Rural to Rockets
Rural to Rockets
There are moments in time when you encounter a fork in the road. For Brigham City, that moment was in 1956, when Thiokol pursued the contract for the Air Force’s Minuteman program. The company selection would, as Time Magazine put it, “turn their isolated, sheep-and-sugar-beet town into a booming center of U.S. rocketry.”
From the moment Promontory was chosen, Brigham City was on a new journey. Thiokol would link the community to the defense and space industry. In times of tragedy, such as the Challenger disaster and on-site accidents, that community would be at the epicenter of the fallout.
By 1960, the city had almost doubled in size. The rapid change from Thiokol would impact the economics, culture, and environment.
Launching a New Economy
When Thiokol established their rocket plant, the first sign that things were changing in the community….
Space for Changes
You have been approached for an engineering job with a good salary and opportunities for growth.
Down to Earth
Promontory, where Thiokol (now Northrop Grumman) is located, sits between the west desert and marshlands.