Ares I-X on the pad

[RT Atlanta]

The first flight-worthy (first stage) version of the Ares I is sitting on the launch pad, with a targeted launch of next week. The flight is supposed to test the first stage solid-booster component for a 2 minute suborbital hop. Exciting to see some progress on this front. Story and a few photos below:

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/091020-ares-1x-rollout.html

[Ian David]

1. That's one really HUGE tampon.

Are they aiming it at Jupiter's Great Red Spot?

[Adsos Letter]

2. !

:spray: :rofl:

[RT Atlanta]

3. Shuttle size comparison

The rocket is one huge phallus - I think the Rude Pundit could have fun with some colorful words describing it.

To compare the Ares to the Shuttle stack, the top of the Shuttle's external tank would hit the Ares at the bottom portion of the bulge at the top of the rocket. Ares is almost double the height of the Shuttle and just 40 feet shorter than the tallest rocket of them all, the Saturn V.

Another reference point is the launch tower sitting right beside the rocket (which have yet to undergo their retrofit) - the tower stands taller than the Shuttle when its parked on the pad, with the Ares I-X dwarfing the launch tower.

[pokerfan]

11. We should be designing flying choads

Nova MM S10R-2.
Credit - © Mark Wade
Status: Study 1963.

Single stage to orbit Nova using conical shape, 30 CD module engines in zero-length plug nozzle. Operational date would have been July 1978.

Manufacturer: Martin
LEO Payload: 381,000 kg to 185 km Orbit
Liftoff Thrust: 133,421.600 kN
Total Mass: 10,959,200 kg
Core Diameter: 21.30 m
Total Length: 68.00 m

[krispos42]

6. You win

:rofl:

[Ozymanithrax]

4. My God, it's beautiful.

Yes, I love space and the machines that take us there.

[joshcryer]

8. I love rockets. It's about time we chose a safer* design.

*Although if the SRB has to be aborted within the 30 second window survivability is zero.

[Johonny]

9. the good news

if you abort it before it hits the stratosphere it won't destroy any of the Ozone layer.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

5. Went to Cape Canaveral as a kid

standing next to one of those gigantic rocket tractors, I felt like a Jawa from Star Wars.

[joshcryer]

7. Too bad it's not a full stage rocket. :(

Would be a much more representative test.

[pokerfan]

10. Baby steps

We have to realize that we're starting over, hoping to return to crewed space program by the end of the next decade.

[joshcryer]

12. We haven't done a dummy rocket test though since before Apollo.

Most Saturn tests were done on rockets that were full blown representations of the actual vehicle.