Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and Nasa will conduct the last horizontal ground test for the Space Shuttle programme on 25 February 2010.

The Space Shuttle programme will make another four missions to the space station before marking its closure.

The test will involve the test firing of a four-segment solid rocket motor to measure 43 design objectives through 258 instrument channels, to ensure safe fly-out of the remaining four space shuttle missions.

The final test will be the 52nd test conducted for Nasa’s Space Shuttle programme since 1977.