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Ares-1-X is a test flight slated for 2009. Many think it's more show than go, in other words a PR opportunity, but nevertheless it's to be launched with a dummy 2nd stage and dummy Orion and so an opportunity to test the interstage etc. <br /><br />If true those who looked at the Ares I and thought it might snap in two at launch may have been right. <br /><br />The post speaks for itself;<br /><br />A troubling post on NasaSpaceFlight.com .....<br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>kraisee<br /><br />Offline<br />Expert<br />Posts: 3285<br />Location: Cape Canaveral, FL<br /><br /><font color="yellow">I've been able to confirm from CxP sources that a test occurred earlier this month on some dynamic load hardware planned for Ares-I-X - and that <b>the test failed.</b></font><br /><br />It appears to be either the InterStage or the Forward Frustum for the SRB which was undergoing load tests, and that the unit in the test failed structurally while only experiencing "nominal" flight load conditions - not even while experiencing the extra-high loads which testing would usually expect to safely push such hardware to so as to ensure the required additional safety margins.<br /><br />I'm trying to get clearer information at present (difficult with everyone on vacation!) so wanted to ask on here for any information from the many folk reading these forums to help shed some light on this.<br /><br />I do find it interesting that such a failure occurred in precisely the location folk inside Constellation have been warning about here on NSF for a year and a half though. Being such a "known" issue, you'd think they would have made it strong enough by now in time for physical testing prior to test flight...<br /><br />Ross.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>