NASA Launches Ares 1-X After Poor Weather Scrubbed Previous Attempts

October 28, 2009 12:13 p.m. EST

Cape Canaveral, FL (AHN) - After waiting with baited breath for two days, NASA launched its next generation Ares 1-X rocket on Wednesday. The new space faring vehicle is designed to replace the aging space shuttle in 2010 and hopefully lead the way for a lunar landing in 2020.

The $455 million rocket blasted off from Kennedy Space Center at 11:30 a.m. for a two minute journey reaching 28 miles above the Earth's surface before falling back into the Atlantic Ocean.

NASA scientists and launch personnel are hoping the test flight provides valuable information on the design and rocket's systems.

Wednesday's launch took place after numerous attempts since Tuesday were hindered by poor weather.