Nasa assembles Ares test rocket

Source: BBC

Page last updated at 09:34 GMT, Monday, 17 August 2009 10:34 UK

The US space agency has completed the assembly of its Ares I-X rocket ahead of a test flight scheduled for October.

The Ares I rocket is a key component of Nasa's next-generation space transportation system.

The agency will use Ares I to launch the Orion capsule - the spacecraft to be used for human space missions after the space shuttle retires.

The unmanned test version of the rocket is standing in the vehicle assembly building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center.



Read more: Page last updated at 09:34 GMT, Monday, 17 August 2009 10:34 UK

My company makes some components for both the Ares rocket and the Orion capsule.

:)

Good morning, brendon120678! :hi:

I'm a convert. :)

the moon again, and maybe further. Cuase I think the shuttle is for shorter range, but the appolo design is for longer. I oughtta check it out more. Looks cool

The original idea was you refuel at the space station.
The shuttle has loads of shielding and has an actual payload. You put the shuttle in low orbit and use a lunar module for landing and take off.

oh well back to the future eh?

Ares I is designed to launch humans into orbit and beyond. Ares V is a much larger cargo vessel that will launch the rest of the components into orbit where they can be attached to the Orion (manned) capsule and then head to the moon or beyond. Ares V will be ready for launch later in the next decade. If the U.S. decides to cut back on NASA funding, then the Chinese or an international consortium will assume the leadership role in Space exploration. The U.S. will play a much smaller role.

It's an irony exactly the opposite of that which can be found with the Dyna-Soar. The Dyna-Soar was two generations ahead of its time, anticipating the design of the Space Shuttle by at least ten years, but saddled with an unfortunate nickname and a politically weak benefactor (the Air Force) which did not want to offer the use of the craft in a civilian role. It chewed through well over half a billion dollars before it was killed just before construction began.

The Ares, on the other hand, is named for the bullshit Mars missions "envisioned" by the contractors hungry for the real meat-and-potatoes of the aerospace industry: plans. Plans cost nothing in comparison to actually building something, and as long as you're sure the scam is going to work and the project is going to be killed before anything is built, the plans don't even have to be good.

Unfortunately, the Ares made it past the planning stage, and now we're in the costly come-up-with-a-real-design-or-it-will-kill-someone phase. It's already too late to fix most of the vibration errors in design which are guaranteed to kill someone sooner or later. There are alternatives, but NASA strongly dislikes adaptation when they can build something entirely new for four times the money and twice the time.

I find that a little odd. Ares is also 1st House, more than our modern definitions associate with him. Hmmmmm...

We should have had a moon base years ago. Cut defense spending by 75% and use a chunk of the money for manned space exploration.