National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA today unveiled a new rocket, named Ares 1, that has been designed for future space and moon missions, replacing the aging and the soon to be gone U.S space shuttle fleet.

The flight testing of the all new Ares-1 rocket is expected to commence from next week and is being closely monitored by the Obama administration. The Ares-1 rocket will be employed to ferry astronauts to and from space missions as well as being a transit vehicle for the International Space Station.

Apart from the Ares-1 rocket module, a presidential panel had also looked in other possible alternatives for launching the astronauts into the orbit. One of such alternatives involved the use of commercial launch vehicles, such as the Space Exploration Technology’s Falcon 9 rocket, that has been slated for a debut flight in the year 2010.

According to Bob Ess (Ares I-X Mission Manager, NASA), “It’s been a long time since NASA built a new vehicle. The whole purpose of this test is to get information so we understand and can correlate our computer models. From that, we learn how to use that data for the next launch vehicle.” NASA officials have are currently focusing on the new launch vehicle’s test flight, regardless of the fate of Ares X-1.

As per the schedule of the test flight, the Ares-1 rocket will take from Cape Canaveral launch pad and will be powered by solid fuel boosters, the same as used to power the space shuttles. There are more than 700 sensors placed all across the structure to relay crucial flight and statistical data to the ground control.

Via Reuters.