test firing – Behind The Black

Scaled Composites has posted the results of its latest test firing of the rocket motor for SpaceShipTwo.

August 20, 2012 3:27 pm Robert Zimmerman

The competition heats up: Scaled Composites has posted the results of its latest test firing of the rocket motor for SpaceShipTwo.

Though the test is dated August 9, more than a week ago, I expect the number of engine tests to go up in the coming months as the company works toward the first powered flights of SpaceShipTwo.

Orbital Sciences has delayed the first testing firing of its Antares rocket until late July or early August.

June 15, 2012 1:04 pm Robert Zimmerman

Orbital Sciences has delayed the first testing firing of its Antares rocket until late July or early August.

This fact is buried about halfway down in the article, and does not mention what caused the delay. (Hat tip to Clark Lindsey.)

ATK test fires the five segment solid rocket for Ares 1

September 8, 2011 6:12 pm Robert Zimmerman

ATK today successfully test fired the five segment solid rocket originally intended for the Ares 1 rocket. More here.

This solid rocket motor has value, but ATK’s hope that NASA will use it as part of the Congressionally designed Space Launch System, what I call the program-formerly-called-Constellation, is probably a false hope. They might get a few years of funding from Congress, but the whole thing will die stillborn when the funding runs out.

Better that they packaged the motor as part of a private launch system and tried to get some commercial business with it.

Regardless, the video is fun to watch. Check it out.