NASA Launches Ares 1-X

Seen on The Boston Big Picture

On Wednesday last week NASA launched the Ares 1-X from it's launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  This was the first launch from Florida since the Space Shuttle.  The 327 foot rocket generated 3 Million lbs. of thrust and reached 100 MPH in 8 seconds.  The Constellation Program is planning on landing on the Moon once more and possibly landing on Mars but the main goal is to gain experience operating away from Earth's environment.  The Ares boosters will help launch exploration vehicles as well as crews in the near future, as long as the Obama Administration keeps providing money to the US Space Policy.  Here are the rest of the photos.