NASA's Ares 1-X Preparing to Launch

Kennedy Space Center Readies Rocket for Historic Flight

Oct 22, 2009

Following years of development and hard work NASA is on the verge of launching a new rocket. Future space exploration is based, in part, on its success.

After almost 30 years a new rocket is preparing for launch in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center. The initial target date for launch is October 27th, 2009, with two additional launch dates if faced with inclement weather conditions. The Ares 1-X first flight is scheduled for times between 8am and 12pm from the Launch Pad 39B. This is designed to be a test for the new rocket system and serves as proof of its design.

Design of Ares 1-X

The Ares 1-X is a simulation of the future design of launch systems, including a comparable payload. The thrust needed by the rocket will be supplied by a four segment booster. The booster is reusable and is a piece of the current Space Shuttle inventory. A fifth section was added to the solid booster to simulate the five segment booster that will make up the Ares launch system in the future.

The upper stage of Ares 1-X will match the size and mass of the future upper sections but will not be fully operational. In addition, this will be an unmanned flight. Because this is a test of the system, NASA needed to match the weight of future, operational upper stages and the Orion module to gather accurate flight data. This section will fall into the Atlantic but will not be recovered.

Purpose of the Test Flight

Using about 700 sensors placed throughout the rocket, almost every aspect of the test will be recorded and studied. One of the major points of interest will be to study the flight systems of Ares 1-X. Researchers will study the ascent of the rocket and the effects of roll torque to gain and understanding of how to better control future launches.

Of equal importance will be to study the separation of the booster from the upper stage in flight. The recovery systems, including the performance of the parachutes will also be studied in depth.

Secondary tasks will include studying the deceleration motors of the booster and the affects of payloads on the launch. This is important to understand because of the new stream line design. Unlike the current launch systems of the Space Shuttle with external boosters, the Ares design will be a single line with the payload resting on top of the booster. This means that the upper section will have a large diameter than the booster it is on.

With a successful launch, additional tests are scheduled. The next test will be the Ares 1-Y launch. This will include an operational second stage. With these tests complete, the following test will include an unmanned Orion spacecraft with the goal of going into orbit. Later plans include more missions to the moon, to the International Space Station, and for vehicle deployment to Mars.

The launch of the Ares 1-X rocket will be a historic test flight. The data gathered will provide the information necessary to complete future space exploration missions. Combining current NASA parts and equipment with recent technology, the future of the space program continues to look up.

NASA. (2009). "Constellation program: Ares 1-X flight test vehicle “the first flight of a new era”.Retrieved October 22, 2009, from National Aeronautics and Space Administration Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/354470main_aresIX_fs_may09.pdf

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