ATK Aerospace Systems laid off about 100 employees on Wednesday as a result of the end of NASA's space shuttle program.
Employees were informed of the move at the end of June. Of the 100 who were laid off Wednesday, 28 volunteered. Five were transferred to other divisions, and 11 of them are out of state. The reduction was primarily in Utah - with locations in Magna, Clearfield and Promontory - but also affected locations in Alabama and Florida, according to a press statement.
"We have some of the most dedicated, passionate teams I've ever encountered," said Trina Patterson, spokeswoman for ATK Aerospace Systems. "It's a very, very hard day for us, and it's not easy to do this."
This is not the first layoff that ATK has had in recent years, but it is a smaller reduction, Patterson told The Herald Journal.
"We remain encouraged about ATK's long-term role in space exploration, with our commercial Liberty Launch Vehicle and the development of NASA's Space Launch System that can use our advanced solid rocket motor technology," Patterson said. "We are also actively engaged in securing future work that spans our heritage programs and customers, as well as strategically expanding in new, adjacent business areas."
ATK's Utah delegation is currently working to secure NASA's future heavy lift vehicle. It's also continuing to work on the development of the upgraded five-segment solid rocket motor and will conduct a third ground test in September.
Showing posts with label ATK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ATK. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
End of Space Shuttle Program Hits Utah Hard
For more than 30 years, NASA's space shuttle program has been a cornerstone of Utah's economy. That era ended Friday with the launch of Atlantis, which ends the shuttle program.
It stops the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars that came to Utah from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for tests and construction of the solid-fuel rocket booster motors that launch the spacecraft into orbit. Gone, too, are thousands of jobs from Alliant Tech Systems, known as ATK, and other northern Utah companies that supported the industry.
"I never thought they should end the shuttle program until there was a replacement for it," said Jake Garn, a one-time shuttle astronaut and former U.S. senator. "It has been a big boon to Utah, and I just hate to see the program come to an end."
On clear nights, Fred Perkins said he often looks up to see the International Space Station fly past. It represents a million tons of equipment that ATK's booster motors helped put into orbit.
"And you can watch it in the sky as if it were a new star," said Perkins chief shuttle engineer for the company which built the motor. "When I watch the space shuttle lifting off, it is overwhelming. I am in awe that human beings can actually come together and do that kind of work."
Some say the end of the shuttle program doesn't necessarily mean the future is all doom and gloom for Utah.
ATK will almost certainly be involved in the nation's future space-flight efforts, which virtually guarantees Utah will play a role — although the state may have to weather some tough times until NASA again sends astronauts into space aboard an American-made rocket.
Northern Utah's Box Elder County will certainly feel the pain. The county is the home of ATK's Promontory plant, where booster motors were assembled and tested.
"The economy in Box Elder County is going to be adjusting ... for some time to come," said John Matthews, a labor market economist at the Utah Department of Workforce Services who tracks northern Utah's workforce.
Unemployment in the county currently sits at 9.2 percent, much higher than the statewide rate of 7.3 percent. Much of the difference can be traced to the loss of thousands of workers let got from ATK since the wind-down of the shuttle program began in 2009.
"It has been really devastating for a lot of people around here," said Leon Payne, a 71-year-old Tremonton resident and ATK retiree who recently saw of his two brothers-in-law and a son let go from the rocket motor maker.
Payne, who started worked at ATK predecessor, Thiokol Corp., out of high school in 1958, says it's clear that what ATK needs going forward is new contracts.
"It was a good place to work, and it helped build me a home, buy a little property and raise three kids," said Payne who worked on the 1981 launch of the first shuttle before moving to the propellant program. "Those jobs helped put a lot of meals on a lot of tables. But I'm worried it could be a long time before we see those jobs return."
Former Tremonton Mayor Max Weese, who worked at Thiokol in the 1960s and 1970s, said even residents who didn't work at ATK's Promontory plant understood its importance. He's confident the jobs will return and that area residents will again hear the roar of rocket test firings from the hills west of the city.
