ATK Conducts Successful Full-Scale Space Shuttle Motor Test
Posted on: Friday, 11 June 2004, 06:00 CDT
MINNEAPOLIS, June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ATK successfully conducted a static test firing of a full-scale Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) yesterday. The test took place at ATK Thiokol's Promontory, Utah, facility.
The Flight Support Motor (FSM) program verifies functionality of RSRM components, materials, and processes while it evaluates and certifies various design, process, and supplier changes for the RSRM flight program.
Initial results indicate that ATK achieved all 76 test objectives. Many of the test objectives will be introduced into future Space Shuttle launches. The test motor fired for two minutes, which is the length of time the RSRMs fire during an actual Space Shuttle launch.
ATK's Space Shuttle RSRM is the world's largest solid rocket motor ever flown and the first designed for reuse. The reusability of the RSRM case and nozzle hardware is an important cost-saving factor for the nation's space program. From ignition to end of burn, each RSRM generates an average thrust of 2.6 million pounds and burns for approximately 123.6 seconds. Each motor is just over 126 feet long and 12 feet in diameter. The entire booster -- including nose cap, frustum, and forward and aft skirts -- is approximately 149 feet long. Of the motor's total weight of 1.25 million pounds, propellant accounts for 1.1 million pounds.
ATK Thiokol is the world's leading supplier of solid-propellant rocket motors. Products manufactured by the company include propulsion systems for the Delta, Pegasus(R), Taurus(R), Athena, H-IIA, and Titan IV B expendable space launch vehicles, NASA's Space Shuttle, the Trident II Fleet Ballistic Missile and the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, and ground- based missile defense interceptors.
ATK is a $2.4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing 13,100 people in 21 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/ .
Media Contact: Investor Contact:
Bryce Hallowell Steve Wold
Phone: 952-351-3087 Phone: 952-351-3056
E-mail: bryce.hallowell@atk.com E-mail: steve_wold@atk.com
ATK
CONTACT: Media, Bryce Hallowell, +1-952-351-3087,bryce.hallowell@atk.com , or Investors, Steve Wold, +1-952-351-3056,steve_wold@atk.com , both of ATK
Web site: http://www.atk.com/
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