CONTRACT AWARDED IN ENGINE PROJECT XCOR TO ASSIST ALLIANT ENDEAVOR.

Byline: Daily News

MOJAVE -- XCOR Aerospace announced that it won a $3.3 million contract with Alliant Techsystems as part of Alliant Techsystem's NASA contract to develop a nontoxic liquid oxygen/methane rocket engine for America's next manned spacecraft.

XCOR will provide engineering design and testing support to help Alliant Techsystems develop a heavyweight prototype version of a 7,500-pound thrust liquid oxygen/methane engine that NASA's Crew Exploration Vehicle could use for maneuvering in space or blasting off from the moon.

``We are very excited about the opportunity to contribute to NASA's exploration program in such a significant way,'' XCOR President Jeff Greason said. ``We are proud that NASA selected our team over many more traditional rocket engine suppliers.''

Since its inception in 1999, Mojave-based XCOR has designed, built and tested several different rocket engines, including a 50-pound thrust liquid-oxygen/methane engine and an 1,800-pound thrust liquid oxygen/hydrocarbon engine.

Under DARPA sponsorship, XCOR also designed a 10,000-pound thrust liquid-oxygen/methane engine that will form the basis for the design of the NASA CEV engine.

The work is being done under a $10.4 million contract awarded to Minnesota-based Alliance Techsystems, also known as ATK. ATK is a $3.3 billion manufacturer of munitions and rocket motors, employing about 15,000 people in 23 states.

NASA studies favored liquid-oxygen/methane propulsion for the new spacecraft because it eliminates the need for special ground-handling procedures associated with traditional -- and dangerous -- nitrogen tetroxide and monomethyl hydrazine propulsion systems.

The first phase of the development is to design and test a heavyweight, prototype rocket motor. Upon completion, the contract allows for options to design and fabricate a more flight-weight prototype engine.