Aerojet, the defense and aerospace subsidiary of Rancho Cordova-based GenCorp Inc., provided the solid rocket boosters that lifted NASA's Mars Science Laboratory on its way to the Red Planet on Saturday.
Four Aerojet AJ60 boosters provided 1.5 million pounds of thrust to help propel United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket into space from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Eight Aerojet retro rockets also assisted with the Atlas Centaur separation from the launch vehicle about 4.5 minutes into flight. Twelve Aerojet monopropellant hydrazine thrusters on the Atlas V Centaur upper stage provided roll, pitch and yaw control as well as settling burns for the upper stage main engine.
Scientists hope the Mars Science Laboratory's eight-month journey to Mars - where it will drop a rover vehicle onto the surface - will provide more detailed information about whether the Red Planet is, or ever has been, hospitable to life.
"Aerojet's heritage in Mars exploration dates back to Viking, when we provided the original version of the throttleable MR-80 thruster for both successful Viking landings," said Julie Van Kleeck, Aerojet vice president of space and launch systems.
See more details in Tuesday's edition of The Sacramento Bee.
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