Weather Forces NASA to Delay Test Launch of Ares Rocket

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Weather Forces NASA to Delay Test Launch of Ares Rocket

Story Created: Oct 27, 2009 at 2:39 PM CST

Story Updated: Oct 27, 2009 at 2:39 PM CST

NASA is going to have to wait another day to launch the ARES-1 rocket.  In many ways, this test run holds the key to the future of the U.S.-manned space program.

NASA's first step to return to the moon remains grounded for now. Bad weather at Florida's Kennedy Space Center forced the space agency to scrub this morning's launch of the Ares 1-X.

The 33- story, pencil-thin unmanned rocket will only go up 25 miles and within minutes fall back into the ocean. Though it costs $445 million, NASA said the information it gathers about how it will fly will be invaluable.

But there are some big 'ifs' there, a lot of unknowns, they have never flown a Roket like this before, the models say it will work but until they actually Light it and go fly it they are not going to know for sure. Ares  is part  of  the Constellation project which is set to replace the retiring 30-year-old shuttle program. It will ferry astronauts to finish the International Space Station. Long range plans call for developing bigger Ares rockets that will propel crew and cargo to the lunar surface.

This launch comes as the White House re-evaluates the multi-billion dollar price tag of the program and whether the moon is the place to go.

Bill Harwood, CBS News space consultant, said, "Instead of landing on the moon right away, doing missions like orbiting the moon, maybe doing a flyby of Mars, perhaps landing on the martian moons." And with funding in Jeopardy, the whole manned program is in question and that frustrates the former head of NASA.

Mike Griffin, former NASA administrator, said, "If we in the United States decide to step away from space exploration, the solar system will belong to others and we will be watching from the sidelines."

For now Ares is on the sidelines waiting to launch. NASA will try again tomorrow.

Courtesy of Drew Levinson with CBS News

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