NASA launches Discovery shuttle; stops Ares 1 countdown

William Atkins
Saturday, 29 August 2009 18:43

Science - Space

Steve Cook, NASA Ares project manager, compared the Ares 1 rocket to NASCAR race cars.

Cook states, "When we light this off we'll get 3.6 million pounds of thrust [change of mass over time, or mass flow rate of exhaust]. What that means, that's about the equivalent of 26,000 NASCAR stock cars all lit up at the same time.” [AP/Chicago Tribune[

The five-segment Ares rocket will lift the manned Orion space capsule into space as part of the Constellation program, which is scheduled to become operational in the 2014-2015 timeframe.

Charlie Precount, ATK general manager for launch systems (and former NASA astronaut), stated, “This test is really important to the program, and it's a rare occurrence to have a problem with a booster. We should have this sorted out shortly." [AP/Chicago: "NASA contractor calls off test firing of moon rocket in US, citing hydraulic failure"]

Additional information on the Ares 1, as part of the NASA Constellation program, is found at Overview: Ares 1 Crew Launch Vehicle.

Currently, the fate of the Ares rocket is up in the air. The White House is conducting studies to see if the rocket should be scrapped in favor of more tried-and-true rockets, such as the Delta.

For additional information on this subject, please read the August 12, 2009 Space.com article "Dumping NASA's New Ares I Rocket Would Cost Billions."