Ares I-X test vehicle to launch today

[thirdname]

The Ares I-X test vehicle is supposed to launch today. Right now they’ve delayed it for 90 minutes because a cargo ship is in the exclusion zone.

[Alienhand]

They’re restarting the countdown at 10:50 EDT, launch at 10:54.

[Kent_Clark]

But now the clouds are thickening, the wind has picked up, and conditions may not improve before the noon deadline.

[billfish678]

Thanks for the head up.

Boy, can that weather lady talk. A yes no simple answer would kill her apparently.

If parts go flying and hit the shuttle on the pad next door…wonder how that will go over?

[Munch]

And we’re delayed until Wednesday.

[Magiver]

@thirdname

The Ares I-X test vehicle is supposed to launch today. Right now they’ve delayed it for 90 minutes because a cargo ship is in the exclusion zone.

It’s not even noon on the day of the launch and your wiki cite has already been updated with the scrubbed launch.

[BobLibDem]

Quick question:

Is it Are-Ease or Air-Ease?

[Alienhand]

Both is probably acceptable but I pronounce it air-ease.

[thirdname]

NASA’s blog says the range is green, launch planned at 11:30.

NASA - Ares 1-X Flight Test Launch Blog

[UncleRojelio]

Countdown resumed. 4 minutes and counting!

[UncleRojelio]

NASA Television | NASA

[Grey]

She’s off!

[Alienhand]

Yay!!! claps

[billfish678]

That seperation looked bad and dangerous to me !

[Grey]

Looks like it folded in half - but they’re still getting telemetry so it can’t be bad.

[billfish678]

@Grey

Looks like it folded in half - but they’re still getting telemetry so it can’t be bad.

Yes.

But I can’t imagine where the front half gets passed by the back half is anything a rocket scientists would want. Maybe they expected that to happen and didnt and won’t care.

[ivylass]

And it’s up up and away! (I can see launches from my backyard. Part of the perk of living in Orlando(ish.))

[Grey]

The people seem fairly happy. Looks like the upper stage is down. I guess they may not have been testing a powered upper stage separation. Just a fire it, make sure it flys, separates and see what it looks like after recovery.

Trust wikipedia to have the objectives…

Test objectives

Ares I-X was the first test flight of a launch vehicle like the Ares I. The test flight objectives included:

* Demonstrating control of a dynamically similar vehicle using control algorithms similar to those used for Ares I.
* Performing an in-flight separation/staging event between an Ares I-similar First Stage and a representative Upper Stage.
* Demonstrating assembly and recovery of an Ares I-like First Stage at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
* Demonstrating First Stage separation sequencing, and measuring First Stage atmospheric entry dynamics, and parachute performance.
* Characterizing the magnitude of integrated vehicle roll torque throughout First Stage flight.

The flight also has several secondary objectives, including:

* Quantifying the effectiveness of the first stage booster deceleration motors.
* Characterizing induced environments and loads on the vehicle during ascent.
* Demonstrating a procedure for determining the vehicle’s position to orient the flight control system.
* Characterize induced loads on the Flight Test Vehicle while on the launch pad.
* Assess potential Ares I access locations in the VAB and on the Pad.
* Assess First Stage electrical umbilical performance.

[billfish678]

@Grey

The people seem fairly happy. Looks like the upper stage is down. I guess they may not have been testing a powered upper stage separation. Just a fire it, make sure it flys, separates and see what it looks like after recovery.

Could well be. Will let the real rocket scientists chime in here hopefully.

[legalsnugs]

Great launch! My brother has been working on the Ares project for a couple of years. I know he’s happy now (no more 12-hour workdays for awhile!). Congratulations to everyone involved!

Does anyone know what was up with the little tie-cutting ceremony?