posted 08-14-2009 12:58 PM               

This thread is intended for reader comments and questions regarding the Ares I-X test flight.

posted 08-14-2009 06:11 PM               

The evaluations include a process called "modal testing," which will shake the stack slightly to test stiffness of the rocket, including the pinned and bolted joints.

posted 08-14-2009 09:01 PM               

The Ares-1 "stick rocket" is controversial as to its design due to vibration from the solid rocket booster.

posted 08-14-2009 09:54 PM               

The committee's charter requires they deliver their report within four months of their first meeting, or by mid-October (though they have since said that they expect the report to be available in September). Even after it is delivered, it will take some time for the Administration and Congress to decide what to do with the commission's findings.

Even if those deliberations are completed before Ares I-X is ready to launch, the flight has has already been budgeted. And given that from every test knowledge is gained, I personally believe that Ares I-X will launch regardless if Ares I is going forward or not.

On edit, to quote my colleagues at Space.com:

NASA officials told SPACE.com that the options put forth by the committee will not immediately affect plans for the Ares I-X test flight. Only with direct instruction from the Obama Administration can the agency shift its current exploration plan and test regime, they said.

posted 08-15-2009 09:10 AM               

For the first time in more than a quarter-century a new space vehicle stands ready in NASA's Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building.

posted 08-15-2009 09:24 AM               

High Bay 3 was slightly modified to support Ares I-X.

High Bay 1 is presently used for space shuttle operations and is where STS-129 is currently being stacked. The current plan is to convert High Bay 1 to support Ares V after the shuttle program ends.

posted 08-15-2009 05:19 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
That does sound like a "tennis shoe"-like test

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First, you probably do not need a tennis-shoe like excitation, a definite excitation at a precisely given frequency and detailed measurements with a large number of accelerometers will be much more useful to obtain data to verify/calibrate the mechanical analyses.

Second, as one of the criticism against Ares is the vibration problem, I assume the test flight will happen in any case, at least to check whether the predictions are correct and not too pessimistic. The modal test can demonstrate the eigenfrequencies and modal transfer behavior of the stack for small excitations, but a verification of the behavior at high excitations coming from the solid propellant stage is necessary to confirm or deny th vibration problem, and the adequacy of the current solution.

posted 08-15-2009 05:19 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Rollout is planned for four days before launch.

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In any case I hope they are able to stick to the schedule. Having it fly on Halloween would be very cool.

posted 09-23-2009 03:12 PM               

The tone of the conversation was that Ares is just "another unmanned launch" and only manned launches would generate enough interest to sell causeway tickets. Very disappointing.

posted 09-23-2009 05:23 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Joyner:
The tone of the conversation was that Ares is just "another unmanned launch" and only manned launches would generate enough interest to sell causeway tickets. Very disappointing.

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Well, that answers my question of if I should try to attend that launch or the shuttle a few weeks later. Shuttle!

posted 10-07-2009 05:06 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
NASA has targeted the launch for October 27. The launch window will extend from 8 a.m. to noon EDT.

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posted 10-09-2009 12:40 PM               

A limited number of admission tickets valid on launch day are available for viewing from the main Visitor Complex. A special vehicle pass is required to gain admission and will ship (U.S. addresses only) after placing the order. Orders must be placed by October 15. An arrival time will be included on your ticket.

Launch tickets can not be shipped internationally at this time.

Tours will be altered on launch day and will not begin until one hour after launch.

posted 10-09-2009 05:23 PM               

Over the phone, they let me treat the Ares I-X as a general admission ticket, which provides a second day of admission. I was able to use this "second day" to get in on 10/26 for the "Up-Close" tour without having to by another general admission ticket.

I mention this because I'm not sure that the online ordering system is set up to do this. When I went to the online ticket site, it appeared as though it was going to make me order the Ares I-X ticket separately, and then it was going to make me by a general admisson ticket prior to allowing me to purchase an "Up-Close" ticket.

posted 10-20-2009 10:37 PM               

The entire vehicle weighs in at 1.8 million pounds.

The upper stage simulator, boilerplate Orion capsule and mockup launch escape system account for just 450,000 pounds of that total (150,000 in ballast weight alone).

The remaining 1.35 million pounds are represented by the first stage four-segment solid rocket booster, its fifth segment simulator and forward skirt extension with recovery parachutes.