Oct 15, 2009

Amber Philman Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 amber n philman@nasa gov

STATUS REPORT: ARES-I-X-101509

ARES I-X STATUS REPORT

Launch Vehicle: Ares I-X Launch Date: Oct 27 Launch Pad: 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla

Upcoming key milestones: - No earlier than Oct 20 - Rollout to Launch Pad 39B targeted for 12:01 a m EDT - Oct 21 - Satellite live shot campaign at Launch Pad 39B from 6-9 a m EDT - Oct 23 - L-4 Flight Test Readiness Review followed by a news conference on NASA TV targeted for 5 p m EDT - Oct 24 - L-3 Media briefing on NASA TV at 10 a m EDT - Oct 25 - L-2 Launch Status Briefing on NASA TV at 10 a m EDT - Oct 26 - Prelaunch News Conference on NASA TV at 1 p m EDT - Oct 27 (target) - Ares I-X flight test launch at 8 a m EDT

Ares I-X Flight Hardware - The rollout of the Ares I-X flight test vehicle scheduled for Monday, Oct 19, is being rescheduled by at least 24 hours This will allow time for the launch team to remove and replace a hydraulic accumulator - During testing late on Oct 14, hydraulics engineers detected a gaseous nitrogen leak in the accumulator, which is located in the aft skirt of the rocket The pressurized nitrogen is leaking past a seal and into the area of the accumulator containing hydraulic fluid The accumulator absorbs hydraulic pressure spikes as the system operates The accumulator is being removed and replaced today, and the retest will begin on Friday - The same problem has occurred in the past on space shuttle flight hardware, most recently on STS-117 in March 2007 - What effect this will have on the Ares I-X targeted Oct 27 launch date, if any, is being assessed by management and will be based on when the rollout is finally scheduled to occur

This week's milestones include: - Upper Stage, Interstage, Frustrum and RoCS closeouts for flight are complete, and the installation of the flight door is in work - Power up testing is in work - First Stage closeouts continue

Upcoming milestones:
- Rollout

Ares I-X Ground Support Equipment - At Launch Pad 39B, modifications are complete

The Ares I-X flight test will provide NASA an early opportunity to check and prove hardware, analysis and modeling methods, and facilities and ground operations needed to develop the NASA's next crew launch vehicle

For more information about the Ares I-X flight test, visit:

http://www nasa gov/aresIX

Previous status reports are available at:

http://www nasa gov/centers/kennedy/moonandmars/status/index html

-end-

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