Falcon 9 Launch Boosts Colorado Firm

Falcon 9 takes off on its first flight. (Credit: Chris Thompson SpaceX)

Arvada engineering firm sends pumps into space
Denver Post

The June 4 maiden flight of Falcon 9 — destined to deliver supplies to the international space station after the space-shuttle fleet is retired late this year — was cause for particular celebration at a small Arvada engineering firm.

Barber-Nichols, which has about 60 employees, designed and built Falcon 9’s turbo pumps — all 10 of them.

“We are pretty excited,” said sales manager Bob Linden. “This was the first time that something we built was brought up into orbit.”

Founded in 1966, Barber-Nichols specializes in designing, engineering, manufacturing and testing products such as pumps, turbines and compressors.

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