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ATK Conducts Successful Static-fire of Full-scale Space Shuttle Motor

ATK's Test Program is Designed to Ensure Safety and Performance

Mar 9, 2006

Minneapolis, March 9, 2006 – Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) successfully tested a full-scale Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) today in support of NASA’s Space Shuttle program. The RSRM burned for approximately 123 seconds, the same duration each RSRM burns during an actual Space Shuttle Launch. The static-fire test included 26 specific objectives and employed 89 instrumentation channels to collect and evaluate the motor’s performance. Preliminary data indicates that all test objectives were met.

The Space Shuttle RSRM is the largest solid rocket motor ever flown and the first designed for reuse. From ignition to end of burn, each RSRM generates an average thrust of 2.6 million pounds. Each motor is just over 126 feet long and 12 feet in diameter. The entire booster – including nose cap, frustum, and forward and aft skirts – is approximately 149 feet long.

ATK conducts regular static-fire tests of the RSRMs to help maintain the highest safety, quality, and reliability standards of solid rocket motors used for human space flight. ATK engineers conduct approximately 110,000 quality control inspections on each RSRM flight set. This information gives ATK and NASA the highest confidence possible on the performance of the RSRM in support of the Space Shuttle program.

ATK is a $3.1 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 15,000 people in 23 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.