ATK takes another step toward moon with parachute test

ATK Space Launch Systems, whose Box Elder County plant builds the space shuttle booster rockets, has taken another step toward the moon. The company announced it has completed testing of a new parachute for the return of the rocket's lower stage.

The 11.5-foot parachute is the first of three that will deploy to slow the stage's descent. The Ares I rocket is to take astronauts to the moon and, eventually, Mars, under President Bush's Space Initiative. ATK is the prime contractor for developing and testing the first stage.

The stage will burn solid fuel and will be similar to the shuttle rockets.

The shuttle boosters descend via parachute to the Atlantic Ocean after shuttle launches, and are recovered, refurbished and reused. The boosters have four segments, while the new first stage will have five, generating more thrust.

Because they are more powerful, says an ATK press release distributed Monday, "ATK is making minor modifications to the propellant grain and some of the nozzle components."

According to the release, ATK, NASA, the Army and the United Space Alliance "recently completed tests and building hardware" for the pilot parachute. The parachute was tested at a facility outside Utah.

"The parachute was dropped from an altitude of 10,000 feet to ensure that it deploys correctly and provides adequate air braking capability," says the release.

ATK is manufacturing hardware to be used to confirm that the design will be ready for production. The company is also making tooling changes to accommodate the design.

Mike Kahn, ATK vice president for space launch systems, commented in the release, "These milestones are instrumental steps toward carrying out America's vision for space exploration. Our hardware development efforts and successful tests will help keep the Ares I program on track for its first crew launch early next decade."

ATK Launch Systems spokesman George Torres told the Deseret Morning News the test is "a reflection of how progress is accelerating."

---

E-mail: bau@desnews.com