ATK, NASA to perform final ground test for Space Shuttle program

Posted by Courtney Howard

PROMONTORY, Utah, 8 Feb. 2010. Alliant Techsystems and NASA will conduct the last ground test for the Space Shuttle program on February 25, marking the closure of a program that has spanned more than three decades and ushering in the era of the next generation of space exploration.

The Horizontal ground test firing of a four-segment solid rocket motor is scheduled to take place at 11:55 a.m. MST on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at the ATK Space Systems facility in Promontory, Utah.

A total of 43 design objectives will be measured through 258 instrument channels. This final test will be the 52nd test conducted for NASA's Space Shuttle Program.

The ground test will be conducted to ensure the safe fly-out of the remaining four missions. The first test was conducted on July 18, 1977.

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