NASA Debuts Web Site for First Ares Test Flight

July 2, 2008

Stephanie Schierholz/Grey Hautaluoma
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4997/0668
stephanie.schierholz@xxxxxxxx, grey.hautaluoma-1@xxxxxxxx

Lynnette Madison/Josh Byerly
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
lynnette.b.madison@xxxxxxxx, bill.j.byerly@xxxxxxxx

Daniel Kanigan
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-6849
daniel.n.kanigan@xxxxxxxx

MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-131

NASA DEBUTS WEB SITE FOR FIRST ARES TEST FLIGHT

WASHINGTON -- NASA is developing new spacecraft, the Ares rockets and
Orion crew capsule, to deliver astronauts to the International Space
Station and send them on their way to the moon. The first test flight
of the spacecraft, known as Ares I-X, is scheduled to launch in
spring 2009. The latest information about this launch is now
available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/flighttests/aresIx/index.html

The Web site was created to offer key information about the details
and objectives of the Ares I-X test flight. The site features
articles, images and videos that outline the objectives of the Ares
I-X test flight and explain how these objectives will influence the
design and flight of the Ares I rocket and Orion crew capsule.

The Ares I-X flight will test hardware, facilities and ground
operations associated with the Ares I rocket. It also will provide
critical data during ascent of the integrated Orion crew exploration
vehicle and the Ares I launch vehicle stack -- data that will be used
to design a vehicle system that is safe and fully operational before
astronauts begin traveling into orbit.

The Ares I-X test flight will bring America one step closer to a
return to the moon by 2020 and eventual trips to Mars and
destinations beyond. For more information about NASA's exploration
plans, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/constellation


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