NASA: Ares I-X flight test imminent!

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

I have just watched the replay of the launch on NASA TV and I am assuming that both modules parachuted back to earth after separation. Can not watch the replay on Spacevidcast, I am at work and we only have IE6 (damn govt PC's) and it wont support the site. Will wait until tonight when I get home.

Adrian

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

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[TrevorW]

$454 million to test a rocket

you think by now they'd get it right

at least the could have launched something not to expensive like some science project costing a few million extra

[Octane (Humayun)]

Better that $454 million spent on a test of a rocket than to go into the pocket of some useless soccer player or golfer.

Regards,
Humayun

[leinad (Dan)]

Well funded money that already benefits science and engineering IMHO.

Not like it's 3 Trillion dollars spent that has no benefit to tax payers and humanity whatsoever?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...030702846.html

[TrevorW]

We are talking about a solid fuel booster here no much in the way of new technology and it has been successfully static tested

If they insist on launching it with nothing acheived apart from,

"well it works"

it's a waste of resource's but who cares it's only public money

likewise the war's the USA are spending billions on.

[leinad (Dan)]

Bit cynical Trev.

There's a major difference though between a static test and a live launch test..

[DavidU (Dave)]

I nodded off last night with the laptop on my knees sitting in a recliner.LOL
BUGGER! Missed it.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Isn't the rocket tethered for a static test?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by leinad

Bit cynical Trev.

There's a major difference though between a static test and a live launch test..

Agreed. The Ares is a completely new SYSTEM. The fact that they used existing technology to push gas out the rear has nothing to do with the rest of the guidance electronics and telemetry system architecture, though to the brand new pad & tower complex, ground ops and new systems installed in the brand-spankin' Young/Crippen control centre. There was a lot to test.

[DavidU (Dave)]

I would love to see a shock wave image from it during the first 1.3min of flight. It has an unusual shape.

[TrevorW]

Sorry for being cynical I've become this way from working in the public service for the last 7 years and seeing how much money gets wasted by people trying to justify their existence and that they are doing a good job for supposedly the benefit of the public.

Lets just say we will disagree on this.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Trevor,

Would you like to see the space program shut down?

The reason I ask is because it's never going to be cheap. How much did each Shuttle launch cost, $1 billion, or so?

Regards,
Humayun

[Kal (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Sorry for being cynical I've become this way from working in the public service for the last 7 years and seeing how much money gets wasted by people trying to justify their existence and that they are doing a good job for supposedly the benefit of the public.

lol, I work in the private sector and I am cynical because I have seen the top end directors/managers take constant annual multi-million dollar wage increases after squeezing the blood out of the company to live on an business model that lasts 30 days!

Public/private.....I think both sectors are screwed, but we are getting a bit off topic here

[Nesti (Mark)]

Hey, I was watching the launch on YouTube...did the booster induce a spin on the upper stage when it separated? Sure looked like it to me.

Back to the thread...

I'm happy for governments to spend money on [provable and usable] science, just not warfare science: 11 years as a soldier, I know first hand it's pointless and wasteful.

Wasting money on going to Mars is just crap too. Spend that money fixing up our own planet first rather than infesting the cosmos with our junk. Large nuclear furnaces would be nice start, to burn our 'difficult' waste.

Go to Mars when we know how to clean up in our wake I say!

[FredSnerd (Claude)]

I personally find it hard to begrudge any $$$ going to space explorartion. To me its like exploring the oceans in the 15th century. You just had to do it.

[stephenb (Stephen)]

Originally Posted by FredSnerd

I personally find it hard to begrudge any $$$ going to space explorartion. To me its like exploring the oceans in the 15th century. You just had to do it.

I agree with you there, Claude

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Here here keep flying I agree.

We already know how to save the earth it is just a process to get greedy oil barrens and the cows to consider other options (yeah right).

[Nesti (Mark)]

Originally Posted by FredSnerd

I personally find it hard to begrudge any $$$ going to space explorartion. To me its like exploring the oceans in the 15th century. You just had to do it.

I do agree however, manned spaceflight is so much more costly and complex than probes.

I think that the new age of robotics will show us the direction we need to take. More bang for your buck.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Mark,

Whilst that'll be cheaper in the long run, I suppose complete robotics will take away the romance behind actual Man going into space.

It's a hard one. :S

Regards,
Humayun