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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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14

NASA Scrubs Rocket's Test Flight

It may try tomorrow if weather permits

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(AP) – NASA's newest rocket will remain on the launch pad today because of clouds and high winds. Officials are deciding whether to try again tomorrow morning. Launch controllers tried repeatedly to get the Ares I-X rocket flying and got to within two-and-a-half minutes before calling it off. Minor problems stalled the countdown earlier in the morning.

The rocket's eventual launch will be the first step in NASA's effort to return astronauts to the moon. The experimental flight is expected to last just two minutes. Parachutes will drop the first-stage booster into the Atlantic for recovery. NASA expects to learn a lot— even if it's for another type of rocket. The test flight comes as the White House is re-evaluating the human spaceflight program.

The sun sets on the Ares I-X rocket, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
The sun sets on the Ares I-X rocket, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (John Raoux)
The Ares I-X test rocket stands ready on Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday, Oct. 26, 2009.
The Ares I-X test rocket stands ready on Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday, Oct. 26, 2009.   (John Raoux)
The Ares I-X test rocket stands ready at Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009.
The Ares I-X test rocket stands ready at Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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14 comments
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JoeQ
Oct 27, 09 10:54 AM CDT
This will be interesting. The older generation of aerospace engineers who knew what they are doing are all retired. They could go to the moon using slide rules in 10 years. The new generation is kids raised on computers with much poorer math and physics training. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Antiks
Oct 27, 09 1:30 PM CDT
I wouldn't call the newer generation dumb.
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0
IN RESPONSE:
JoeQ
Oct 27, 09 2:48 PM CDT
Did I say dumb? Kids now are just as smart as ever. Its education that is on the decline. The smart kids are being cheated out of a decent education like never before. No matter, China and India will pick up the slack.
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IN RESPONSE:
bewilderbeast
Oct 28, 09 6:36 AM CDT
splutter, splutter . . . . it's just not the same when a nation doesn't have real PURPOSE.
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piyrwq
Oct 27, 09 10:58 AM CDT
Why are the fiscal conservatives out there so quite on this? Humans to mars/moon? Though noble, this is a very expensive boondoogle. Reply
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