CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., invites media to view the Ares I-X rocket Forward Assembly move on Thursday, June 11, from the Assembly Refurbishment Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building for processing for the upcoming flight test this summer.
Manufactured by Major Tool and Machine in Indiana under a subcontract with the Ares first stage prime contractor ATK, the frustum, forward skirt and forward skirt extension were integrated to form the forward assembly. The assembly will be moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building’s High Bay 4 for processing and stacking to the upper stage.
Media will be able to document the move, as well as interview NASA, ATK and United Space Alliance program managers about the flight, which is targeted to launch no earlier than August 30. Media need to be at Kennedy’s Press Site by 7 a.m. on June 11 for transportation to the event. STS-127 mission badges will be honored for this event.
The Ares I-X test flight will provide NASA an early opportunity to test and prove hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I crew launch vehicle. It also will allow NASA to gather critical data during ascent of the integrated Orion spacecraft and the Ares I rocket. The data will ensure the entire vehicle system is safe and fully operational before astronauts begin traveling to orbit.
All participants attending the event must be dressed in full-length pants, flat shoes that cover the feet entirely and shirts with sleeves. Dates and times are subject to change. Please call the Kennedy news center information line at 321-867-2525 for updates.
Video B-roll of the hardware will be available on NASA Television’s Video File. For NASA TV streaming video, schedules and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For more information about Ares I-X and NASA’s next-generation rockets, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ares
