Alliant Techsystems has received contracts worth $750 million to continue with the supply of the graphite epoxy solid rocket GEM motors for Boeing's fleet of Delta launchers. Additional production options could take the value of the contract to $1 billion, says the Salt Lake City-based company. The nine Delta II GEMs (above) are 12.96m long and have a thrust of 446kN (100,000lb). Six motors ignite on the pad and burn out at 65s, at which time the remaining three motors are ignited.
Source: Flight International
