P&W Wins $2.2 M for Solar Thermal Propulsion Rocket Engine

(Canoga Park, Calif., June 25, 2008) -- The United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne a $2.2 million contract for the fabrication and ground test of a Solar Thermal Propulsion rocket engine. This contract extends the current High Delta-V Experiment Program (HiDVE) another six months and follows a successful critical design review last March. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

The Solar Thermal Propulsion engine encompasses an innovative new technology that allows it to use less fuel by harnessing the sun's energy. This gives the satellite greater ability to maneuver in space and conduct longer missions by extending the use of its fuel.

"We are proud to be part of this cutting edge technology that will revolutionize nanosatellites and on-orbit propulsion," said Patrick Frye, program manager for the HiDVE program at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. "This will provide a dramatic increase in propulsive capability over current chemical thruster systems."

Source : Pratt & Whitney

Recent News / Press releases from Pratt & Whitney

• PW308A-Powered WK2 Launch Aircraft for 1st Commercial Space Flight Debuts [Aerospace] [Space] [ Tue 29 Jul 2008 ]
• P&W Wins $533 M for V2500 Engines from Wizz Air [Aerospace] [Aviation] [ Mon 21 Jul 2008 ]
• P&W Wins $166 M for V2500 Engines from AWAS [Aerospace] [Aviation] [ Mon 21 Jul 2008 ]
• P&W Wins $130 M PW4000 Engine Order from Uzbekistan Airways [ Mon 21 Jul 2008 ]
• P&W Wins US$83 M for V2500 Engines from CIT Aerospace [Aerospace] [Aviation] [ Mon 21 Jul 2008 ]
• P&W Canada Leads Groundbreaking Biofuels Research Project [Aerospace] [Aviation] [ Mon 14 Jul 2008 ]
• P&W Wins $2.2 M for Solar Thermal Propulsion Rocket Engine [Space] [Defence] [ Thu 26 Jun 2008 ]