"You could hear it and see the exhaust climbing into the sky," he said. "It would rattle windows, and sometimes there would be dust settling on the cars. But if they made a mess in your yard, you could always call them and they'd come out and clean it up.
It stops the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars that came to Utah from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for tests and construction of the solid-fuel rocket booster motors that launch the spacecraft into orbit. Gone, too, are thousands of jobs from Alliant Tech Systems, known as ATK, and other northern Utah companies that supported the industry.
"I never thought they should end the shuttle program until there was a replacement for it," said Jake Garn, a one-time shuttle astronaut and former U.S. senator. "It has been a big boon to Utah, and I just hate to see the program come to an end."
On clear nights, Fred Perkins said he often looks up to see the International Space Station fly past. It represents a million tons of equipment that ATK's booster motors helped put into orbit.
"And you can watch it in the sky as if it were a new star," said Perkins chief shuttle engineer for the company which built the motor. "When I watch the space shuttle lifting off, it is overwhelming. I am in awe that human beings can actually come together and do that kind of work."
Some say the end of the shuttle program doesn't necessarily mean the future is all doom and gloom for Utah.
ATK will almost certainly be involved in the nation's future space-flight efforts, which virtually guarantees Utah will play a role — although the state may have to weather some tough times until NASA again sends astronauts into space aboard an American-made rocket.
Northern Utah's Box Elder County will certainly feel the pain. The county is the home of ATK's Promontory plant, where booster motors were assembled and tested.
"The economy in Box Elder County is going to be adjusting ... for some time to come," said John Matthews, a labor market economist at the Utah Department of Workforce Services who tracks northern Utah's workforce.
Unemployment in the county currently sits at 9.2 percent, much higher than the statewide rate of 7.3 percent. Much of the difference can be traced to the loss of thousands of workers let got from ATK since the wind-down of the shuttle program began in 2009.
"It has been really devastating for a lot of people around here," said Leon Payne, a 71-year-old Tremonton resident and ATK retiree who recently saw of his two brothers-in-law and a son let go from the rocket motor maker.
Payne, who started worked at ATK predecessor, Thiokol Corp., out of high school in 1958, says it's clear that what ATK needs going forward is new contracts.
"It was a good place to work, and it helped build me a home, buy a little property and raise three kids," said Payne who worked on the 1981 launch of the first shuttle before moving to the propellant program. "Those jobs helped put a lot of meals on a lot of tables. But I'm worried it could be a long time before we see those jobs return."
Former Tremonton Mayor Max Weese, who worked at Thiokol in the 1960s and 1970s, said even residents who didn't work at ATK's Promontory plant understood its importance. He's confident the jobs will return and that area residents will again hear the roar of rocket test firings from the hills west of the city.
"You could hear it and see the exhaust climbing into the sky," he said. "It would rattle windows, and sometimes there would be dust settling on the cars. But if they made a mess in your yard, you could always call them and they'd come out and clean it up.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Another Round of Layoffs at ATK
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Solid rocket manufacturer Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) announced a layoff of 134 employees at it's Utah facility today, Tuesday, April 5, 2011.
This recent layoff was much smaller than in the past and is a result of the completion of the space shuttle program and the changes in the funding of the ARES program. The Promontory plant is located 20 miles south and west of Tremonton and while this loss is not as large as in the past, the loss of these jobs will be felt in the local economy.
More than 2,300 people still work at the facility and ATK plans to continue to work on NASA programs, as well as commercial and cargo programs.
This will most likely not be the last layoff at ATK, but the company is optimistic about ATK’s future in the solid rocket program.
Solid rocket manufacturer Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) announced a layoff of 134 employees at it's Utah facility today, Tuesday, April 5, 2011.
