http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/flighttests/aresIx/index.html en-us
This concludes our live coverage of the successful liftoff and suborbital mission of the Ares I-X flight test vehicle. NASA's Launch Blog would like to congratulate all those involved with today's mission, and we also thank our viewers who followed us through the countdown.

From Hangar AE at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, this is NASA's Launch Blog, signing off.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:56:13 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:40:29 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:33:04 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:32:24 GMT
The rocket is beginning a series of four programmed test maneuvers designed to verify the vehicle's flight dynamics and control characteristics.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:30:45 GMT
Ares I-X is beginning a 20-second "fly-away" steering maneuver designed to guide it away from the launch tower to minimize damage to the pad.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:30:08 GMT
The solid rocket motor joint heaters will be turned off at T-50 seconds, and the flight control system will stop its alignment at T-35 seconds and begin navigating, basically changing from "countdown" to "flight" mode.
At T-28 seconds the vehicle's auxiliary power units will start, followed by a steering check of the solid rocket motor's thrust vector controller, which translates between Atlas V avionics and shuttle-derived booster hardware.

At T-15 seconds, vehicle ignition and hold-down bolts are armed, and the pad's sound suppression water valves are open. Launch inhibits will be removed and the vehicle will be armed at T-10 seconds.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:29:09 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:28:59 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:28:42 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:26:08 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:22:26 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:15:56 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:04:42 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:54:27 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:52:17 GMT
In the weather reconnaissance aircraft, astronaut Chris Ferguson is checking out the outer boundary of clouds near the launch site. We're now "red" again on the triboelectrification rule at the launch pad.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:46:48 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:35:05 GMT
So with launch now targeted for 11 a.m., we'll expect to resume the countdown at 10:56 a.m. at T-4 minutes.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:56:02 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:39:08 GMT
So again, just like our first launch attempt on Tuesday, today's launch try will come down to weather.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:11:31 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:52:13 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:43:54 GMT
Launch still is targeted for 9 a.m. although that is subject -- and likely -- to change. The countdown clock remains at T-4 minutes and holding.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:26:15 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:54:39 GMT
The Tel-4 tracking station is receiving the data it needs from the vehicle.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:36:07 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:32:39 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:27:23 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:21:32 GMT
Today's forecast calls for broken clouds at 24,000 to 27,000 feet, which will be a factor in the launch team's triboelectrification rule. Other weather constraints all are "green," or favorable. A weather reconnaissance aircraft will take off at about 7:30 and deliver firsthand data to help Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters and the launch team evaluate conditions.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:07:05 GMT
Out in the Atlantic Ocean, solid rocket booster retrieval ship Liberty Star has reported winds of 15-18 knots, seas at two to four feet, winds from the southeast and an air temperature of 82 degrees F. Visibility is 10 miles with 60 percent cloud cover.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:55:23 GMT
Rollback of the launch pad's rotating service structure is expected within the next 15 to 20 minutes.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:47:38 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:36:02 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:15:40 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:58:18 GMT
The first stage comprises four active, reusable solid rocket motors derived from the Space Shuttle Program, topped by a simulated fifth booster segment containing Atlas V avionics. These elements will be recovered from the Atlantic Ocean at the mission's end. Next are the forward skirt and its extension, and the distinctively funnel-shaped frustum, which adapts the narrow first stage to the wider upper stage.

Above the frustum is the two-piece interstage, which houses an active roll control system based on the decommissioned Peacekeeper missile. The rocket's upper stage, spacecraft adapter, service module, crew module and launch abort system all are simulated and will not be recovered after splashdown.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:39:18 GMT
At the moment, weather conditions are "green" across the board.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:37:12 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:24:24 GMT Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:10:18 GMT
The forecast today calls for a 60 percent chance of weather violating the launch commit criteria. Triboelectrification is a primary concern, since high clouds have not moved out of the area as soon as expected. Pad winds are forecast to diminish. Tuesday's launch attempt was scrubbed due to similar weather conditions. Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters is monitoring the weather and staying in frequent contact with Launch Test Director Jeff Spaulding.

At the launch pad, teams are working to power up the rocket's systems and step through this morning's countdown. Upcoming major milestones include retraction of the upper stage access arm, rollback of the rotating service structure and disconnect of the vehicle stabilization system.

The prime launch team and management Launch Authority Team are stationed at their consoles inside the Young-Crippen Firing Room of the Launch Control Center in the heart of Launch Complex 39. Members of the launch support team -- and NASA's Launch Blog -- are located in Hangar AE, just a few miles south of the launch pad at neighboring Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Today's countdown promises to be exciting. Stay with NASA's Launch Blog for updates from the Florida spaceport.]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:01:57 GMT Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:45:35 GMT