ATK Completes Milestone Test in Development Program for the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle

PROMONTORY, Utah, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NASA's next-generation crew launch vehicle may be years away from flying its first astronauts to space, but Alliant Techsystems is already completing tests and building hardware to ensure that Ares I will fly on schedule.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061002/CGM037 )

ATK -- the prime contractor for the first stage of the Ares I crew launch vehicle, along with NASA, the US Army, and the United Space Alliance -- recently completed testing of a newly designed pilot parachute. The parachute was dropped from an altitude of 10,000 feet to ensure that it deploys correctly and provides adequate air braking capability. The parachute has an 11.5 foot diameter and is the first in a three-stage parachute system designed to ensure that the new five-segment solid rocket boosters splashdown safely in the ocean after separating from the Ares I. Just like the four-segment boosters for Space Shuttle, the new boosters will be recovered and reused on future missions. ATK and NASA have scheduled six additional pilot parachute tests.

Along with the parachute testing, ATK has modified hardware for Ares I. Since the new five-segment booster will generate more thrust than the current space shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Boosters, ATK is making minor modifications to the propellant grain and some of the nozzle components.

In addition, ATK is manufacturing full-scale engineering pilot hardware. These Process Simulation Articles are used to confirm that the design will be production-ready. ATK is also modifying tooling to accommodate changes to the production design.

"These milestones are instrumental steps towards carrying out America's vision for space exploration," said Mike Kahn, vice president, ATK Space Launch Systems. "Our hardware development efforts and successful tests will help keep the Ares I program on track for its first crew launch early next decade."

Ares I will replace the space shuttle for International Space Station missions, return humans to the moon, and ultimately allow the first steps to be taken on Mars. Its initial early development test flight is scheduled for April 2009 with a crew launch expected no later then 2014.

In 2005, NASA selected ATK as the prime contractor to design, develop, test, and evaluate the first stage of its Ares I launch vehicle. ATK has subcontracted the parachute work to the United Space Alliance, which also manages a similar effort for the SRB's used on today's space shuttle program.

ATK is a $3.4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 15,000 people in 22 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/ .

Certain information discussed in this press release constitutes forward- looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although ATK believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those factors are: changes in governmental spending, budgetary policies and product sourcing strategies; the terms and timing of awards and contracts; and economic conditions. ATK undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For further information on factors that could impact ATK, and statements contained herein, please refer to ATK's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contact: Investor Contact: George Torres Steve Wold Phone: 801-699-2637 Phone: 952-351-3056 E-mail: george.torres@atk.com E-mail: steve.wold@atk.com