Ares I-X hoping to fly October 27

William Atkins
Thursday, 24 September 2009 18:04

Science - Space

According to the NASA media brief NASA sets target date for Ares I-X rocket’s test launch, “The launch will provide NASA with an opportunity to test and prove hardware, facilities and ground operations, while gathering critical data for the Ares I rocket and future launch vehicles.”

This test flight for the Ares I-X is an important step in the development of the Constellation program, the next-generation project taking the place of the retiring Space Shuttle Program, or Space Transporation System Program.

The Ares I rocket will launch astronauts into space inside Orion space capsules, while later in the program the Ares V rocket will send cargo into space.

This cargo will include the Earth Departure Stage and the Altair lunar lander, when the United States returns to the Moon.

As of July 2009, the first operational unmanned flight of Ares I is scheduled for June 2011, with a first manned launch sometime in 2014.

You can watch how NASA assembled (“stacked”) the Area I-X rocket at: “How to Stack a Rocket.” NASA says, “During the months of the assembly operations, the Ares I-X team stuck a camera in the Vehicle Assembly Building to record everything. The result…10 months of hard work stuffed into 5 minutes and 45 seconds. Enjoy!’