Shuttle Firing Tests O-Rings

BRIGHAM CITY, Utah — A full-scale shuttle booster, loaded with 1.1 million pounds of fuel and deliberately riddled with major flaws, was test fired today in a crucial make-or-break bid to prove new O-ring joints will prevent another Challenger disaster.

The 126-foot rocket, mounted on its side in a massive test stand in the Utah desert at Morton Thiokol Inc.’s booster production plant, roared to life at 1 p.m. MDT and burned for a full two minutes as planned. The firing appeared normal, but it will take engineers some time to analyze the results of the test.