Alliant Techsystems solid propulsion and composite technologies supported the successful launch yesterday of an Orbital Sciences Corporation Minotaur launch vehicle from Wallops Island, Virginia. The launch placed the Missile Defense Agency's experimental Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) spacecraft in orbit.
ATK supplied the Orion 50XL and Orion 38 motors that served as Minotaur's third and fourth stages, respectively. These stages are manufactured in its Salt Lake City facility. In addition to being used on Minotaur space launch vehicles that Orbital produces under the U.S. Air Force's Orbital/Suborbital program, Orion motors are used on their highly successful, Taurus XL® and air-launched Pegasus XL® vehicle.ATK's Clearfield, Utah facility produced the 50' and 38' diameter composite cases for the second and third stage motors, and the composite interstage that joins the two. ATK's Flexseal assemblies also allow the Rocket motor nozzle to change the angle of thrust for steering control while providing a critical seal between the Rocket motor and the nozzle. |
