Aerojet and Orbital Complete Main Engine Lifetime Testing

Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company, and Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), along with Aerojet's Russian partner, SNTK, announced today that a series of NK-33 rocket engine tests conducted in Samara, Russia were successfully completed in support of the development of Orbital's Taurus(R) II space launch vehicle.

The purpose of the extended-time testing of the NK-33 engine, on which the AJ26 first-stage engine for the Taurus II rocket is based, was to demonstrate a 'hot-fire' duration equal to two times a normal Taurus II acceptance testing and launch profile duty cycle. Over the last two weeks, three tests were conducted by SNTK with a cumulative duration of more than 600 seconds. These tests verified the significant technical margins on engine performance and durability required by Orbital's Taurus II development program.

GenCorp President and CEO and Aerojet President, Scott Seymour, said, "Completing the margin testing is a significant milestone in Aerojet's contract with Orbital. This success demonstrates the engine's robust design and its ability to operate at the power levels and duration times compatible with the Taurus II flight profile with additional performance margin."

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