Spaceflight Insider

News Archive / Tagged: Qualification Motor 2

  • Northrop Grumman test fires astronaut protection system

    Jason RhianDecember 13th, 2018

    Sending crews to destinations such as the Moon and Mars is not easy. As many within the space industry will tell you, one of the most harrowing times during these missions is the first few minutes of the flight. A test carried out today worked to make this tense period a little less stressful for […]

  • NASA releases stunning slow motion video of QM-2 test fire

    Jason RhianAugust 7th, 2016

    PROMONTORY, Utah — NASA and Orbital ATK completed the second, and final, Qualification Motor test (QM-2) on June 28, 2016. The data gleaned from the test will now be used to produce the boosters for the Space Agency's new super-heavy-lift Space Launch System rocket and NASA has unveiled new video from QM-2.

  • Photo Gallery: Orbital ATK QM-2 solid rocket booster test

    Jason RhianJuly 4th, 2016

    PROMONTORY, Utah — Orbital ATK and NASA test fired one of the Dulles, Virginia-based firm’s massive five-segment solid rocket boosters on June 28, 2016, at 9:05 a.m. MDT (11:05 EDT / 15:05 GMT). The cold soak test was the second and final under the Qualification Motor series of tests. These boosters should next light up in late […]

  • Insider Exclusive: Precourt talks boosters, bovines and brilliance

    Jason RhianJuly 2nd, 2016

    PROMONTORY, Utah — Charlie Precourt has piercing, steely-blue eyes that help cement one's mental image of a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and a four-time space shuttle astronaut. Precourt now works for Orbital ATK to develop the massive five-segment SRBs that will be used on the new SLS. SpaceFlight Insider spoke with Precourt in an exclusive interview about the June 28, 2016, QM-2 test fire.

  • Video: SFI highlights of QM-2 static test fire

    Derek RichardsonJune 30th, 2016

    PROMONTORY, Utah — On Tuesday, June 28, NASA and Orbital ATK conducted a static test fire of the second five-segment Qualification Motor (QM-2) in order to validate a lower-temperature limit for the booster design planned to help propel the space agency's Space Launch System (SLS) spaceward. SpaceFlight Insider was there to capture the bright and loud moment.

  • Minor delay drowned out by successful, bright and loud test of five segment QM-2 booster

    Curt GodwinJune 28th, 2016

    PROMONTORY, Utah — On Tuesday, June 28, 2016, Orbital ATK and NASA, successfully completed the second of two qualification tests for the five-segment solid rocket booster (SRB) that is planned for use on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS). Much as in actual flights into the black of space, things didn't go as planned.

  • SFI LIVE: Orbital ATK & NASA conduct QM-2 static test fire

    Jason RhianJune 28th, 2016

    PROMONTORY, Utah ― Orbital ATK and NASA are poised to conduct the final test of the five-segment solid rocket booster design that will be used on NASA's new super-heavy rocket, the Space Launch System or SLS. SpaceFlight Insider is live at Orbital ATK's test facilities in Utah and is currently planning on beginning our live webcast at 7 a.m. MDT (9 a.m. EDT / 13:00 GMT). We have an array of guests lined up, as well as exclusive video segments and more!

  • NASA to test world’s largest crew-rated solid rocket booster

    Curt GodwinJune 26th, 2016

    On June 28, 2016, Orbital ATK will once again test the new five-segment solid rocket booster (SRB), dubbed Qualification Motor-2 (QM-2). A pair of these boosters will be used to help launch NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) on the agency’s "Journey to Mars", beginning with the rocket’s first, uncrewed launch, EM-1, currently slated for the latter half of 2018.

  • NASA’s SLS Booster gets a chill before QM-2 test

    Curt GodwinJune 13th, 2016

    On June 28, 2016, the test area at Orbital ATK's facility in Promontory, Utah, promises to get very hot... but not before the world's largest human-rated solid rocket booster takes a more than month-long chill-down.

  • Orbital ATK completes QM-2 installation ahead of critical test

    Joe LatrellMay 11th, 2016

    NASA's SLS took another step forward as a new five-segment booster motor was installed onto its custom test stand in Promontory, Utah. Orbital ATK, in partnership with NASA, completed the installation of the QM-2 and is now working toward the countdown to a June 28, 2016, static-fire test of the new motor.