KSC-2009-4440

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Vehicle Assembly Building's High Bay 4 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts Super Stack 2, part of the Ares I-X upper stage. The stack is being moved across the transfer aisle for attachment to Super Stack 1 in High Bay 3. Beneath can be seen Super Stack 3 and at left is the crew module-launch abort system, or CM-LAS, and simulator service module-service adapter stack. The upper stage comprises five super stacks, which are integrated with the four-segment solid rocket booster first stage on the mobile launch platform. Ares I-X is the test vehicle for the Ares I, which is part of the Constellation Program to return men to the moon and beyond. The Ares I-X flight test is targeted for Oct. 31, pending formal NASA Headquarters approval. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs