Washington - The test launch of the next generation space rocket Ares I-X was pushed back by about an hour Tuesday due to weather, NASA said. NASA was troubleshooting some communications issues with the rocket and keeping a close eye on clouds over the launch pad at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. However, the US space agency said it would still attempt to take off within the four-hour launch window that began at 1200 GMT. It set a new 1324 GMT launch target.
Ares I-X is the first of two new rockets planned by NASA for its Constellation programme with the eventual goal of returning humans to the moon.
Ares I would be used to carry astronauts to low-Earth orbit, including to the International Space Station, aboard the next- generation Orion crew capsule. A later, more powerful Ares V rocket is to be developed to carry astronauts to the moon and beyond.
