Morton Thiokol`s announcement surprised NASA, said spokesman Ed Medal, who said the agency received word Monday of the company`s plan to stay away from bidding on the new rocket.

Thiokol Corp. will change its name on Thursday to Cordant Technologies Inc. as the company tries to shed its image as solely a government contractor. Ogden, Utah-based Thiokol’s products incl… ...

Marshall officials questioned Morton Thiokol’s initial recommendation against launching and the company changed its position.

For the company best-known for making Morton Salt, when trouble rained last week, it poured. Five Morton Thiokol employees were killed after fire suddenly erupted Tuesday in an MX missile rocket mo… ...