Hercules Inc. has mixed and loaded propellant into the first solid rocket motor segment for the Titan IV Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade, company officials say.
Titan IV is a workhorse for the Air Force's space program, being used to put military satellites and other materials into orbit.The first segment, with about 300,000 pounds of propellant mixed in a big batching bowl, is the aft of a three-segment booster.
It's the biggest cast yet at Hercules Aerospace Co.'s new West Bacchus Works southwest of Salt Lake City, company officials said.
Connected, the three segments will form a single booster motor about a 100 feet high and 10 feet in diameter. Two boosters will be strapped on either side of a single liquid-fuel motor with the payload container on top.
Prior to first use, a Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade will be tested nozzle down next spring at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to simulate actual flight stress, Roger Blodgett, vice president of Titan Projects for Hercules Aerospace, said.
Assuming a successful test, Hercules will start production of flight motors for Martin Marietta, prime Titan contractor.
Hercules produces a variety of rocket motors in Utah for military missiles and space transport.