SOME AT ROCKETDYNE SEE PLUSES IN SALE.Byline: Deborah Adamson Daily News Staff Writer Pushing a cart through a busy intersection on Canoga Avenue in Canoga Park, Dale Eckert looks like he doesn't have a care in the world. The Rocketdyne inspector was just told Thursday morning that his employer is being bought by Boeing Co. of Seattle. But Eckert, a survivor of two previous Rockwell International Rockwell International was the ultimate incarnation of a series of companies under the sphere of influence of Willard Rockwell, who had made his fortune after the invention and successful launch of a new bearing system for truck axles in 1919. layoffs, smells a difference this time around. ``I'm happy about it. I think it's going to be a good deal,'' said the lanky, 31-year Rocketdyne veteran on his way to another company facility. ``Everybody has a positive attitude about it,'' he said. ``We knew it was coming, but we just didn't know when.'' Eckert's attitude contrasts sharply with workers' comments last March amid rumors of a sale and anxiety about job losses. Of the two dozen workers interviewed outside Rocketdyne headquarters Thursday, about a third echoed Eckert's bullish sentiments while two were waiting for more information before forming an opinion. The rest declined to comment. One employee who didn't want to disclose his name expressed confidence that Boeing will keep most of Rocketdyne and, maybe, retain the rest of Rockwell intact. ``They gave us literature about it,'' he said. ``I'm not worried.'' He's confident because ``we're the only ones around that do this.'' A prime contractor for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), civilian agency of the U.S. federal government with the mission of conducting research and developing operational programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites (see satellite, artificial), , Rockwell built the space shuttle space shuttle, reusable U.S. space vehicle. Developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it consists of a winged orbiter, two solid-rocket boosters, and an external tank. and key components for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs of the 1960s. Its Rocketdyne Division builds replacement space shuttle engines, the electrical power system for Space Station Alpha, and engines for the Atlas and Delta commercial rockets. Another employee believed that an alliance with Boeing makes Rockwell a much stronger aerospace and defense company. ``Rockwell has been going downhill,'' he said, declining to be identified. But Claudio Alonso, a Rocketdyne inspector, is reserving judgment. ``I'm waiting for more information,'' he said. Cautious optimism also was the word of the day at Rockwell's Palmdale plant.``There's a real positive feel about (the deal),'' said technical writer Jeff Storm. WHO GETS WHAT BOEING GETS: Rocketdyne Division, Canoga Park. Rocket propulsion Rocket propulsion The process of imparting a force to a flying vehicle, such as a missile or a spacecraft, by the momentum of ejected matter. This matter, called propellant, is stored in the vehicle and ejected at high velocity. business. 3,700 employees in Canoga Park, 500 in the Santa Susana Santa Susana can refer to several places:
Major programs: Space shuttle main engines, space station electric power, X-33 missile engine, electro-optics and airborne laser program. Space Systems Division, Downey. Space shuttle modification business. 500 employees in Palmdale and 3,100 in Downey. Major programs: Space shuttle prime contractor and Global Positioning System Global Positioning System: see navigation satellite. Global Positioning System (GPS) Precise satellite-based navigation and location system originally developed for U.S. military use. satellite manufacturer. North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. Aircraft Division, Seal Beach Seal Beach, city (1990 pop. 25,098), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific coast; inc. 1915. It is a beach city with an active art colony. Transportation equipment and concrete are among the city's manufactures. U.S. naval stations are nearby. . Aircraft modification A change in the physical characteristics of aircraft, accomplished either by a change in production specifications or by alteration of items already produced. business. 500 employees in Palmdale, 1,000 in Seal Beach and 1,000 in Tulsa, Okla. Major programs: Modification of the B-1 bomber and production of airplane parts. Other divisions: North American Aircraft Modification Division, Anaheim. Autonetics & Missile Systems Division, Anaheim. Collins International Service Co., Richardson, Texas Richardson is a suburb in Dallas County and Collin County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 91,803, while according to a 2006 estimate, the population had grown to 99,200. . Systems Development Center, Seal Beach. Rockwell's 50 percent share of Houston-based United Space Alliance, a joint venture with Lockheed Martin For the former company, see . Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a leading multinational aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology company formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. Corp. Rockwell Australia, Canberra. ROCKWELL RETAINS: Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation NYSE: ROK is an industrial automation company. Its products include Allen-Bradley controls and engineered services and Rockwell Software factory management software. The company headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. , Milwaukee. Rockwell Avionics and Communications, made up of Collins Commercial Avionics and Collins Avionics & Communications Division, both based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the Communications Systems Division at Richardson, Texas. Rockwell Semiconductor Systems, Newport Beach. Rockwell Automotive, Troy, Mich. Rockwell Science Center, Thousand Oaks. Source: Rockwell International Corp. CAPTION(S): Photo, 2 Boxes Photo: (Color) Dale Eckert, a 31-year Rockwell emp loyee, said Thursday he's happy about Boeing Co.'s acquisition. Michael Owen Baker/Daily News Box: (1--Color) Defense companies merge Rockwell International Corp. will sell the bulk of its aerospace and defense businesses to Boeing Co. Some key projects AP (2) WHO GETS WHAT (See text) |
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