It *is* rocket science. Space engine company Aerojet Rocketdyne recently finished building a motor for NASA's Orion spacecraft at their facility in Rancho Cordova.
About 200 people were involved, according to Oliver Mills, the program manager for the Orion Jettison Motor.
"NASA's Orion spacecraft is the next access to human space, allowing a return to the moon with various missions planned. It's also planned for human exploration of Mars," Mills said.
The motor is an emergency plan of sorts. It would separate the astronauts from the spacecraft -- generating 40,000 pounds of thrust in 1.5 seconds -- in case there was an emergency on the launch pad or during ascent.
An unmanned test launch with the motor is scheduled for April 2019 from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
