Jai: SPECIAL REPORT Ares Rocket to launch later today (we hope)

GEEKS EVERYWHERE This is a rare post that NMG does but interesting never the less. NASA have been working on their new rocket for many years.

They have decided to create this rocket to replace the ageing space shuttle that has caused many problems for NASA scientists.

Ares I-X rocket will be the latest space mission for the USA. Hopefully launching within 24 hours, if they do not launch in that time window they have until the 29th October 2009 to do so.

The two minute flight will give technicians and scientists the chance to test the technology to assist in the future project of Ares space missions. With this said there has been a lot of reports and worries that the future of the Ares will be cut short.

The Augustine panel, which had been asked to review the US human spaceflight programme, published its report last Thursday just days before the scheduled launch.

Although the panel supported the Ares I-X test flight, it questioned the need to develop the Ares I rocket, part of the Constellation programme commissioned by the previous administration and intended to return the US to the Moon by 2020. Thats just americans for you!

The $450m (300m euros; £275m) Ares I-X is what Nasa describes as a "pathfinder" vehicle. "It is a chance for the agency to remind itself what it takes to build a vehicle," said one NASA spokes person.

Nasa has not designed a new launch vehicle for more than three decades and has lost much of the expertise in the area, according to some critics. But looking at the cost of the project would the US government want NASA to build new rockets every week? I think not!

The Ares I-X is the longest, thinnest vehicle ever designed and built by the US space agency. The I-X vehicle is 100m (320ft) tall and has been designed to be as close as possible to the eventual Ares I rocket. However, the top half of the launcher, like the fifth segment of the booster, is a dummy. What would be an upper-stage, with a crew capsule and its emergency escape mechanism, are mock-ups made to the correct shape and weight.

All this said I cannot wait to see and hear the good news of the success of the Ares I-X.

(This article has had information from BBC News)