Congressman Sherman Welcomes Expansion of Aerojet Rocketdyne San Fernando Valley Facility for NASA’s Moon and Mars Rocket

Los Angeles, California – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), member of the House Committee on Science and Space, helped commemorate the completion of Aerojet Rocketdyne's major expansion of its San Fernando Valley facility that will play a critical part in the future of NASA and human space exploration.

"The $57 million to expand the facility is important to the economy of the San Fernando Valley," said Congressman Sherman. "What's far more important is the billions in NASA contracts I expect over the next decade."

"The San Fernando Valley has a rich history of being at the forefront of aerospace innovation," said Congressman Sherman. "Aerojet Rocketdyne's work to produce RS-25 engines continues that tradition and will usher in a new age of human space exploration. I welcome this significant investment in manufacturing space and the creation of new jobs right here in the Valley."

Located in Canoga Park, the expanded facility will support the production of new-generation RS-25 main engines for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), critically needed to launch NASA's Artemis program. In the words of NASA, "This is the most powerful rocket we've ever built. When completed, SLS will enable astronauts to begin their journey to explore destinations far into the solar system."

In May of 2020, NASA announced that it had placed Aerojet Rocketdyne on contract for an additional eighteen of its RS-25 engines, which will be used in future missions. This manufacturing facility will produce engines with the unprecedented power capable of launching crews of astronauts to the moon and even more distant destinations, and delivery to NASA is expected by 2024.

"The innovation of Aerojet Rocketdyne has been a shining example of the San Fernando Valley's leadership in space exploration for years," said Sherman in closing. "I am honored to congratulate the Aerojet Rocketdyne community on the expansion of this facility; for its latest achievement in space exploration; and for providing the capability to take the next giant steps in space exploration."

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