Weather May Scrub NASA's Wednesday Launch Attempt Of Ares 1-X

October 28, 2009 9:05 a.m. EST

Cape Canaveral, FL (AHN) - NASA is planning a launch for the Ares 1-X between 8:45 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday after Tuesday's planned launch was scrubbed because of bad weather during every window of opportunity.

Ares 1-X is a test version of a rocket NASA is building to replace the space shuttle. NASA researchers Just like yesterday, weather today has launch personnel pensive. Yesterday's forecast called for a 40 percent chance that weather would also scrub today's launch attempt.

However, overnight thunderstorms rolled over the central Florida region and for now, the same problems launch officials had to deal with are present again. High-altitude clouds and electricity in the atmosphere poses a risk to the rocket as launch officials don't have critical data to make an assumption as to how the vehicle will operate under those conditions. Today's launch is an attempt to gain as much data as possible into seeing how the rocket's systems and design perform.

Lighting strikes that hit overnight were close enough to activate procedures for checking the rocket's electronics to ensure critical systems were not affected. The rain also could have affected sensors in the rocket's nose cone.

The test launch of the Ares I-X, is part of NASA's Constellation program poised to transport astronauts to low-Earth orbit aboard an Orion spacecraft. The test rocket includes a real solid-rocket first stage, with a mock second stage and fake Orion crew capsule on top to simulate the intended weight and size of Ares I. The Ares I-X is the tallest booster in operation or close to be placed in service. It stands 327 feet high - 14 stories taller than NASA's current space shuttles.

The White House asked for strict testing guidelines to be followed in anticipation of the Ares I rocket and Orion capsules to replace the current workhorses NASA employs. Researchers hope the new designs will be used to take and return astronauts to the moon by 2020.