NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Launch Team members will report to their respective computer or communication consoles following the "call to stations" for the final countdown. Many of the consoles are located in Firing Room 1 in Kennedy Space Center's Launch Control Center, next door to the Vehicle Assembly Building in Launch Complex 39. Below are some of the key members with descriptions of their responsibilities during the events that will lead up to the liftoff of the Ares I-X rocket's flight test.

Douglas R. Cooke, Associate Administrator, NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
Cooke is responsible for managing the development of flight hardware systems for future support of the International Space Station and the exploration of the moon, Mars and beyond. This includes development of lunar robotic precursors, critical technologies and human research to support future human spacecraft and exploration missions.


Jeffrey M. Hanley, Manager, NASA's Constellation Program
Hanley is leading the development of NASA's new spacecraft and launch vehicle system, which will take astronauts to the moon, Mars and beyond.




Jeff Spaulding, Launch Test Director, NASA's Ares I-X Flight Test
Spaulding's duties as launch test director for this first flight test include the overall management of the launch countdown, coordinating, integrating and approval of troubleshooting, managing the countdown clock, and responsibility for the safety of all personnel inside the pad area.



Edward Mango, Launch Director, NASA's Ares I-X Flight Test
Mango's duties as launch director for this first flight test include the management and direction for the prime launch team and the launch support team. He is the leader of the launch authority team, which is responsible for programmatic authority to perform the launch and flight test.



Robert H. Ess, Mission Manager, NASA's Ares I-X Flight Test
Ess is responsible for overall project management and direction of the Ares I-X development flight test through the Ares I-X Mission Management Office. The office is in charge of the integration of the launch vehicle system and the ground operations system within NASA's Constellation Program Office.



Jon N. Cowart, Ares I-X Deputy Mission Manager, NASA's Kennedy Space Center
Cowart is part of the Ares I-X Mission Management Office and is responsible for the Ares I-X flight test mission. He served as senior project manager, responsible for all modifications to Launch Pad 39B, the Vehicle Assembly Building and mobile launcher platform at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for the flight test.



Steve Davis, Ares I-X Deputy Mission Manager, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
Davis supports the mission manager and has special oversight responsibilities for the design, development and integration of the flight test vehicle’s first stage, avionics and roll control systems at the Marshall Space Flight Center.