Forum: Project Constellation

NASA's Ares I rockets named for the Greek god associated with Mars. Future astronauts will ride to orbit on Ares I, which uses a single five-segment solid rocket booster, a derivative of the space shuttle's solid rocket booster, for the first stage. A liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen J-2X engine derived from the J-2 engine used on Apollo's second stage will power the crew exploration vehicle's second stage. The Ares I can lift more than 55,000 pounds to low Earth orbit.

The Ares I–X vehicle will consist of a functional four-segment solid rocket booster stage, a fifth segment mass simulator, an upper stage mass simulator, which will be similar in shape and equal in total mass to the actual upper stage, as well as a simulated Orion crew exploration vehicle and launch abort system. Since the actual upper stage hardware cannot be produced in time for the flight test, the upper stage mass simulator will allow the booster to fly approximately the same trajectory through the first stage of flight. The dummy "Orion" capsule launched by the Ares I-X will not be recovered because it will fall into the ocean along with the upper stage simulator.

The Ares V (formerly known as the Cargo Launch Vehicle or CaLV) is the cargo launch component of the upcoming Constellation program, which will replace the Space Shuttle after its retirement in 2010. Initially, the Ares V will launch the Earth Departure Stage and Altair lunar lander when NASA returns to the Moon, which is currently planned for 2019, but will also serve as the principal launcher for missions beyond the Earth-Moon system, including the program's ultimate goal, a manned mission to Mars after 2030.[2] The unmanned Ares V will complement the smaller, and man-rated Ares I rocket for the launching of the 4-6 person Orion spacecraft. Both rockets, deemed safer than the current Space Shuttle, will utilize technologies developed for Project Apollo, the Shuttle, and the Delta IV EELV program.

A component of the Vision for Space Exploration, Orion’s development is taking place in parallel with missions to complete the International Space Station using the space shuttle before the shuttle is retired in 2010. Orion will be capable of carrying crew and cargo to the space station. It will be able to rendezvous with a lunar landing module and an Earth departure stage in low-Earth orbit to carry crews to the moon and, one day, to Mars-bound vehicles assembled in low-Earth orbit. Orion will be the Earth entry vehicle for lunar and Mars returns. Orion’s design will borrow its shape from the capsules of the past, but takes advantage of 21st century technology in computers, electronics, life support, propulsion and heat protection systems.