Can a rocket engine survive a freezing Utah winter?

Space · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: NASA recently tested a next-generation solid rocket motor to see if it could withstand extreme cold. This test is critical for ensuring reliable performance in diverse and harsh environments.

The test focused on the DM-2, a five-segment solid rocket development motor. Before a firing that lasted just over two minutes, engineers lowered the motor's temperature to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This was done to validate that the hardware remains functional and reliable in cold weather conditions.

The successful firing at the ATK test stand in Promontory, Utah, provides essential data for the development of next-generation propulsion systems.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• NASA successfully cold-fires its next-generation DM-2 solid rocket motor
• A massive engine test pushes the limits of rocket propulsion technology
• The same engine that powered the Shuttle is heading to Mars
• Testing the most powerful rocket booster ever built for human Mars missions
• The Russian-made rocket engine that powered America's most critical space missions for two decades.
• The backbone of Artemis III is moving toward the coast
• The final voyage of the Space Shuttle Endeavour
• The world’s largest spacecraft welding tool is now ready for use
• The university where John F. Kennedy first called for the moon
• How student engineers are testing the limits of aerospace design
• Ending the era of sole reliance on Russian space transport
• How standardized boxes are accelerating the pace of space innovation

More in Space agencies · More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics