The Rocket That Will Return Us to the Moon

By Craig Taylor

October 20, 2009

NASA will be conducting the first flight test for the new crew launch vehicle today. The Ares I-X, will bring the agency one step closer to achieving its ambitious goal of returning to the moon.

The test flight will give NASA the opportunity to test new hardware, facilities and ground operations. The data collected will be used to assess the new rocket’s design to ensure that it is safe and stable in flight before new astronauts can begin testing it into orbit.

The aircraft is part of the Constellation Program, which includes new systems and vehicles to support space exploration not just to the moon, but to Mars and beyond. With this new program, NASA has stated that the Space Shuttle program will be retired in 2010.

Constellation will inherit the legacies of both Apollo and the Space Shuttle, using parts and concepts of these earlier programs to build more dependable and cost-effective crafts.

The new Ares will carry future astronauts into orbit with its single five-segment solid rocket booster and liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen engine. The first mission to the moon is scheduled for 2020.