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Nasa launches rocket successfully Nasa launches rocket successfully
(10 minutes later)
The US space agency (Nasa) has launched a prototype rocket designed to replace the ageing space shuttle.The US space agency (Nasa) has launched a prototype rocket designed to replace the ageing space shuttle.
The Ares I-X blasted off from Florida on a flight which will test technology for the development of a future manned launch vehicleThe Ares I-X blasted off from Florida on a flight which will test technology for the development of a future manned launch vehicle
The stick-thin, 100m-tall rocket soared into the sky at 1530 GMT from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center. The 100m-tall, syringe-like rocket soared into the sky at 1530 GMT from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center.
The rocket is the first Nasa has built in more than three decades, but its long-term future in uncertain. The stick-thin launcher is the first Nasa has built in more than three decades, but its future in uncertain.
The 1-X was designed to climb about 40km (25 miles) into the sky during the powered phase of its flight. The $450m (300m euros; £275m) Ares I-X is what Nasa describes as a "pathfinder" vehicle.
It was designed to climb about 40km (25 miles) into the sky during the powered phase of its flight.
It carried more than 700 sensors to measure vehicle aerodynamics, controls and performance of the rocket's first stage.It carried more than 700 sensors to measure vehicle aerodynamics, controls and performance of the rocket's first stage.
The top half of the rocket is a dummy. What would be an upper-stage, with a crew capsule and its emergency escape mechanism are simulators made to the correct shape and weight.The top half of the rocket is a dummy. What would be an upper-stage, with a crew capsule and its emergency escape mechanism are simulators made to the correct shape and weight.
The rocket was due to launch on Tuesday, but the attempt had to be scrubbed due in part to bad weather.