Will Attempt Wednesday Launch

ANN Realtime Update: 10.27.2009 1200 EDT:  The Ares I-X launch team is preparing for a 24-hour turnaround, targeting 0800 on Wednesday as liftoff time for the Ares I-X flight test vehicle.

Tuesday's attempt was plagued by weather issues, even though the vehicle itself was ready to fly. After multiple attempts to reset to new launch times during the 4-hour window, the final scrub came when the weather did not improve as the end of the window neared. Wednesday's weather improves somewhat, with a 40 percent "no-go."

Wednesday's attempt will have the same 4-hour window that ends at noon.

Original Story: As hard as they tried, the weather would not cooperate with the Ares I-X launch team. They have called a scrub for today and will make a determination regarding an attempt for tomorrow.

The countdown held at T-4 minutes for over two hours, delayed first by a cargo ship in the launch box, and later by increasing winds. When the ship was first  seen in the launch range, a launch controller said "I don't want to see this delayed until weather becomes a problem."

But weather became a problem. While clouds and a few showers moved in over the launch complex, it was eventually sustained winds of about 20 knots which eventually caused NASA to call a scrub.

Launch Test Director Jeff Spaulding instructed the launch team to begin safing the vehicle and set up for a recycle of the countdown.

"We had some opportunities, but just couldn't get there," Spaulding said to the team. "Weather didn't cooperate."

The Ares 1-X team will make a determination later today about trying again to launch on Wednesday.

FMI: www.nasa.gov