Aug. 7, 2009 Amber Philman Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 amber.n.philman@nasa.gov STATUS REPORT: ARES-I-X-080709 ARES I-X STATUS REPORT Launch Vehicle: Ares I-X Launch Date: Oct. 31, pending final NASA Headquarters approval Launch Pad: 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Ares I-X Flight Hardware This week's milestones include: - Super Stack 2 was lifted and mated to Super Stack 1 on MLP 1 in VAB HB3 - Ballasts, or weights, were placed into Super Stack 2 - Super Stack 3 lift and mate to Super Stack 2 on MLP 1 in VAB HB3 Next processing milestones: - Super Stack 4 lift and mate to Super Stack 3 on MLP 1 in VAB HB3 - Super Stack 5 lift and mate to Super Stack 4 on MLP 1 in VAB HB3, completing the stacking of the rocket Ares I-X Ground Support Equipment - At Launch Pad 39B, modifications are ongoing. The Ares I-X flight test will provide NASA an early opportunity to check and prove hardware, analysis and modeling methods, and facilities and ground operations needed to develop the Ares I, which is NASA's next crew launch vehicle. The test also will allow NASA to gather critical data during the ascent of the integrated stack, which will help inform the design of the Ares I rocket and the Orion crew exploration vehicle. The data will ensure the entire vehicle system is safe and fully operational before astronauts begin traveling in it to the International Space Station and moon. For more information about the Ares I-X flight test, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ares Previous status reports are available at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/moonandmars/status/index.html -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
