Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Engine Boosts Modernized Navigation Satellite into Orbit

CANOGA PARK, Calif., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne boosted the seventh modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) Block IIR military navigation satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station today. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, powered a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with an RS-27A engine. It was the 228th flight boosted by the RS-27 family of engines to lift a satellite.

“The RS-27A engine performed perfectly and we are proud to support the U.S. Air Force and United Launch Alliance as the GPS constellation is modernized and improved,” said Elizabeth Jones, RS-27A program manager, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. “Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne committed to ensuring the critical missions of our customers are successful.”

The Block IIR is one in a series of satellites that provide improved navigation accuracy and longer autonomous satellite operation than earlier GPS models. The satellites can determine their own positions among other Block IIR satellites, and have reprogrammable processes that enable repairs and upgrades in flight. With a 60-day advance notice, a Block IIR satellite can be lifted into any of the required GPS orbits. The eighth and final Block IIR satellite is currently scheduled to launch in September.

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc., a part of Pratt & Whitney, is a preferred provider of high-value propulsion, power, energy and innovative system solutions used in a wide variety of government and commercial applications, including the main engines for the space shuttle, Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, missile defense systems and advanced hypersonic engines.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and commercial building industries.

    Bryan Kidder                             Carri Karuhn
    Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne               Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
    +1.818.586.2213                          +1.818.586.4963
    bryan.kidder@pwr.utc.com                 carri.karuhn@pwr.utc.com