NASA developing Ares rocket with iTunes

William Atkins
Friday, 28 November 2008 19:41

Science - Space

A third discussion centers around “The first tests to weld together pieces of the rockets being developed. NASA recently tested a new robotic friction stir welding facility by fusing space shuttle fuel tank panels. Friction stir welding is an innovative technique invented in 1991 that uses forging pressure and frictional heating to produce high-strength bonds virtually free of defects. “

A fourth section involves, “A test of a parachute for the Ares I rocket. The parachute will slow the rapid descent of the rocket's reusable first-stage motor as it falls back to Earth after detaching from the rocket during its climb to space. The parachute permits recovery of the motor for use on future Ares I flights.”

To view the iTunes website that contains the free NASA videos, go to “America’s Rockets.”

You’ll need to have the iTune software downloaded (and registered) to your computer or device.
 
The Ares I and Ares V are part of the overall Project Constellation.

Also, within this new NASA manned project is the development of the Orion crew module, where the astronauts will live and work during their missions, and the Altair lunar lander for future Moon missions.

NASA also has additional media sources at “NASA Multimedia.”
 
Recording of these iTunes videos by NASA is a good idea. I think it should be done by all government projects to verify the progress in the development of such projects and, thereafter, the maintenance of such projects.

In this way, we the citizens (who are paying for such projects, whether done by the U.S. government or other country's governments) can follow and verify whether such projects are being developed on time and within budget.

However, we all need be active in demanding that such projects are, in fact, developed on time and within budget and, most importantly, to the quality standards that result in good conclusions for each and every project.