[Satellite TODAY 09-01-10] Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and NASA have conducted a cold-temperature ground test of the second Ares five-segment Development Motor (DM-2), ATK announced Aug. 31.
    Initial test data indicated that the motor performed as designed, producing bout 3.6 million pounds of thrust and burning for just over two minutes. The test collected 764 channels of data to accomplish 53 test objectives. 
    Charlie Precourt, vice president and general manager of ATK Aerospace Systems, Space Launch Systems, said the DM-2 yielded the most data ATK has ever collected in a static fire. “The information collected from this test, used together with data from DM-1 and the Ares I-X flight test, will help further validate the five-segment design leading to critical design review next year. The data will also confirm the performance and reliability of this solid rocket, which can be configured for use on multiple launch vehicles.”
    ATK is NASA’s prime contractor on the Ares program. The next test on the motor, Development Motor-3, will be a hot temperature test conducted next year.