(Courtesy NASA)
NASA has finally test launched the ARES I-X rocket, the biggest rocket NASA has built after Saturn V, three decades ago. The Ares I-X test is a big step to the development of manned launch vehicle which will replace the the current shuttle program that has long served has a trucking service between Earth and the ISS (International Space Station).
Test Ares I-X is a first step of NASA Constellation program meant to return man to Moon by 2020 and then further to Mars and beyond. Two minutes test flight provided valuable flight data from 700 sensors on board. The rocket successfully reached speeds upto Mach 4 and then the upper stage got separated.
Here is a full video of launch
