Washington - Engineers on Thursday completed the first tests of the motor on the rocket that will take NASA's next generation spacecraft into orbit. The Ares I rocket is designed to take the Orion space craft into low-Earth orbit. The craft is to replace the ageing shuttle fleet and is designed to eventually return humans to the moon. A stronger rocket, known as Ares V, will be used to boost the craft to the moon.
The two-minute test at a facility in Utah will provide engineers with information about the five-segment solid development motor, which provides more thrust than the current motors used by the space shuttle.
NASA had tried to test the motor last month, but the test had to be broken off early because of a problem with one of its power components.
