NASA Ares I-X Rocket Completed Ready For Test Launch

Today is a proud day at NASA and should be for many American's as NASA has completed building a new space vehicle, the Ares I-X Rocket. It's been more than a quarter-century since a new space vehicle has been built by NASA and one finally stands ready for launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building.

The Ares I-X rocket will prepare this fall for the first test launch since being built. The final segments of the Ares I-X were stacked on Aug. 13, completing the 327-foot launch vehicle and providing the first look at the finished rocket's distinctive shape. The Ares I-X flight test is targeted for Oct. 31.

"More than three years of hard work with the NASA and contractor team has brought us to this historic moment," said Bob Ess, Ares I-X mission manager. "This flight test is a critical step in continuing our design process for the Ares vehicle and the first flight for the Constellation Program."

During the test launch of Ares I-X, more than 700 sensors onboard will gather information during the two-and-a-half minute flight test in October. The test will provide NASA with much needed data information as well as prove the launch vehicles flight worthiness. The data collected during the launch will allow NASA to gather critical data during ascent of the integrated Orion spacecraft and the Ares I rocket.

The next step will be to complete the building of the Orion space exploration vehicle as part of NASAs Constellation Program. The Orion Spacecraft made a successful dock with the International Space Station during a virtual mission. The virtual mission allowed NASA to see how the space capsule would possible launch and dock with ISS.