Ares 1-X launch date moved up
Posted: Wed, Sep 23, 2009, 8:05 AM ET (1205 GMT)
NASA announced Tuesday that it was moving up next month's launch of a prototype of the Ares 1 launch vehicle by several days. The Ares 1-X launch, previously planned for October 31, is now scheduled for October 27, the agency announced; a backup date of October 28 is also planned. Officials said they moved up the launch because previous plans included buffer time they did not need, and that the range was available on those earlier dates. The Ares 1-X is a full-scale version of the Ares 1, but uses only a four-segment solid rocket motor in its first stage, versus the five-segment planned for the Ares 1; the second stage of the Ares 1-X is a dummy stage with no propulsion. The future of the Ares 1 is in question after a review of human spaceflight plans performed this summer by an independent committee: several of the options in that committee's summary report did not include the Ares 1.
NASA announced Tuesday that it was moving up next month's launch of a prototype of the Ares 1 launch vehicle by several days. The Ares 1-X launch, previously planned for October 31, is now scheduled for October 27, the agency announced; a backup date of October 28 is also planned. Officials said they moved up the launch because previous plans included buffer time they did not need, and that the range was available on those earlier dates. The Ares 1-X is a full-scale version of the Ares 1, but uses only a four-segment solid rocket motor in its first stage, versus the five-segment planned for the Ares 1; the second stage of the Ares 1-X is a dummy stage with no propulsion. The future of the Ares 1 is in question after a review of human spaceflight plans performed this summer by an independent committee: several of the options in that committee's summary report did not include the Ares 1.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA IG cites overconfidence and unrealistic schedules for Starliner woes
Posted: Sat, Jul 4 8:11 PM ET (0011 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, July 11
Philippines looks to space for bird’s-eye view of South China Sea threats
South China Morning Post — 12:57 am ET (0457 GMT) Space Force officially has its own weapon for taking out satellites
Task & Purpose — 12:57 am ET (0457 GMT) A Jupiter-size planet that escaped its star’s death
Ars Technica — 12:50 am ET (0450 GMT) Space Force aligns for wartime footing with third tranche of PAEs
US Space Force — 12:47 am ET (0447 GMT) Parabilis tests propulsion system for maneuverable cubesats
Space News — 12:43 am ET (0443 GMT) |
