Aerojet Rocketdyne has concluded two hot-fire tests of air-launch motors at the Air Force Research Laboratory, under the firm’s advanced tactical booster program.
The company said Monday it designed the solid rocket motors to simulate extreme cold- and hot-soak launch conditions.
The tested motors demonstrated the capacity to accelerate vehicles under extreme operational temperatures.
Aerojet Rocketdyne designed and fabricated the motors under an AFRL contract for the development of new boosters that would thrust future vehicles.
Eileen Drake, president and CEO at Aerojet Rocketdyne, said that the new data will help the company verify thermal, structural and ignition models to develop the next-generation operational booster rocket motor.