NASA delays moon rocket test flight due to bad weather

2009-10-28 10:05 BJT

NASA has delayed the test flight of an unmanned prototype moon rocket. Tuesday's originally scheduled launch was hindered by cloudy weather, including a boat within the vicinity, that wandered into the blast-off danger zone.

The 100-meter Ares 1-X rocket's launch has been reset for Wednesday morning. The test flight is the centerpiece of a 445 million US dollar NASA technology demonstration program aimed at replacing its space shuttle fleet. Ares 1-X, currently the world's tallest rocket, is NASA's first new space vehicle since the shuttle was developed in the 1970s. The test flight is aimed at verifying the computer models used in rocket design.

The Ares 1-X test rocket sits on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, U.S., October 27, 2009. NASA said the Ares 1-X test rocket scheduled to be set off Tuesday was postponed due to bad weather.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)
The Ares 1-X test rocket sits on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center 
in Florida, U.S., October 27, 2009. NASA said the Ares 1-X test rocket 
scheduled to be set off Tuesday was postponed due to bad weather.
(Xinhua/AFP Photo)