Today is a pretty big day.
The top agency brass has assembled together today at KennedySpace Center here in Florida for a meeting called the Flight Test ReadinessReview. It is, as you might have guessed, a review to determine whether we areready to launch the rocket. It’sreally the “final exam” for Mission Manager, Bob Ess and the Ares I-X flighttest team as a whole.
At the FTRR the agency leadership and mission managementevaluate the work that the Ares I-Xteam has done in building the rocket and its ground systems. The review also includesa report from the I-X team on everything the review board has asked them to doin previous reviews. As it stands, the I-X team has answered all of thequestions the board asked at the previous System Requirements Review,Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review, and Mate Review.
During today’s meeting, presentations are being given on therocket’s hardware, work progress, mission objectives, what we’re expecting onlaunch day and weather forecasts.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the members of the reviewpanel give their opinion on whether we are “go” or “no-go” for launch onOctober 27.
Fingers crossed…
I’ve been in those meetings, it’s all about safety as it should be.
Godspeed to the maiden flight, fingers crossed the whole way thru.
Good Luck NASA and Ares 1-X! I hope everything is on track so that you guys can prove the doubters wrong!
My college friends and I will be waking up at 4:45 AM PDT to watch the launch this Tuesday, assuming that is still the day and time.