NASA Successfully Launches Ares I-X Test Flight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in more than a quarter century, a new space vehicle, Ares I-X, was launched from Kennedy Space Center today, capping an unprecedented dual program processing effort by the launch team.

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"This is a historic, exciting day, and we are proud to be a part of the NASA team that made it happen," said Anne Martt, Constellation Program Manager for United Space Alliance (USA).

"Integration of Shuttle processing in concert with Ares I-X processing has been a true challenge involving people and hardware from across the country. Working two human spaceflight programs in parallel is new territory for NASA and for its contractor partners, and we're very proud of what we've accomplished," Martt added.

USA was the contractor tasked with planning and implementation of the processing for the test flight. Under that contract USA assembled and stacked all of the vehicle components, including: first stage rocket, the upper stage simulator, the crew module simulator and the launch abort system simulator, and also performed the launch operations. In addition, USA is a subcontractor to Alliant Techsystems for the development of the Ares I first stage, and provided engineering, technical and processing support for Ares I-X.

The Ares I-X rocket flight provided NASA with an opportunity to test and prove hardware, facilities and ground operations, while gathering critical flight data for the Ares I rocket and future launch vehicles.

"One of the unique features of the Ares I-X processing flow was that it was paperless," said Mark Nappi, USA's Vice President of Launch and Recovery Operations. "For this flow we used an electronic system called Collaborative Integrated Processing Solutions, or CIPS, for logging and tracking all phases of processing. That's a first for human spaceflight operations and it was a far more efficient system."

"Ares I-X has been a wonderful opportunity for USA to demonstrate its depth and breadth of knowledge as well as flexibility and innovation in terms of solving problems and integrating components from all across the country," Martt said. "USA has drawn from across the company to work toward our Constellation goals and we wouldn't be where we are today without our broad capabilities.

About United Space Alliance:

United Space Alliance is a world leader in space operations with extensive experience in all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston, USA has more than 9,000 employees working in Texas, Florida and Alabama. Currently, USA is applying its broad range of capabilities to NASA's Space Shuttle, International Space Station and Constellation programs as well as to space operations customers in the commercial and international space industry sectors.

SOURCE United Space Alliance