK Launch Systems will perform the work at its Promontory, Utah, facility.
The CASTOR 120 is a medium-sized solid rocket motor that develops approximately 371,000-lbf average thrust during its 82-second burn time. The CASTOR 120 flew for the first time in 1997 as the first stage of an Athena I launch vehicle.
ATK is a $3.4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 15,000 people in 22 states.
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ATK Receives $17.5 Million Contract for CASTOR 120(R) Motors
