Remembering Ares I-X 10 years on (multiple views)

[Chris Bergin]

The one and only launch of the Ares rocket program, Ares I-X was a single four seg booster with a dummy upper stage simulator.

To mark its 10th anniversary (October 28, 2009 launch), here's a bunch of clips and photos, a lot from L2 to make it more interesting.

1) Push test in the VAB. They did this with Saturn V to check the pad GSE could handle the vehicle being rocked by windy conditions.

2) NASA TV launch for the opening part of first stage.

3) L2 photo (NASA NSF Member) of MaxQ.

4) L2 Chase Plane footage of first stage and staging. Note, a cable didn't disconnect, causing additional rotation on the dummy upper stage.

5) Two L2 clips of additional staging footage.

6) Back to L2 Chase Plane footage of the booster returning, with one of the three chutes failing.

7) L2 photos of the booster at Port Canaveral with the dent from the hard landing.

[joseph.a.navin]

Great video of the Ares-1X launch! I know it had it's problems but in my opinion Ares-1 looked really cool Sadly, this now marks 10 years from the last launch from LC-39B

[Rocket Science]

What a "blast from the past"... Looking forward to that next NA$A rocket show...

[mike robel]

Hmph.  10 years.  How depressing I find this.

[JIS]

It is still beautiful rocket. It's been over 10 years. BTW, this is my first comment at NSF also after over 10 years. 

[Jim]

It is still beautiful rocket. It's been over 10 years. BTW, this is my first comment at NSF also after over 10 years. 

It was POS back then and still one now.  Second worse rocket design after SRB-X.

[sdsds]

Here's what Popular Mechanics said:

But some within the space agency complain that the Ares I is a pet project of NASA boss Michael Griffin and former exploration chief Scott Horowitz. Before coming to NASA, Griffin, an aerospace engineer, co-authored a technical paper for the Planetary Society that proposed a rocket strikingly similar to the Ares I. Horowitz had previously promoted an Ares-like concept while a senior executive at ATK Thiokol, the manufacturer of the solid rocket booster that subsequently became the first stage of the Ares I. "The fix was in from the beginning," says a NASA contract engineer involved in the process. "Other configurations never had a chance."

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/a3845/4295233/

[Proponent]

Second worse rocket design after SRB-X.

What made SRB-X worse?

[Jim]

Second worse rocket design after SRB-X.

What made SRB-X worse?

truss, third SRB, Titan second stage

[edkyle99]

Worse than what?  Titan IV, which failed more than 10% of the time and ended up costing 1/2 billion dollars per launch?

 - Ed Kyle

[clongton]

It is still beautiful rocket. It's been over 10 years. BTW, this is my first comment at NSF also after over 10 years. 

It was POS back then and still one now.  Second worse rocket design after SRB-X.

Biggest bottle rocket in history. Bent like one too.

[Jim]

Worse than what? 

Worse Idea or configuration.

Titan IV had an implementation problem. 

[eric z]

 I'm curious if Jim or someone could comment on how much NASA might have learned by firing off an SRB or two pre-STS full-stack flights? Would there have been some technical, safety or operational and maintenance issues that could have been learned by such tests? I know budget was tight...Thanks.

[Jim]

I'm curious if Jim or someone could comment on how much NASA might have learned by firing off an SRB or two pre-STS full-stack flights? Would there have been some technical, safety or operational and maintenance issues that could have been learned by such tests? I know budget was tight...Thanks.

Not much.  It would have been negative work. Would have needed a guidance system and roll control system like I-X.   They did plenty of static firings

[Comga]

It is still beautiful rocket. It's been over 10 years. BTW, this is my first comment at NSF also after over 10 years. 

It was POS back then and still one now. 
Second worse rocket design after SRB-X.

Full sentences from Jim!
Sentiments I wholeheartedly agree with.
Except that I almost forgot about SRB-X
The worlds largest (class EE!) worst model rocket ever. And I love big model rockets.
Sorry to any Ares-1X fans

[FinalFrontier]

It is still beautiful rocket. It's been over 10 years. BTW, this is my first comment at NSF also after over 10 years. 

It was POS back then and still one now.  Second worse rocket design after SRB-X.

Agree. Was rather funny to watch however or at least it would have been if not for realizing the massive amount of $ and wasted time it constituted.

[woods170]

It is still beautiful rocket. It's been over 10 years. BTW, this is my first comment at NSF also after over 10 years. 

It was POS back then and still one now.  Second worse rocket design after SRB-X.

Agree. Was rather funny to watch however or at least it would have been if not for realizing the massive amount of $ and wasted time it constituted.

~$400 million was wasted on the glorified model rocket known as Ares I-X.

[yg1968]

https://twitter.com/DavidWillisSLS/status/1378555403756134401

[Hog]

What a "blast from the past"... Looking forward to that next NA$A rocket show...

This time we'll get to see what an actual fully fueled 5 segment SRM looks like when fired in launch position.  We humans haven't experienced such an event, as of yet. Let alone having 2 of them firing at once.  No "mass simulator" on top of a 4 segment SRM like for Ares 1-X. 

8 megapounds of solid propellant glory off the ML is going to be awesome!

Was there even a grain change for ARES 1-X?  or was it straight up RSRM technology?
A true 5 segment SRM required grain changes to certain positions of the SRM stack and the larger nozzle hole such as with RSRM-V that are stacked for flight in the VAB as I type.

New boosters, new tank, and running 4 RS-25s at 109%RPL for 8'ish minutes.  Heck I'd LOVE to see the CT/ML(Crawler Transporter/Mobile Launcher data for the VAB to LC-39B Artemis-1 move.  At least another 8 megapounds more load as compared to STS.  12 vs. 20 at least when comparing the ratings of the CT's for STS and SLS usage.
Artemis-1 is going to be a very interesting test shot for sure.

[jackvancouver]

Do I dare reboot this thread because of Ryan?

https://twitter.com/ThePrimalDino/status/1649789023638921218

It's RYAN'S fault if this thread revives, not mine!

(mods delete if inappropriate)

[eeergo]

Necrothreading this topic to show some recovered hardware as it is today, including the damage sustained by the aft skirt of the SRB after splashdown (more images on his profile):
https://twitter.com/mhaskellphoto/status/1720890853521010756


https://twitter.com/mhaskellphoto/status/1720909254540845346