Tag: Ares I-X
-
Ares team pressing forward with plans for Ares I-X Prime flight, for now
Despite apparently failing to be short listed for President Obama’s upcoming decision on the forward path for NASA’s Human Space Flight program, the Ares I teams are pushing forward with new plans to follow up the Ares I-X test flight with a 2012 to 2013 flight of Ares I-X Prime – a replacement test launch…
-
Pad 39B suffers substantial damage from Ares I-X launch – Parachute update
Pad workers have begun to evaluate what is being described as substantial heat damage to Pad 39B, following the launch of Ares I-X. Meanwhile, the damage to Ares I-X’s First Stage was the result of splashing down at high speed and at an angle, due to only “one and a half” of its three main…
-
Ares I-X launches – managers claim successful test flight
Ares I-X has launched on the second attempt at 11:30am Eastern, and although the First Stage and the Upper Stage Simulator (USS) appeared to recontact after separation (later confirmed that no recontact took place) – managers are claiming the flight to be a success. Sources also claim one of the FS’ parachutes failed, with the booster splashing down with two working…
-
Ares I-X fails to beat weather for opening launch attempt
Ares I-X has seen its opening launch attempt scrubbed, following unacceptable weather conditions over the Pad. A few small gaps in the weather failed to coincide with the continuously realigned T-0s, which was also interrupted by a cargo ship entering the Eastern Range. Processing Status (Pre-Scrub): *New article will be published for attempt 2.* At…
-
Ares I-X passes FTRR for Tuesday launch – weekend simulation set
The first – and possibly the last – Ares rocket is set to launch on October 27, following clearance by the Agency Flight Test Readiness Review (FTRR) on Friday. Ares I-X will launch on a two and a half minute powered flight at 8am local time next Tuesday, pending acceptable weather conditions. Engineers will also be tested…
-
Ares I-X TVC retesting taking place – Range Safety Waiver overview
Engineers have replaced the faulty GN2 accumulator on Ares I-X’s Thrust Vector Control (TVC), ahead of rollout to Pad 39B, currently set to take place on Tuesday or Wednesday morning – pending successful retests on the replaced hardware over the weekend. Meanwhile, documentation has outlined the extensive – and ongoing – work that has been undertaken to…
-
Ares I-X on track for rollout – Constellation set lunar summit date
Ares I-X is on track to rollout of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on October 19 following the completion of several milestones and processing work relating to an issue involving 78 Upper Stage bolts. Meanwhile, the Constellation Program (CxP) have set September 2010 for a Human Lunar Return (HLR) Systems Requirements Review (SRR) summit. Ares…
-
Ares I-X processing for rollout – HLV alternative continuing to make progress
With just three weeks to go until rollout to Pad 39B, Ares I-X is in the final series of checks inside the Vehicle Assembly Building’s High Bay 3. Numerous engineering challenges are successfully being worked through – and the vehicle remains on track for an October 27 launch date. Meanwhile, the SD HLLV (Shuttle Derived…
-
Ares I-X undergoing ordnance installation – I-X/STS-129 conflict evaluations
The Ares I-X test vehicle is continuing to undergo the business end of processing inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) – which includes the installation of its ordnance over the weekend. Meanwhile, Shuttle and Constellation managers are debating its October 31 launch date, due to the proximity of Atlantis’ preparations for her STS-129 launch from…
-
Constellation battle numerous Top Risks – Orion loses unmanned capability
The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is undergoing further reductions in its capability – including the elimination of the vehicle’s unmanned ability – as Constellation managers attempt to resolve numerous issues ahead of the Orion Project PDR (Preliminary Design Review). Issues noted in the recent “Top Risks” review list 10 serious issues with the Ares and Orion vehicles, ranging from…