Ares I-X launch delayed until Wednesday
The Ares I-X launch team is preparing for a 24-hour turnaround, targeting 8 a.m. on Wednesday as liftoff time for the Ares I-X flight test vehicle.
Courtesy of NASA
 The perimeter fence on Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is closed following the arrival of the towering 327-foot-tall Ares I-X rocket following its seven-hour early-morning trek. NASA/Kim Shiflett [View Larger Image] Tuesday's launch attempt was plagued by weather issues, even though the vehicle itself was ready to fly. After multiple attempts to reset to new launch times during the 4-hour window, the final scrub came when the weather did not improve as the end of the window neared. Tomorrow's weather improves somewhat, with a 40 percent "no-go." Wednesday's attempt will have the same 4-hour window that ends at noon, and live coverage will also begin again at 5 a.m. EDT. The Ares I rocket is being designed to carry astronauts to space in the Orion crew exploration vehicle. The Ares I-X test flight also will allow NASA to gather critical data during ascent of the vehicle's integrated stack, which includes the Ares I with a simulated upper stage, Orion and launch abort system. Data collected from more than 700 sensors throughout the rocket will begin to confirm the vehicle as a whole is safe and stable in flight before astronauts begin traveling into orbit. More coverage of Ares I-X rocket on Astronomy.com. |
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