The Ares I-X Launch Team spent the day in the firing room preparing for the upcoming launch. The team conducted a simulation of the last 50 minutes in the launch countdown.
Now this is no walk in the park simulation. The team was thrown different scenarios and issues that could come up during the actual launch countdown, including issues that could ultimately cause a launch delay. In fact, this specific set of simulations was focused on problems that the sim (simulation) team knew would prevent a launch in order to give the I-X launch team practice on handling emergency and stressful situations. All of this is designed to identify any problems in the countdown planning process and any vague areas in the launch commit criteria while stressing the team beyond what we ever expect to see on a real launch day. Sounds like fun, huh?
The simulation required support from Kennedy’s Firing Room 1, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Hangar AE, the Software Integration Lab, or SIL, and team members from multiple NASA Centers. This was the first simulation with the entire team. The next simulation is planned for the end of September and will include the Launch Advisory Management Team.
From what I have read, all of the hard work could be for nothing. With the review it looks like the funding wont be able to realise the dream. How can something possible in the 1960’s when things were designed with slide rules not be achievable in the 21st century.
If man does not return to the moon, its a very sad day around the world.
Andy Davies, Kent, UK
It would have been a lot “better” had the USSR not been there back then. Anytime your in a “race” you do it as fast as you can, which means “don’t spare the wallet”. Fast = expensive = gets the job done but is useless once the race is won.
So NASA went from the enormous budgets of the 60s to basically a bag of pop cans to get a refund on to develop/fund the shuttle. Had the USSR not been there we could have done a much slower program, been able to develop the shuttle everyone at first wanted (large winged booster with a strap on shuttle) and really got to it. May have not gotten to the Moon till the 80s, but we would be LIVING there now and not thinking “how the heck could we do it 40 years ago and cant do it now?”
It’s just like 1950. Very manly places, firing rooms.
REGARDLESS of the imminent report from the Augustine “experts,” this is a truly exciting time…having a brand new test vehicle almost ready for launch from L/C-39B. I hope that Halloween brings us the magnificent sight of Ares I-X climbing out from Merritt Island over the Atlantic, gathering volumes of useful data for the Constellation Program.
I’m only disappointed that there won’t be a “practice” LAS firing at altitude, followed by a “practice” recovery of the Orion 606 capsule downrange.
Go Ares I-X!!!
AT WHAT TIME ON OCT. 31 WILL THE AREA’S 1X BE LAUNCHED AND IS THEIR A PRESS KIT AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC