Dominic J. Sanchini, Retired Rockwell Official

Dominic J. (Dom) Sanchini, a retired Rockwell Corp. vice president who helped develop the main engines for the space shuttle orbiters, died Saturday at his home in Thousand Oaks after a long battle with cancer. He was 63.

Sanchini, who was the second-ranking executive at Rockwell’s Canoga Park-based Rocketdyne division until 1986, headed Rockwell’s effort to obtain the government contract to build the shuttle orbiters’ main engines, a company spokesman said. The main engines are attached to the rear of the orbiters to help guide the craft in space, and are separate from the booster rockets that launch the shuttle into orbit.

Sanchini retired in August as vice president-major programs at Rockwell’s El Segundo headquarters. He had been employed by Rockwell for 37 years.

A native of Raritan, N. J., Sanchini served in the Navy from 1944 to 1947 and earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University in 1951. He also earned a law degree in 1958 from USC and was a member of the State Bar.

In 1970, Sanchini was named manager of Rockwell’s effort to win the government contract to build the main engines of the shuttle orbiter, then in the planning stages.

In 1981, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded him its highest honor for non-federal personnel, the Distinguished Public Service Medal, for his contributions to the shuttle program. In 1983, Sanchini was named executive vice president-production for the entire Rocketdyne division.

Sanchini was president of the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons production plant in Colorado from 1986 until last year, when Rockwell’s contract with the Department of Energy was terminated.

Sanchini is survived by his wife, Claire; two daughters and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Westlake Village. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to charities.