We Choose Ares

NASA's next program for manned spaceflight is about to get underway, and it won't involve gliders, planes, or anything resembling the Starship Enterprise. 

This morning at 8:00 AM, The Ares I-X rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  Weather pending, the launch will be a test for the Ares I model of rocket, which is being developed to replace the space shuttle after the shuttle's decommission in 2010.

Some might see the Ares rocket (and its program, Constellation) as a step backwards for NASA, reverting back to the designs and functions of the Apollo program.  I, on the other hand, prefer to think of it as a simplification after the Challenger and Columbia tragedies.  It makes sense for NASA to go back to what works and modify their approach from there.  Sure, we won't be seeing any fancy spaceships or star cruisers any time soon, but if a rocket is what it takes to get us to the Moon, Mars and beyond, then so be it.

NASA describes today's launch as "an early opportunity to test and prove flight characteristics, hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I."  If inclement weather forces them to cancel the launch, another attempt will be made tomorrow.




Edit: It looks like inclement weather postponed today's launch. NASA's website states that they'll try again tomorrow.

Edit #2 (Wednesday):  Today's launch reportedly went off without a hitch.