NASA scrubs launch of Ares I-X rocket

[sinkingfeeling]

Source: CNN.com

(CNN) -- NASA scrubbed the launch of an unmanned research rocket Tuesday morning because of weather.

The 327-foot rocket Ares I-X originally was to have lifted off at 8 a.m. ET.

The launch was delayed several times throughout the morning due to upper-level clouds and winds, a stubborn lanyard attached to a sock that wouldn't come loose at the nose and a ship within the launch's warning area.

NASA said it will try again to launch at 8 a.m. Wednesday.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/10/27/ares.nasa.rock...

[Soylent Brice]

1. : (

[alfredo]

2. It seems so top heavy.

[Brother Buzz]

4. Appears to be more suitable for launch than the space shuttle ever looked to me

[Posteritatis]

5. A lot of the weight's probably in the lower sections

Fuel storage, the largest of the propulsion system, some ballast, stuff like that.

[TheMadMonk]

7. Not ballast. Dead weight is the LAST thing you put on a rocket.

Gyroscopic stabilisation is what keeps it pointed in the right direction once it starts moving.

On the ground it is only marginally more stable than a pencil on it's point.

[Posteritatis]

8. There actually is some on the first stage. (nt)

[Phoonzang]

6. Well the top section is fake for this test.

Since it's likely to be the only test before the project is canceled, it's the only time we'll see it fly.

[alfredo]

9. Are you sure it will be cancelled?

[Phoonzang]

10. I can't say that with 100 percent certainty, but there's very good chance it will.

The recently completely Augustine Commission advised against further development of the Ares I-X and promoted commercial ventures or a shuttle-derived system instead. A lot of people in NASA and the space community are skeptical about it and think it's a unnecessary waste of money and potentially dangerous.

But who knows, maybe tomorrow's test will show that the rocket performs beyond all expectations and change people's minds. Ultimately the decision is up to Pres. Obama.

[alfredo]

11. Didn't they try it before and it went to oscillations?

[Phoonzang]

12. Yes, I remember something about potentially shaking the astronauts to death... nt

[alfredo]

13. That's it.

[Ludwig_1963]

3. yeah...

...bummer. i was siked to see it launch. hopefully it will tomorrow.

[benh57]

14. This should be cancelled

Manned spaceflight is horribly wasteful. We can do much more with robotics.

Manned is pretty much a republican thing.

[neverforget]

15. Exploration is hard work better left to Democrats as Republicans don't

seem to appreciate science.