Zefiro-23 firing test

Zefiro-23 second firing test, conducted at the Salto Di Quirra Inter-force Test Range in Sardinia, Italy, on 27 March 2008.

Ignition of the qualification model of the Zefiro-23 solid-propellant rocket motor occurred at 13:15 CET. In just 14 seconds, the thrust reached 930 kN, equivalent to nearly 95 tonnes of force.

This was the second and final firing test for the Zefiro 23, in which over 24 tonnes of propellant was consumed with a flame temperature of over 3000 K. The burn lasted approximately 75 seconds and initial results show the test to be a success.