Pulham Congratulates NASA/Industry Team on Successful Test Firing of Space Launch System Solid Rocket Booster

On March 11, Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham congratulated NASA and its industry partners on a successful test firing of the new, five-segment solid rocket booster for the Space Launch System (SLS), the new U.S. launch system that will take astronauts beyond low Earth orbit.

During the test in Promontory, Utah, the new rocket booster generated full thrust for two minutes, creating a 5,000 degree fahrenheit plume, simulating and testing the rocket’s performance, paving the way for future flights of the SLS system.

“This test flight marks another successful milestone in the U.S. effort to return humans to the exploration of space, beyond low Earth orbit,” said Pulham. “It’s been nearly four years since a solid rocket booster was used on the last flight of the space shuttle, and seeing this new, more-capable SRB at work is an exciting development,” Pulham said.

“Coming on the heels of December’s successful test flight of the Orion spacecraft, the test demonstrates a determined and, thus far, successful march forward in human space exploration,” said Pulham. “Congratulations to NASA, Orbital ATK and the entire SLS team.”

The Space Foundation’s Marketing and Communications Specialist, Colleen Parith, was hand-chosen by NASA to attend the event as a part of the NASA Social program, which allows social media professionals the same access to the event as the traditional news media. 

The NASA Social group was given tours of the Orbital ATK facilities the day before the test, including a visit to the insulation and component facility, propellant mixing and casting centers and final assembly facilities.

The group was also able to speak with several NASA and Orbital ATK personnel during the live NASA Social coverage on NASA TV. A replay of the broadcast can be found here.

This article is part of Space Watch: April 2015 (Volume: 14, Issue: 4).