Bad Weather Delays Ares 1-X Launch

By Brian Berger

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NASA's Ares 1-X prototype awaiting launch. Credit: NASA photo Enlarge Image

WASHINGTON — Bad weather prevented NASA from launching a suborbital prototype of its planned Ares 1 crew launch vehicle during a four-hour window Oct. 27.

NASA officials said there is a 60 percent chance of acceptable weather Oct. 28 during a four-hour window that also runs from 8 a.m. to noon EDT. IfAres 1-X does not lift off then, NASA will have another four-hour opportunity the following day.

After that, NASA may have to stand down until sometime in November to launch the 100-meter-tall prototype due to other launch traffic at Cape Canaveral,Fla., including the Space Shuttle Atlantis’ planned Nov. 16 launch to the international space station.