Failure Analysis of OmegA Stage 1, Static Test – May 30, 2019 Northrop Grumman, Promontory, Utah

Development of solid rocket boosters for so called enhanced capability development of Airforce and
national aeronautics and space administration by Northrop Grumman have attracted a lot attention
lately. However, not only this development has proved out to be considerable financial burden but is
technically unsound. One such result was seen in recent test of a solid rocket booster in Promontory,
Utah. Despite initial good start up, booster experienced catastrophic failure towards end resulting in
blast and complete destruction of exit cone. In this short case study, an effort has been made to
summarize the observations made during test and possible reasons. It is however, unclear what will
be the implications of this test on actual launch date of system which is already considerably delayed
in an agency whose present performance is unsatisfactory and future is quite uncertain.