NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Preparing for DM-2 Test: Now That's Powerful Information

NASA's next-generation, five-segment solid rocket development motor, or DM-2, is fully assembled in its test stand at ATK in Promontory, Utah. Credit: ATK Preparations are under way for the testing of NASA's next-generation, five-segment solid rocket development motor -- DM-2 -- in September. The test is designed to advance the understanding, safety, technology and capability of solid rocket motors. The five-segment DM-2 motor -- capable of producing 22 million horsepower and generating as much as 3.6 million pounds of thrust -- was developed by ATK Space Systems, a division of Alliant Techsystems of Brigham City, Utah, the prime contractor for the solid rocket motor, and is being assembled at ATK's test stand in Promontory, Utah. This will be the second, full-scale, full-duration test of the new development motor, which follows the successful test of DM-1 last fall.

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Ares I and Ares V. Image Credit: NASA

NASA's Ares rockets, named for the Greek god associated with Mars, will return humans to the moon and later take them to Mars and other destinations.

Future astronauts will ride to orbit on Ares I, which uses a single five-segment solid rocket booster, a derivative of the space shuttle's solid rocket booster, for the first stage. A liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen J-2X engine derived from the J-2 engine used on Apollo's second stage will power the crew exploration vehicle's second stage. The Ares I can lift more than 55,000 pounds to low Earth orbit.

Planning and early design are under way for hardware, propulsion systems and associated technologies for NASA's Ares V cargo launch vehicle -- the "heavy lifter" of America's next-generation space fleet. Ares V will serve as NASA's primary vessel for safe, reliable delivery of large-scale hardware to space -- from the lunar landing craft and materials for establishing a moon base, to food, fresh water and other staples needed to extend a human presence beyond Earth orbit.

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