1945 – UK
The Westcott site was chosen by the UK Government to be the Guided Projectile Establishment. Its intention was to contain and develop all the knowledge and technologies associated with guided weapons and propulsion systems that were required by the British Royal Navy and Army at the time.

1949 – U.S.
Atlantic Research Corporation founded in Alexandria, Virginia.

1958 – UK
The Westcott facility became the Rocket Propulsion Establishment, operating as an independent research and development establishment for the UK Government. During the next two decades, work continued using both solid and liquid propellant and resulted in the development of many projects, the most famous being Chevaline.

1959 – U.S.
The first launch of Agena rocket with Bell liquid fluorine/liquid hydrogen second-stage rocket engine occurred.

1960 – U.S.
The Bell Aircraft defense business was acquired by Textron. The Bell Aerosystems Company created with headquarters in Buffalo, New York.

1960 – U.S.
The first flight of manned Bell Rocket Belt (powered by hydrogen peroxide) occurred.

1965 – U.S.
Bell Aerosystems received a contract to build an advanced liquid propulsion system for the Minuteman program.

1984 – UK
The Rocket Propulsion Establishment came under the control of the Royal Ordnance Factories, and three years later the UK Government passed control to the private sector when British Aerospace purchased Royal Ordnance. The LEROS family of liquid propellant apogee engines and the bipropellant attitude control thruster (the LTT) were developed.

1987 – U.S.
Atlantic Research Corporation was acquired by Sequa Corporation.

1987 – U.S.
The liquid rocket product line of Bell Aerospace/Textron was acquired.


Origins Company
Press Releases

Upcoming Events

Joint Propulsion Conference

Denver, Colorado, USA
August 2 – 5, 2009

Joint Propulsion Conference

Huntsville, Alabama, USA
August 17 – 20, 2009

National Space Symposium

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
April 12 – 15, 2010

AMPAC-ISP Westcott

Westcott Venture Park
Westcott
Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP18 0NZ
England
Tel +44 (0) 1296 652065
Fax +44 (0) 1296 652039
Email info@apfc-isp.co.uk