New Nasa rocket moved to launch pad

Tue Oct 20 2009 13:24:38

Nasa's new Ares rocket started its slow journey to the launch pad in Florida on Tuesday morning.

The Ares I-X rocket left the vehicle assembly building standing on a crawler-transporter at the Kennedy Space Center.

Moving at a top speed of 0.8 miles per hour, the re-scheduled deployment will take at least seven hours.

The 327-foot rocket is scheduled to lift off on October 27 for its first test flight.

Nasa officials will use this flight to examine hardware and observe ground operations associated with the launch. The Ares will carry no payload during this first flight.

If Barack Obama's administration gives the green light to the Ares programme, the rocket is expected to replace the Space Shuttle payload system.

That means it could begin carrying astronauts and equipment to the International Space Station within five years.

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