Northrop Grumman delivered three 63-inch diameter GEM 63 solid rocket motors for United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 launch vehicle. Credit: Northrop Grumman

WASHINGTON — Northrop Grumman announced July 21 it has delivered three custom designed solid rocket motors that will fly later this year on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 vehicle. The performance of these strap-on boosters on the Atlas 5 will serve as a preview for a larger version that Northrop Grumman is developing for ULA’s future launch vehicle Vulcan Centaur.

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Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense...