Topic: What's Next for the Ares Rocket?

[sam]

http://www.universetoday.com/2009/10/29/whats-next-for-the-ares-rocket/

[Clive]

According to the BBC World News, Ares is to be scrapped!  I hope that the story is not true otherwise America will have to rely on the Russians and French to launch their satellites and service the ISS!   

[sam]

wouldnt trust bbc world news... they have adverts. 

[Simon]

Cynic! 

[sam]

though saying that: NASA May Drop Ares I-Y Test Flight

Just one week after the first test flight test of the Ares I-X rocket, NASA says it may decide to cancel a follow-up launch called Ares 1-Y, which wasn't scheduled until 2014. Reportedly, program managers recommended dropping the flight because, currently, there isn't the funding to get an upper stage engine ready in time. The test flight may be replaced with a new, still undefined test flight in 2012 or 2013. “It simply does not fit where we are headed,” said Jeff Hanley, Constellation Program manager was quoted in NASA's Constellation Blog. “The test vehicle was intended to meet evolving needs but the current configuration is too different from what the program requires to certify the Ares/Orion vehicle systems.”

http://www.universetoday.com/2009/11/04/nasa-may-drop-ares-i-y-test-flight/

hmm.. sounds like they have no bloody clue what they want... still 2014 seems a long way off especially when they want this to replace the shuttle around about now!