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BOX ELDER COUNTY -- Utah-based Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and NASA conducted another successful test of an Ares rocket motor Tuesday morning.
ATK and NASA carried out the test near Promontory, Utah, amid uncertainty about the future of NASA's space exploration program.
The good news is that Tuesday's test proves the new rocket booster is bigger, more powerful and safer than ever before.
The Ares rocket test produced approximately 3.6 million pounds of thrust, or 22 million horsepower,and burned for just over two minutes.
But lurking in the background are the proposed cuts at NASA, which means the test might go nowhere.
The Ares solid rocket motor burned through 1.4 million pounds of propellant, giving off 3.6 million pounds of thrust -- equivalent to 22 million horsepower.
The five-segment rocket is a newer version of the booster currently used by the space shuttle, upgraded to incorporate modern technologies and materials. These include the addition of a fifth segment, changes to the propellant grain, a larger nozzle opening and upgraded insulation and liner.
The rocket is meant for America's next generation of space vehicles: Tested cold at 40 degrees Farenheit to confirm reliability and thrusting power.
"This development effort has gone as smooth as any other that I've seen," said Ares Project Manager Alex Priskos. "The troops have done a fantastic job of getting us to this point."
The two-minute test is another step forward for the United States space program, but many are wondering if the Ares will ever propel a modern ship into space.
The Ares DM-2 is the largest human-rated solid rocket motor built today, measuring 12 feet in diameter and 154 feet in length.
NASA and the Obama administration have proposed eliminating the Constellation program, which includes Ares.
"There are bills in process in the House and the Senate, and we will be working with all of them in the coming weeks and months to come to resolution," said Doug Cooke with NASA. "A real positive is that everybody is interested in future exploration of space."
ATK laid off 800 employees earlier this year. Its Promontory facility is in charge of the new booster motors while its Clearfield facility refurbishes used booster motors. Utah's Congressional delegation is working to keep ATK and its 3,100 remaining Utah employees in the state.
Also tested today: A re-design of the 'O' rings. Those are the seals tied to the Challenger explosion in 1986. Tuesday they held up, even though they were purposely compromised under cold conditions.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
