ATK [ATK] is scheduled to perform a horizontal ground-test firing of its 60-inch-diameter graphite epoxy solid rocket motor (GEM-60) Sept. 6, the company said yesterday in a statement.
The test will take place at ATK’s Promontory, Utah, facility. GEM-60’s fixed nozzle qualification will take place at a cold temperature with a brand new nozzle built by ATK. The motor will be cooled to 30-degrees Fahrenheit to measure solid rocket motor performance at low temps. The motor, when fired, will produce a maximum thrust of 270,000 pounds.
ATK spokeswoman Trina Helquist said yesterday the goal of the test is qualifying the company-made nozzle. Helquist said if the test is successful, NASA will test the qualification motor for the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) in the spring. SLS is an advanced, heavy lift launch vehicle that will carry the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle as well as important cargo, equipment and science experiments to deep space.
ATK said GEM-60 motors have successfully boosted United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Delta IV M+ launch vehicles since 2002. Helquist said GEM-60 motors only boost Delta IV launch vehicles. ULA is a joint venture between Boeing [BA] and Lockheed Martin [LMT] to develop affordable U.S. government access to space.