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Ares 1-X : Historical, important, endangered
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There have been numerous test flights launched from Kennedy Space Center over the past 30 years. Delta IV, Delta II and Atlas V rockets with experimental aspects have launched during this period with either experimental aspects or payloads. However, a totally-new experimental launch vehicle designed to lift humans into space has not blasted off from Kennedy Space Center since the eighties. The Ares 1-X is slated to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 27, 2009 at 8 a.m. from Launch Pad 39B.
On April 12, 1981 astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen took space shuttle Columbia on its maiden flight. For the past 28 years America’s manned space program has used the shuttle as its only means of launching astronauts into orbit. After two disasters costing some 13 American astronauts and one Israeli astronaut their lives, a new directive, one critics say was long overdue, was given to NASA.
Then and now
In 2004 then-President George W. Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration. Since that time NASA has worked long, hard hours to make this dream a reality. To get the Ares 1-X rocket to the pad has required five years worth of work and $7 billion. NASA was promised more to adequately fund the agency during this transitional period and to support the planned exploration initiatives laid out in NASA’s VSE directive. However, this funding has never materialized and with the political climate change in Washington after the last election – NASA has found itself working on a directive that has lost its primary architects and supporters.
Clouds on the horizon
President Obama directed the Augustine Commission to determine, (or re-determine rather) what NASA’s manned spaceflight should be and present him with some options. NASA was set to return to the moon, now however that is all up in the air.
Comparisons
The massive Saturn V rocket with five F-1 engines in its first stage alone caused small earthquakes when tested and shattered windows. The space shuttle “stack” consists of two solid rocket boosters, (SRBs) the shuttle orbiter and the large, orange external tank, (ET). Though powerful and inspiring up close, is not nearly as awe-inspiring as the Saturn V. The Ares 1-X and Ares-1, will be even less so. The Ares-1 system consists of basically a single extended SRB.
What this mission is for
This mission will allow NASA to test out the Ares-1 rocket, including flight hardware, ground operations and facilities.
FOR MORE INFO: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-958-Tampa-Space-Program-News-Examiner~y2009m10d20-Ares-1X--On-the-launch-pad
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