Posted: Sat, Nov 22, 2008, 3:42 PM ET (2042 GMT)

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) successfully tested on Thursday the motor that will be used in the launch abort system for NASA's Orion spacecraft. The 5.5-second test at ATK's test facility in Utah demonstrated the motors that will be part of the escape tower that will pull the Orion spacecraft away from the Ares 1 launcher in the event of an abort. The motor delivers over 2.2 million newtons of thrust for just a few seconds, enough to clear the capsule safely away from the launcher. A full-scale test of the launch abort system, using a full-sized Orion mockup, is planned for next spring.