Full-Scale NASA and ATK Solid Rocket Motor Test Set for Aug. 31

WASHINGTON -- NASA and Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) will conduct a full-scale test of a five-segment, first-stage solid rocket motor at
11:05 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, Aug. 31. The test at the ATK Aerospace
Systems test facility in Promontory, Utah will assess motor
performance at low temperatures.

The static firing of the solid motor, designated Development Motor-2,
will last two minutes. This is the most heavily instrumented solid
rocket motor in NASA history, with 53 test objectives that will be
measured using more than 760 instruments. The motor was built as an
element of NASA's Constellation Program. It is the largest and most
powerful solid rocket motor designed for flight and is highly
transferable to future heavy-lift vehicle designs.

To attend the test, U.S. journalists must register with ATK by Aug.
27. For information and to request credentials, contact ATK's Trina
Patterson at 801-699-0943.

NASA Television's live coverage of the test will begin at 11 a.m. and
will broadcast a news conference at 12 p.m. with representatives from
NASA and ATK. To participate by teleconference, reporters should
e-mail Michael Braukus, michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov for dial-in information.

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

The motor design is almost identical to another development motor
tested last year. However, DM-2 will be cooled to 40 degrees
Fahrenheit for this full-duration firing to verify the performance of
new materials. After more testing, the first-stage solid rocket motor
will be certified to fly at temperature ranges between 40-90 degrees
Fahrenheit.

The solid rocket motor is managed by the Ares Projects Office at
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. ATK Space
Systems is the prime contractor.

For more information about NASA, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Source: NASA