All articles tagged with #aerojet rocketdyne
L3Harris Technologies plans to sell a 60% stake in its space propulsion business to AE Industrial Partners for $845 million, while retaining a 40% stake and the RS-25 engine program. The deal aims to refocus L3Harris on core defense priorities, and AE Industrial intends to revive the Rocketdyne brand and collaborate on future propulsion technologies, including nuclear propulsion for deep-space exploration.
Aerojet Rocketdyne and United Launch Alliance (ULA) celebrated the 60th anniversary of the RL10 rocket engine, which became the first engine powered by a combination of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to be fired in space. Since its debut in 1963, 522 RL10 engines have flown in space, primarily on ULA's Delta and Atlas rockets. The RL10 engine has enabled the launch of spacecraft to various destinations in the solar system and is currently being upgraded with additive manufacturing techniques for increased performance and cost savings. ULA plans to debut the RL10C-X engine on its forthcoming Vulcan rocket in 2025.
L3Harris' acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne is set to close on or about July 28, as the Federal Trade Commission has decided not to challenge the $4.7 billion deal. L3Harris, a defense contractor, expects the acquisition to expand its presence in civil space, strategic defense systems, and precision munitions. This comes after a previous attempt by Lockheed Martin to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne was blocked by antitrust regulators.