Launch of the Ares I-X

[minidog]

On Wednesday, October 28th, NASA launched its Ares I-X prototype vehicle, the first launch from Kennedy's pads of a vehicle other than the space shuttle since the Apollo Program's Saturn rockets were retired. NASA's Constellation Program's 327-foot-tall rocket produced 2.96 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and reached a speed of 100 mph in eight seconds. The two-minute sub-orbital test flight encountered a few problems along the way, as the launch pad was slightly damaged, a planned stage separation did not go quite according to plan, and a possible parachute failure led to a hard splashdown for its first stage. The Constellation program is under pressure as a recent committee report depicted it as overly expensive. The Obama administration is set to make a decision in the next several months about the near-term direction of U.S. Space Policy. (28 photos total)
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/10/launch_of_the_ares_ix.html

 

[Friday on my mind]

Guess they finally got it up.:thumbsup:

We need something to replace the aging shuttles but our budget problems might interfere.Think we could save in other places but who knows what will happen.

 

[Jagger69]

^
Yes indeed but I read the other day that whoever gets "picked" for the first Mars mission may be slated for a one-way ticket only due to budgetary constraints. Can you imagine it? Liftoff and goodbye to Earth forever....and having little idea of what awaits you on your new home planet.

Very cool pics, Mini-D! A rarely-seen inside look at the program. :thumbsup:

 

[turtle825]

cool

 

[Friday on my mind]

^
Yes indeed but I read the other day that whoever gets "picked" for the first Mars mission may be slated for a one-way ticket only due to budgetary constraints. Can you imagine it? Liftoff and goodbye to Earth forever....and having little idea of what awaits you on your new home planet.

Very cool pics, Mini-D! A rarely-seen inside look at the program. :thumbsup:

That has to be a joke ,one way mission.:eek:
Nobody gonna sign up for that,it's a death sentence.Russians sent a dog up on a not to return flight in the 50s and caught flack for that.We would be denounced even if we could find a volunteer.

PS: Don't yell at me minidog,the commies did it.

 

[minidog]

I am that DOG

:wave:

 

[Jagger69]

That has to be a joke ,one way mission.:eek:
Nobody gonna sign up for that,it's a death sentence.Russians sent a dog up on a not to return flight in the 50s and caught flack for that.We would be denounced even if we could find a volunteer.

PS: Don't yell at me minidog,the commies did it.

It's no joke, FOMM. From the October 19 edition of Space City's very own Houston Chronicle:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6673981.html

 

[D-rock]

^
Yes indeed but I read the other day that whoever gets "picked" for the first Mars mission may be slated for a one-way ticket only due to budgetary constraints. Can you imagine it? Liftoff and goodbye to Earth forever....and having little idea of what awaits you on your new home planet.

Very cool pics, Mini-D! A rarely-seen inside look at the program. :thumbsup:

Maybe they could have the whole country vote for who to send there. I have a few ideas for people I wouldn't mind if they never came back. :wave2::1orglaugh

 

[BlueBalls]

Maybe they could have the whole country vote for who to send there. I have a few ideas for people I wouldn't mind if they never came back. :wave2::1orglaugh

Just raffle it off to a death row inmate.

Or shove Dick Cheney in there.

 

[Friday on my mind]

It's no joke, FOMM. From the October 19 edition of Space City's very own Houston Chronicle:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6673981.html

Ok I didn't know they thought people could survive there long term and actually have a colony.That might be feasible to try.

 

[Shadowfax 10]

Have you notice that ares is an anagram of arse.:1orglaugh

 

[CunningStunts]

Cool shit, we need to spend more on exploration of the galaxy instead of stupid shit like "cash for clunkers", which wasted over a billion dollars.

 

[Jagger69]

Have you notice that ares is an anagram of arse.:1orglaugh

Actually, it's the "Aries" rocket....like the constellation Aries....the Ram. Just a typo by Mini-D....I knew what she meant! :thumbsup: