Aerojet Rocketdyne Integrates Vacuum Chamber Into Engineering Facility; Eileen Drake Quoted

Aerojet Rocketdyne has incorporated a vacuum chamber casting into its Camden, N.J.-based engineering, manufacturing and development facility to support production efforts for large solid rocket motors.

The casting bell will work to mitigate air bubbles produced by propellants within solid rocket motor casings and temper fuel to ambient temperatures during the curing process, the company said Thursday.

Aerojet Rocketdyne transported the casting bell from its Sacramento, Calif.-based facility and was initially employed to manufacture rocket boosters for United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket. The company seeks to support the development of hypersonics and intercontinental ballistic missiles through the casting bell.

“The installation of the casting bell is a major milestone as Aerojet Rocketdyne continues to prepare for national security programs,” said Eileen Drake, president and CEO at Aerojet Rocketdyne.

The 17K-square foot EMD facility is slated to open in the spring.

Northrop Grumman has tapped Aerojet Rocketdyne to build a post-boost propulsion platform and a large solid rocket motor system in support of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent initiative.