In a short but fun ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center, thenew launch control room for the experimental Ares 1-X rocket, which is scheduled to take off on October 27. It is the same venerable control room from which all theSaturnos v, including lunar flights. At this moment the only consoles that exist are those of the Ares 1-X, although if Obama gives the green light to the Ares Program, the rest of the room will be completely covered by the new consoles of other rockets.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by the director of the KSC, the former astronautBob Cabana. And also by Robert Crippen, pilot of the first shuttle, theSTS-1(nineteen eighty one). The release roomYoung-Crippen It bears his name and that of the commander of that historic flight, John Young. “John always tells me these things are supposed to be done when you’ve died,” joked Crippen, who is 72. “He still fears that if someone gets into an accident on the John Young Parkway in Orlando, they will sue him,” he added with a laugh. “All I know is, being in an administrative position in this launch control room is a lot more difficult than sitting out there in the cockpit of a space vehicle. I mean it.” Computer screens confirmed the complexity of the mission Crippen alluded to, and for a brief moment I had the rare privilege of pushing buttons and feeling what it means to betakeoff controller.
During the inauguration a message of hope was transmitted that the Ares 1-X can make its atmospheric maiden flight – the only one for which it was designed – and send home tons of data about how such an extremely thin rocket responds to stress of a dynamic flight. “We have never launched such a slim rocket before,” says John Cowart, one of the directors of the Ares 1-X mission. ? The 1-X is identical in every way to the Ares, even in size: it is 310 meters. The only thing it doesn’t carry is the astronauts?
But everyone is concerned about the White House’s decision on the future of theNASA manned space program, hanging over their heads like a sword of Damocles. “My opinion is that the future ofhuman space flightsThey depend on Ares, “Crippen said.” Right now, Washington, as only Washington knows how to do, is in trouble over this decision. I know that has a lot of people worried. Including me. But I believe that despite the disorder up there in the capital, common sense and good judgment will prevail, and the government will give the green light to the Ares Program. “
Angela Posada-Swafford
