spacetoday.net: Ares engine test postponed

Ares engine test postponed

Posted: Fri, Aug 28, 2009, 6:55 AM ET (1055 GMT)
Ares 1 5-segment motor (ATK)

A technical problem forced the company developing the first stage of the Ares 1 launch vehicle from carrying out an engine test on Thursday. ATK planned to carrying out a test of a five-segment solid rocket motor, like the one planned for the first stage of the Ares 1, at the company's Utah test site. However, the countdown to the test was halted with just 20 seconds to go after a malfunction of an auxiliary power unit that helps control the hydraulic system in the booster nozzle. ATK now plans to carry out the test no earlier than Tuesday, September 1, with an exact date depending on how much work is needed to repair the faulty APU.