NASA Social group tours the propellant mixing facility at Orbital ATK’s promontory site in Utah. Photo: Orbital ATK

[Via Satellite 09-21-2015] Orbital ATK’s wholly owned subsidiary Alliant Techsystems Operations has received a Research and Technologies for Aerospace Propulsion Systems 2 (RTAPS2) contract from NASA to provide advanced space propulsion system technologies. Under the contract, an Orbital ATK team consisting of more than a dozen technology partners and small businesses will research and develop space propulsion technologies for higher mission performance, reduced cost, improved operability and reliability, and greater safety. Elements of the space propulsion award include liquid engine systems, propellant systems, electric propulsion and rocket-based combined cycle.

NASA developed the RTAPS2 contract as part of aerospace research activities at the agency’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. RTAPS2 lets qualified industry partners develop, demonstrate and verify advanced propulsion system technologies as part of NASA’s aerospace research programs.