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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 that will test technology for the development of a future manned launch vehicle. | |
| The 100m-tall, syringe-like 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 stick-thin launcher is the first Nasa has built in more than three decades, but its future is uncertain. | |
| 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 two-minute flight. | It was designed to climb about 40km (25 miles) into the sky during the powered phase of its two-minute 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, is actually a simulator made to the correct shape and weight. | |
| Cameras caught the moment the moment of separation | Cameras caught the moment the moment of separation |
| Parachutes were expected to open up, dropping the booster into the Atlantic, where recovery ships waited. | Parachutes were expected to open up, dropping the booster into the Atlantic, where recovery ships waited. |
| The upper, dummy portion of the rocket fell uncontrolled into the ocean and was destroyed on impact. | |
| The rocket was scheduled to launch on Tuesday, but the attempt had to be scrubbed due in part to bad weather. | |
| Forecasters gave only a 40% chance of acceptable weather for Wednesday's launch attempt. Controllers had to wait for interfering clouds to clear, finally launching the I-X three-and-a-half hours into its lift-off window. | |
| The rocket systems had to be re-tested after more than 150 lightning strikes were reported around the launch pad overnight. | The rocket systems had to be re-tested after more than 150 lightning strikes were reported around the launch pad overnight. |
| A recent report has cast doubt on the future of the Ares programme. | |
| The Augustine panel, which had been asked to review the US human spaceflight programme, published its report on 22 October. | The Augustine panel, which had been asked to review the US human spaceflight programme, published its report on 22 October. |
| Although the panel supported the Ares I-X test flight, it questioned the need to develop the Ares I. | Although the panel supported the Ares I-X test flight, it questioned the need to develop the Ares I. |
| In particular, the panel queried the cost and design of the craft as well as its development time. | In particular, the panel queried the cost and design of the craft as well as its development time. |
| The decision on the future of the Ares I and the rest of the Constellation programme now rests with President Barack Obama who is expected to give a response in coming weeks. |