Overview

• In partnership with Northrop Grumman, a team from the 717th Test Squadron at Arnold Air Force Base completed the qualification firing on July 20 of the Sentinel ICBM’s stage-two solid rocket motor.
• The test took place in a vacuum chamber replicating high-altitude conditions and measured thrust output, burn characteristics and thrust-vector control.
• Engineers will use the results to validate digital-engineering models and guide final design refinements and production planning.
• The stage-two booster is the second of three solid-fuel segments in the LGM-35A stack, which will succeed the Minuteman III in the U.S. land-based nuclear deterrent.
• Test imagery has been shared via DVIDS under a public-domain license that still requires adherence to specified copyright guidelines.