Seven Year-Old Gets Fired Up By NASA

NASA’s Space Shuttle Program on Thursday successfully conducted a test firing of a space shuttle reusable solid rocket motor in Utah. The test firing of Flight Verification Motor 2 evaluated possible performance changes as motors age. Space shuttle solid rocket motors are certified for flight for five years from their date of manufacture. At more than seven years of age, the four-segment motor tested Thursday is the oldest ever fired and measured external sound, or acoustics, to help define motor-generated external loads for Ares I. The test further substantiates the certification that was established by NASA at the beginning of the shuttle program. The test also provided important information for continued launches of the shuttle and development of the Ares I rocket, a key component of NASA‘s Constellation Program that will launch the Orion crew vehicle on missions to the moon. The tests data will assist in the final design of the Ares I rocket launch structure by NASA and ATK Launch Systems Group engineers. Preliminary indications are that all test objectives were met. After final test data are analyzed, results for each objective will be published later this year—Huntsville, Alabama