Jay Clemens
Orbital ATK and the U.S. Air Force have completed a static fire test on a solid rocket motor designed for installation into the Air Force’s Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent system.
The test checked the Medium-Class Stage III rocket motor’s propellant, motor thrust reversal/thrust termination system and nozzle with electro-mechanical thrust vector control, Orbital ATK said Wednesday.
“The new advanced technologies demonstrated are important stepping stones for the future GBSD program,” said Charlie Precourt, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK’s propulsion systems division.
Orbital ATK built the MCS-III upper-stage motor as part of the program.
The GBSD program aims to retire the Minuteman III propulsion elements and implement a new propulsion system.
