SAN DIEGO, Feb. 9, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that its Defense & Rocket Support Services Business (KDRSS) recently supported the Aural Spatial Structures Probe Mission, which was successfully launched on a NASA Oriole IV sounding rocket at 5:41 a.m. EST on Jan. 28, 2015 from the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. Preliminary data show that all aspects of the payload worked as designed. KDRSS provided certain hardware, products, and solutions in support of this successful mission.
"This is likely the most complicated mission the sounding rocket program has ever undertaken, and it was not easy by any stretch," said John Hickman, operations manager of the NASA sounding rocket program office at the Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia. "It was technically challenging every step of the way. The payload deployed all six sub-payloads in formation as planned and all appeared to function as planned. Quite an amazing feat to maneuver and align the main payload, maintain the proper attitude while deploying all six 7.3-pound sub payloads at about 40 meters per second," said Hickman.
The Oriole IV sounding rocket, enabled by Kratos products and hardware, is the highest performing sounding rocket in NASA's current inventory. In addition to the high performance Oriole rocket motor system used as the rocket's third stage, Kratos also produces a high-strength tail can replacement that allows for the inclusion of the venerable Terrier Mk-70 motor as the rocket's second stage.
KDRSS is a leading provider of products, solutions, and services supporting ballistic missile defense, hypersonic, Aegis, sounding rocket, directed energy, electromagnetic railgun and other national security and scientific programs.
About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS) is a specialized National Security technology Company providing mission critical products, solutions and services for United States National Security. Kratos' core capabilities are sophisticated engineering, manufacturing and system integration offerings for National Security platforms and programs. Kratos' areas of expertise include Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), satellite communication systems, electronic warfare, unmanned systems, missile defense, cyber warfare, cybersecurity, information assurance, and critical infrastructure security. Kratos has primarily an engineering and technically oriented work force of approximately 3,600. Substantially all of Kratos' work is performed on a military base, in a secure facility or at a critical infrastructure location. Kratos' primary end customers are National Security related agencies. News and information are available at www.KratosDefense.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty, including risks related to product failure, general economic conditions and cutbacks in spending. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 29, 2013, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.