What's coming next?
The answer: Project Constellation.
The launch vehicles (the rockets that will carry loads into space) are Ares-I and Ares-V.
Ares-I:
A Shuttle-derived launch architecture was selected by NASA for the Ares I. Originally, the vehicle would have used a four-segment solid rocket booster (SRB) for the first stage, and a simplified space shuttle main engine (SSME) for the second stage. An unmanned version was to use the five-segment booster, but with the second stage using the single SSME. Shortly after the initial design was approved, additional tests revealed that the Orion spacecraft would be too heavy for the four-segment booster to lift, and in January 2006 NASA announced they would slightly reduce the size of the Orion spacecraft, add a fifth segment to the solid-rocket first stage, and replace the single SSME with the Apollo-derived J-2X motor. While the change from a four-segment first stage to a five-segment version would allow NASA to construct virtually identical motors (albeit with some interchangeable segments), the main reason for the change to the five-segment booster was the move to the J-2X.
Ares-V:
The solid rocket booster on Ares V will be an improved version of the current Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster, but with five and a half segments instead of the current four segments
Ares-V will eventually launch the Altair Lunar Lander:
As of right now, the Ares-IX is complete and ready for rollout to launch pad 39B scheduled on October 20th.
To support the Ares-I and Ares-V, both launch pads (39A and 39B) require hardware modifications. With the space shuttly still flying, pad 39B has been deactivated since 2006 and is already undergoing modifications to support the Ares-IX and future Ares-I and Ares-V rockets. Pad 39A is kept unmodified to support the shuttle until its retirement in 2010.
Because the Ares rockets are taller than the shuttle, and the fixed service structure, NASA already build and installed four large lightning towers on pad 39B, as seen here:
A new Mobile Launcher Platform is also being constructed that will carry and support the Ares rockets. It will also carry a new fixed service structure, pretty much like they did in the Apollo ara.
The entire stack (MLP, Ares-I/V and service structure will be rolled to pad 39A or 39B using one of NASA two Crawler Transporters.
For Ares-IX, the mobile launcher platform that currently supports the shuttle will be used to support the Ares-IX, which is a unique event, as a new MLP is constructed for Ares.
As for launchpad 39B, the Fixed Service Structure and Rotating Service Structure still exists when Ares-IX rolls to the pad, which is a very unique event as well, as both pads will have the FSS and RSS removed.
This is what it will look like:
The Ares-IX test flight mission will last two minutes, as the mockup crew compartment and emergency escape tower will be lost in the ocean after jettison.
As always, this event is aired live on NASA TV.
Don't have NASA TV on your local cabel provider? Watch NASA TV on the NASA website: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public
Im excited!
Go Ares!
