NASA and ATK Schedule Motor Test for Ares Rocket on Sept. 10

WASHINGTON -- NASA and Alliant Techsystems Inc., or ATK, have rescheduled the test of the new first-stage solid rocket motor for the Ares I rocket. The static firing of the five-segment solid motor, designated development motor -1, is scheduled for 1 p.m. MDT on Thursday, Sept. 10, at the ATK test facility in Promontory, Utah. The first firing attempt on Aug. 27 was scrubbed because of an anomaly with the ground test controller.

The goal of this test is to obtain valuable thrust, roll-control, acoustics and vibration data as engineers continue to design the Ares vehicles.

To attend the test, journalists must register with ATK's Trina Patterson at 801-699-0943 by Sept. 8. News media bringing live broadcast trucks must request parking prior to the event.

The test will be carried live on the NASA media channel beginning 10 minutes prior to the firing. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

In addition, the NASA Ares Twitter feed will be updated throughout the day. To follow, visit:

http://twitter.com/nasa_ares

After the test, representatives from NASA and ATK will hold a media teleconference at 1:45 p.m. To participate, reporters should e-mail Ashley Edwards at ashley.edwards-1@nasa.gov for dial-in information.

For more information about Ares, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ares

For more information visit http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/sep/HQ_M09-170_Ares_DM-1_Reschedule.html