ARLINGTON, Va., May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — ATK (NYSE: ATK) applauds Charlie Precourt, vice president and general manager of ATK Aerospace Group’s Space Launch Division on his induction into the prestigious U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame May 5.

“I feel it is a tremendous honor to be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and am pleased and humbled to join my friends and colleagues who have already received this tribute,” said Precourt.

Fellow inductees in the class of 2012 included retired astronauts Franklin Chang-Diaz and Kevin Chilton. The three were confirmed as 2012 honorees by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which oversees the Hall of Fame’s annual selections. The veteran space shuttle crew members will be added to the 79 astronauts enshrined in the Hall of Fame since 1990, including all of NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo program pioneers.

Precourt joined ATK Launch Systems in March 2005 as vice president of Advanced Programs and subsequently Strategy and Business Development. Before coming to ATK, Precourt had a distinguished 15-year career with NASA. Qualified as a space shuttle astronaut in 1991, he is a veteran of four space flights and has logged over 932 hours in space. Precourt also held several management and technical positions with NASA, including deputy program manager for the International Space Station, chief of the Astronaut Corps and director of operations for NASA at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Precourt also served for 23 years with the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Colonel in March 2000.

A native of Hudson, Massachusetts, Precourt received a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a master’s degree in engineering management from Golden State University and a master’s in national security affairs and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He also attended the French Air Force Academy.

ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.

SOURCE ATK