Ares I-X, One Week and Counting

NASA has a new rocket on the launch pad for the first time in almost 30 years.The Ares I-X, the first test of the new Ares rocket design, is scheduled for October 27 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This first flight is meant to demonstrate control and staging of the Ares 1 crew launcher, …

The Ares I-X makes its way to the launch pad early on October 20. (Photo: NASA)

NASA has a new rocket on the launch pad for the first time in almost 30 years.

The Ares I-X, the first test of the new Ares rocket design, is scheduled for October 27 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This first flight is meant to demonstrate control and staging of the Ares 1 crew launcher, which is not expected to fly until 2011 at the earliest.

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