NASA is 'go' for crucial rocket test
October 25, 2009 by Jean-Louis Santini
NASA's Ares 1-X rocket rolls out to launch pad 39-b at the Kennedy Space Center October 20, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA is set to blast off a prototype rocket on Tuesday that carries hopes of returning humans to the Moon, and for the first time to Mars, despite deep uncertainty about the program's future.
NASA is set to blast off a prototype rocket on Tuesday that carries hopes of returning humans to the Moon, and for the first time to Mars, despite deep uncertainty about the program's future.
The space agency said everything is in order for Tuesday's two-minute, 30-second test of the Ares I-X rocket, a first look at the launch vehicle designed to replace NASA's aging space shuttle fleet.
It is "an early opportunity to test and prove flight characteristics, hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I," the space agency said.
Data will be collected from over 700 sensors spread across Ares I-X, providing a stream of information that will be scrutinized for months.
But more rides on the launch than data.
It is the culmination of three years work on Constellation, a human space flight program conceived by former president George W. Bush in the wake of the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster that killed all seven crew onboard.
The program includes plans to create "Orion," the space shuttle's successor that by 2017 would carry astronauts into space in a bid to return to the moon and later make a first human trip to Mars.
But an independent panel of experts threw cold water over Constellation's starry-eyed aspirations in a report to US President Barack Obama on Thursday, warning that NASA needs three billion dollars a year more to meet its goals.
"The US human space flight program appears to be on an unsustainable trajectory" due to lack of funds, panel leader Norman Augustine, former president of aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, said in the 155-page report.
The 10-member-panel floated the idea of manned space flights to asteroids, and flyovers close to the moon and Mars, both projects that would not require complicated landing arrangements.
For Obama, who leads an increasingly cash-strapped nation, that may sound like a good option.
In the face of this uncertainty NASA scientists are trying to appear workman-like.
"The team is ready to go fly; the vehicle is ready to go fly," said Ares I-X launch director Ed Mango, estimating a 40 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch at 8:00 am (1200 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Launch countdown preparations will begin on Monday and the actual countdown is scheduled to begin Tuesday at 1:00 am (0500 GMT).
NASA has one more launch window opportunity on Wednesday should stormy weather scuttle the launch plans.
Doug Cooke, associate administrator of NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, remained upbeat about the Ares prospects.
"This test is very important," he told reporters on Friday. "The data is important to us regardless of what comes next."
Only the first stage of Ares I-X -- a modified solid-fuel motor from the shuttle program -- will be tested, while the upper stage and capsule are mock ups.
The upper stage will plunge into the Atlantic Ocean after reaching a maximum altitude of 150,000 feet (45,720 meters).
The rocket measures 327 feet (99.6 meters) -- 33 feet (10 meters) taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York.
(c) 2009 AFP
Oct 20, 2009 |
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The shift to autonomous things happening everywhere. TV news stations buy unmanned helicopters with camera which do the same job at much lower costs. Next generation fighter aircrafts would be remote controlled. Human piloted deep sea exploration submarines become relic as well.
In 20 years (timeframe for alleged future human Mars mission) robotics would advance even more to render human space exploration idea totally ridiculous. Who would have possibly imagine 20 years ago to be able to buy $30(!) mini helicopter and fly it in your living room?
Space flights routinely undergo repairable mechanical malfunctions. Human creativity has been the most advantageous cargo we've carried into space, and ever will.
Please let authors like those of the above-statement play with their remote-controlled cars, while the rest of us move ahead with the exciting challenges of the human species.
Humanity needs to spread itself around the system as quickly as possible which has been pointed out by Asimov?, ie eggs in one basket, et al. The universe is too dangerous and we are too rare [well-done?] to remain in one spot. Time to emigrate. We can explore as we go and take our robots with us ala humans on Phobos directing mars rovers in realtime, while prospecting themselves.
Solid fuel boosters- I've been reading the report, they seem to be the most dependable alternative at present.
Presently all of humanity's "eggs" are in this one basket. It's getting cramped on this rock and we are running low on resources. While we still have the ability to move into a bigger basket, I think we should. Robotics has its place in the space program, just as it does in industry. So do remotely operated vehicles. But the end goal should be to help humanity grow up and leave the cradle. Isn't it about time?