This recent layoff was much smaller than in the past and is a result of the completion of the space shuttle program and the changes in the funding of the ARES program. The Promontory plant is located 20 miles south and west of Tremonton and while this loss is not as large as in the past, the loss of these jobs will be felt in the local economy.
More than 2,300 people still work at the facility and ATK plans to continue to work on NASA programs, as well as commercial and cargo programs.
This will most likely not be the last layoff at ATK, but the company is optimistic about ATK’s future in the solid rocket program.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Two Men Critically Injured in Box Elder County Accident
March 1, 2011
One of these men is an older brother to a dear friend that I used to work with at ATK Launch Systems. Kristin contacted several of us today to give us the status of her brother since the wreck:
http://wayne54.wordpress.com/
Two men were critically injured in a collision with an ATK pick-up truck in Box Elder County Wednesday (February 23, 2011).
The victims were heading westbound on SR-83 when an eastbound pick-up truck turned north into a plant area near ATK – crashing into the smaller car.
The driver and passenger of the car had to be extricated from the vehicle and one was transported to Ogden Regional Medical Center and the other flown to the University Hospital – both in critical condition.
SR-83 was closed for nearly three hours during the investigation.
One of these men is an older brother to a dear friend that I used to work with at ATK Launch Systems. Kristin contacted several of us today to give us the status of her brother since the wreck:
My older brother Wayne was in the car accident out at ATK. Wayne finally became alert today and was following verbal commands very slowly, but he was at least doing them. He has many broken bones and a few other injuries. Below is a list of things he is going through:
Broken left femur (surgery has been done)
Fractured T-8 in back (surgery has been done)
Laceration on his kidney
Collapsed lung (slowly weaning off ventilator)
Broken eye sockets, cheekbones, jaw, nose and cracked palate (surgery is scheduled for this Thursday)
A little bleeding by his brain (they say it is good now, but he has some damage to a little of his brain that has to do with his motor skills. The doctor said other parts of his brain can help out with this area.)
They have basically said that Wayne has a severe concussion, but he wasn't waking up and that worried the doctors. He had several CT scans, an EEG scan and an MRI. He is now alert and trying to do what is asked of him by his therapists and doctors. We are so thankful!
We've had alot of prayers going out from everyone that knows Wayne and even some that don't.
There is a blog that my nephews set up on Wayne's recovery. The website name is http://wayne54.wordpress.com/ You can start from the first and work your way up to today or just follow along as my nephews and niece update it with any little news we get.
http://wayne54.wordpress.com/
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Rattled By News of Traffic Accident
February 23, 2011
Having made the commute to ATK Launch Systems in Promontory for 11 years, the news of this accident has my stomache turning and rattled. No names have been released, but considering it was during the morning commute, I may very well know the people involved.
Two Critically Hurt in Box Elder Head-on Crash
Courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol Two men were critically injured when their car collided with a pickup on State Road 83 near Corinne and the ATK plant on Wednesday morning.
The crash occurred about 6 a.m. on State Road 83 near the ATK Launch Systems Plant. An eastbound pickup truck making a left turn collided with an oncoming passenger car. Two male passengers were flown by medical helicopters from the scene. The driver of the pickup truck suffered minor injuries.
The pickup driver was expected to be cited for failure to yield the right of way.
Having made the commute to ATK Launch Systems in Promontory for 11 years, the news of this accident has my stomache turning and rattled. No names have been released, but considering it was during the morning commute, I may very well know the people involved.
Two Critically Hurt in Box Elder Head-on Crash
Courtesy of Utah Highway Patrol Two men were critically injured when their car collided with a pickup on State Road 83 near Corinne and the ATK plant on Wednesday morning.
The crash occurred about 6 a.m. on State Road 83 near the ATK Launch Systems Plant. An eastbound pickup truck making a left turn collided with an oncoming passenger car. Two male passengers were flown by medical helicopters from the scene. The driver of the pickup truck suffered minor injuries.
The pickup driver was expected to be cited for failure to yield the right of way.
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