F A C T S H E E T

F A C T S AT A G L A N C E

• The CASTOR 30 motor was used as the Antares second stage for the first four missions

• The CASTOR 30XL took its place starting with the fifth flight of Antares

• Based on the CASTOR 120® motor

Upper-Stage Solid Rocket MotorsOrbital ATK developed the CASTOR® 30 family in response to a market need for large-diameter, upper-stage solid rocket motors. The motor family has the flexibility to serve markets as diverse as space launch, Prompt Global Strike (PGS) and Operationally Responsive Space (ORS). These motors join a heritage of Orbital ATK CASTOR motors with proven high reliability for more than 50 years. CASTOR 30 motors are based on the CASTOR 120® motor, which has flown on the Taurus® XL, Athena I and Athena II launch vehicles. The CASTOR 30 and CASTOR 30XL motors are currently used as the second stage of the Antares™ launch vehicle performing resupply missions to the International Space Station.

Orbital ATK currently manufactures a complete line of first- and second-stage and strap-on CASTOR solid rocket motors. The CASTOR heritage was developed from four generations of first-stage ballistic missile boosters and the technology and experience at Orbital ATK.

CASTOR® 30/30XLLow-cost, robust, state-of-the-art upper-stage motors

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BackgroundThe CASTOR 30 and CASTOR 30XL motors have both been successfully test fired at simulated altitude at the Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee. The CASTOR 30XL team took the static fire motor from concept to completion in less than two years.

FeaturesThe CASTOR 30 measures 138 inches in length, 92 inches in diameter and weighs 30,000 pounds. The motor is nominally designed as an upper stage that can function as a second or third stage as well, depending on the vehicle configuration. Its design uses all flight-proven technology and materials while capitalizing on Orbital ATK’s extensive experience in solid motor development and manufacturing. The CASTOR 30XL solid rocket motor is 236 inches in length, 92 inches in diameter and weighs approximately 58,000 pounds. The nozzle is eight feet long with a submerged design with a high-performance expansion ratio and a dual density exit cone well suited for high-altitude operation.

ApplicationsThe versatile CASTOR 30 family of motors has multiple commercial and government applications including:

• Antares, a medium-lift Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS) application

• Athena launch vehicles

CASTOR® 30/30XL Fact Sheet

March 2016

For information contact: DefenseandCommercialBdev@orbitalatk.com