NASA's new Ares I-X rocket is almost ready to go!

The Ares I-X flight test currently is targeted for Oct. 31. Ares I-X consists of a four-segment first stage solid rocket motor, and a simulated upper stage that represents the weight and shape of the Ares I rocket and Orion crew vehicle. It will be launched in a suborbital arc into the Atlantic to collect data on its flight dynamics and parachute recovery performance.

http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Ares-I-X.jpg
orrjeh. full story

Bloody hell its tall. Whats a 4 segment solid rocket? Do you think its a solid rocket that can be aborted between the segments? Thats the biggest problem with solid rockets. Once lit, they burn until all the fuel is gone.

afaik the lower section of the new Ares I-X rocket consists of 4-stage solid feul boosters. i think they make them in stages for better control of the burn.. could be wrong tho :P your guess is as good as mine :P

Different stages allow for different fuel burn rates, and hence, different amounts of lift and burn times. Your early stages will typically require more thrust to initially get an object off the ground, and have a short burn, and as you get further up will have less dense fuel with a longer pulse.

See. Having a father that's into model rockets is good for something.

this is cooler:



last edited by eightyeight at 17:58:50 19/Aug/09

See. Having a father that's into model rockets is good for something.

Prostate stimulation?