News Related to Energetic Materials Science and Engineering

ATK Conducts Successful Test Firing Of Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motor

Alliant Techsystems conducted Thursday May 24, a successful test firing of NASA's Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) as part of continuous testing to improve performance and ensure safety of the Space Shuttle, which also transfers improvements into the shuttle-derived first-stage of the Ares I crew launch vehicle.

The Reusable Solid Rocket Motor generated 2.6 million pounds of average thrust throughout the duration of the test, which lasted approximately two minutes -- the same duration the motors fire when launching the Space Shuttle.

"Static tests are an integral part of ATK and NASA's commitment to ensure the safety of NASA's astronauts," said Ron Dittemore, President, ATK Launch Systems. "These tests will also aid in the development of the Ares I launch vehicle, providing a smooth technical and workforce transition as the shuttle program is retired."

The test included 58 objectives to obtain and validate performance data and upgrades being analyzed for the future. Among them was a test to collect data for enhanced understanding of noise and vibration produced by one solid rocket motor for analysis of its relationship to the Ares I vehicle. Other objectives included testing of improved nozzle and case insulation materials.

"This is a good example of why static firings are so important to not only the Space Shuttle but the entire space program," said Dittemore. "Every test objective performed for the shuttle's RSRM program will also benefit the Ares I first stage element as well."

Ares I is an in-line, two-stage rocket that includes an upper stage topped by the Orion crew capsule, its service module and launch abort system, patterned after the Saturn rockets that helped propel the Apollo capsule to the moon. NASA has slated it to replace the shuttle for missions to the International Space Station, and to eventually return to the Moon and venture on to Mars, working in concert with the Ares V cargo launch vehicle, whose design includes two RSRBs as part of its core stage propulsion system.

ATK Conducts Test Firing of the Space Shuttle's Reusable Solid Rocket Motor

In its continued effort to ensure safety of the Space Shuttle, and to prepare for the development of Ares I, Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) successfully conducted a test firing today (Thursday, November 1, 2007) of NASA's four segment Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM).

First Moon Picture Back from China's Chang'e Probe

Chinese's dream of flying to the moon, Chang'e.

SELLAFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Explosive demolition of cooling towers at the Calder Hall Magnox Nuclear Reactor at Sellafield, Cumbria, England. Calder Hall was the first civil nuclear power station in the world, opened by HM the Queen in 1956.

50 years erased in seconds - Calder Hall's cooling towers are demolished

Sellafield demolition: Massive symbols of Britain’s atomic age reduced to rubble in seconds

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Los Alamos Security, 2004

Nuclear Decommissioning Engineering at Manchester

The Dalton Nuclear Institute at The University of Manchester has announced the appointment of Professor Bernard Kelly FREng to the Chair in Nuclear Decommissioning Engineering.