KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Bouyed by the success of the recent Ares I-X test rocket, NASA is considering possibly revamping the entire Ares I test flight program, eliminating one launch but adding three new missions to the schedule. The agency is looking at ways to bolster the Ares I development program by conducting actual flight tests earlier and more often, thereby retiring risks sooner and easing the so-called "gap" between the end of service life of the space shuttle and when Orion becomes operational.
The shuffling of the test program might also provide encouragement to the Obama administration to direct NASA to continue on the present course of Constellation development rather than scrap the program in favor of some other shuttle-derived or commercially-supplied launch vehicle. A review committee headed by respected aerospace veteran Norman Augustine recommended last month that NASA cancel the Ares I launch vehicle in favor of some other, as yet, undefined system, stating that NASA's current budget guidance is insufficient to continue the program. The Ares I-Y test launch, which was penciled in for flight in early 2014 has already been cancelled. Ares project manager Jeff Hanley stated last month that program officials believe they can achieve the objectives of the launch with other tests and eliminating the launch would help save costs, which is the primary challenge facing Constellation. Ares I-Y would have been the first launch of the new five segment solid rocket motor. The flight would also have tested the Orion launch abort system rocket's ability to pull the spacecraft free of the vehicle in the event of an upper stage failure. The new plan under consideration would replace the I-Y flight with three new launches in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The objective of the plan is to fly the next mission earlier than 2014 and build up a steady flight test rate through 2015 when Ares I and Orion are to be operational. The revamped test schedule would also benefit NASA's workforce, particularly at Kennedy Space Center, by helping to offset post-shuttle job losses which are projected to be as high as 7,000 after next year when the fleet is retired. The 2012 launch would be similar to Ares I-X. However, it would use exact replicas of the upper stage and Orion with a live launch abort system. Additionally, it would feature the five segment solid rocket motor that will be used on Ares I. The objectives of the flight are to test the first stage in actual flight and perform a high-altitude test of the abort system, as was supposed to take place on Ares I-Y. The 2013 launch would be another test of the abort system. The third flight test, in 2014, would be the first all-up test of a complete Ares/Orion launch vehicle, with a five-segment solid rocket booster, live upper stage with the J2-X engine and live, but unscrewed, Orion spacecraft. The new plan is still under consideration and hasn't been formally approved by NASA. One challenge is funding since, as yet, none of the launches have funding behind them. However, a more aggressive flight test program would help retire the development risks sooner and might also help Ares I survive the current uncertainty over the future of NASA's exploration plans. (The Spacearium / SpaceflightNews.net)
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