Tue, Mar 17, 2009
Now Making 2,900-Mile Cross-Country Journey From UT To KSC
The final pieces of the Ares I-X flight test rocket left the
Alliant Tech Systems manufacturing facility in Promontory, UT
Thursday and began a 2,917-mile journey to its launch site at
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The first stage motor segments are the last shipment of Ares I-X
major hardware elements. The hardware will arrive in Florida later
this month and undergo final processing and preparations before
being stacked with the other portions of the rocket.
"This shipment means great things for the Ares I-X mission,"
said Ares I-X Deputy Mission Manager, Steve Davis. "It's wonderful
to see the next generation of American spaceflight continue to take
shape. The excitement is really building now as we start stacking
the pieces and preparing for launch later this year."
The Ares I-X will be the first flight test for the Ares I
rocket; the agency's next-generation spacecraft and crew launch
vehicle system. The flight will provide NASA an early opportunity
to test and prove hardware, analysis models, facilities and ground
operations associated with Ares I.
The Ares I-X rocket is a combination of existing and simulator
hardware that will resemble the Ares I rocket in size, shape and
weight. It will provide valuable data to guide the final design of
the Ares I. The test flight also will bring NASA one step closer to
its goals of returning to the moon, and traveling to destinations
beyond. The Ares I-X launch is scheduled later in 2009.
The Ares I-X first stage uses a four-segment solid rocket motor,
capable of generating 3.3 million pounds of thrust. The motor
provides the primary propulsion for the vehicle from liftoff to
stage separation 120 seconds into the flight. The motor segments
were taken from the existing space shuttle solid rocket booster
inventory for the flight test. The booster used for the Ares I-X
flight test is being modified to meet Ares needs by adding new
forward structures and a fifth segment simulator to better
replicate the size and shape of the Ares I crew launch vehicle.
More News
Aero Linx: Model Aeronautical Association of Australia MAAA clubs are about fun flying, camaraderie and community. For over 75 years, the MAAA has been Australia’s largest fl>[...]
Touchdown Zone Lighting Two rows of transverse light bars located symmetrically about the runway centerline normally at 100 foot intervals. The basic system extends 3,000 feet alon>[...]
“Discovery and innovation are central to our mission at Virgin Galactic. We’re excited to build on our successful record of facilitating scientific experiments in subor>[...]
How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]
Student Pilot Reported That During Rotation, “All Of A Sudden The Back Of The Plane Kicked To The Right..." Analysis: The student pilot reported that during rotation, “>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.02.24)
See All