NEWS - Northrop Grumman to hold test firing Thursday

Northrup Grumman will again be testing the abort motor for Orion spacecraft on Thursday. The test will be similar to this successful one in December of 2018. Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman

PROMONTORY - March 29, 2022

Northrup Grumman will conduct a ground test of the abort motor for NASA's Orion spacecraft's Launch Abort System (LAS) at its Promontory test facility on Thursday, March 31. This will be the third qualification ground test of its type.

The abort motor is one of three solid rocket motors on the LAS designed to increase astronaut safety on the launch pad. It is also vital through the initial ascent during launch of NASA's Space Launch System rocket.

The static test will take place sometime between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.