Ares 1-X - Moved to launch pad 39B

October 20, 12:25 PMTampa Space Program News ExaminerJason Rhian

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The Ares 1-X sits on launch pad 39B ready for its flight later this month.

Photo Credit: Robert Z. Pearlman/collectSPACE.com

In the wee hours this morning the Ares 1-X experimental rocket trundled to launch pad 39b.  This new moon rocket is the test article that will prove out whether or not years of work, $7 billion in funding were all worth it.  Set to launch on Oct. 27, 2009 this launch is the crucial first step in NASA's plans to return astronauts to the moon and then venture to Mars and points beyond.

The space shuttle Atlantis cleared the runway for this test flight.  Originally Atlantis had been scheduled to launch on Nov. 12 - that date was pushed back four day to the 16th to allow Ares to have a total of three launch attempts between Oct. 27-29.  This schedule-change also allows shuttle mission managers a bit more breathing room to launch Atlantis on STS-129.

Ares 1-X is designed to prove the launch system's capabilities in launching the Orion crew capsule which will replace the space shuttle fleet when it is retired in September of 2010.  The final determination of whether or not the Ares system will even be used is up in the air.  President Obama tasked the Augustine Commission with presenting him with several options as to what the future of NASA's manned space program should consist of.

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