Lee Adelsbach and Bob Cook work on the instrumentation on the Bell X-1B.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Constellation Program Manager Jeff Hanley addresses a post-launch news conference in the Press Site auditorium following the successful launch of the Ares I-X test rocket at 11:30 a.m. EDT Oct. 28. From left, are, Doug Cooke, associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate; Hanley; Bob Ess, mission manager for the Ares I-X flight test; and Edward Mango, launch director for the Ares I-X flight test. For more information on the Ares I-X vehicle and flight test, visit http://www.nasa.gov/aresIX. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a post-launch news conference is held in the Press Site auditorium following the successful launch of the Ares I-X test rocket at 11:30 a.m. EDT Oct. 28. Smiling, from left, are Doug Cooke, associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate; Jeff Hanley, Constellation Program manager; Bob Ess, mission manager for the Ares I-X flight test; and Edward Mango, launch director for the Ares I-X flight test. For more information on the Ares I-X vehicle and flight test, visit http://www.nasa.gov/aresIX. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (second from left) gets information from Director of the Constellation Projects Office Pepper Phillips after the umbilical demonstration for Constellation test equipment. At left is Acting Associate Administrator of Exploration Systems Doug Cook; at right of Bolden is Center Director Bob Cabana. Bolden is touring several facilities at Kennedy involved with NASA's Constellation Program. Bolden also was at Kennedy for several events, including the landing of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission and the signing of the joint NASA-Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency agreement defining the terms of cooperation between the agencies on the Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM, mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of the news media attend a post-launch news conference in the Press Site auditorium following the successful launch of the Ares I-X test rocket at 11:30 a.m. EDT Oct. 28. Onstage, from left, are moderator George Diller, NASA Public Affairs officer; Doug Cooke, associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate; Jeff Hanley, Constellation Program manager; Bob Ess, mission manager for the Ares I-X flight test; and Edward Mango, launch director for the Ares I-X flight test. For more information on the Ares I-X vehicle and flight test, visit http://www.nasa.gov/aresIX. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a news conference is held in the Press Site auditorium following the conclusion of the flight test readiness review, or FTRR, for the Ares I-X test rocket. From left are Doug Cooke, associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate; Bob Ess, mission manager for the Ares I-X flight test; and Edward Mango, launch director for the Ares I-X flight test. During the meeting, senior NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the test and determined the rocket, support systems and procedures are ready for launch. The Ares I-X launch date was announced after the FTRR and is officially set for Oct. 27. For information on the Ares I-X vehicle and flight test, visit http://www.nasa.gov/aresIX. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a post-launch news conference is held in the Press Site auditorium following the successful launch of the Ares I-X test rocket at 11:30 a.m. EDT Oct. 28. Sharing a lighter moment are, from left, Doug Cooke, associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate; Jeff Hanley, Constellation Program manager; Bob Ess, mission manager for the Ares I-X flight test; and Edward Mango, launch director for the Ares I-X flight test. For more information on the Ares I-X vehicle and flight test, visit http://www.nasa.gov/aresIX. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden learns about the Ares I-X operations from NASA Ares I-X Mission Manager Bob Ess (center). At right are Acting Associate Administrator of Exploration Systems Doug Cook and NASA engineer Trent Smith. Bolden is touring several facilities at Kennedy involved with NASA's Constellation Program. Bolden also was at Kennedy for several events, including the landing of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission and the signing of the joint NASA-Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency agreement defining the terms of cooperation between the agencies on the Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM, mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – From left, Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Tina Palacio and Bolden's aide Kirk Sander leave the Vehicle Assembly Building after viewing the Ares I-X operations. Behind Palacios is Acting Associate Administrator of Exploration Systems Doug Cook, and at far right is Chief of Staff in the Office of the Administrator George Whitesides. Bolden is touring several facilities at Kennedy involved with NASA's Constellation Program. Bolden also was at Kennedy for several events, including the landing of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission and the signing of the joint NASA-Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency agreement defining the terms of cooperation between the agencies on the Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM, mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a news conference is held in the Press Site auditorium following the conclusion of the flight test readiness review, or FTRR, for the Ares I-X test rocket. From left are moderator George Diller, NASA Public Affairs officer; Doug Cooke, associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate; Bob Ess, mission manager for the Ares I-X flight test; and Edward Mango, launch director for the Ares I-X flight test. During the meeting, senior NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the test and determined the rocket, support systems and procedures are ready for launch. The Ares I-X launch date was announced after the FTRR and is officially set for Oct. 27. For information on the Ares I-X vehicle and flight test, visit http://www.nasa.gov/aresIX. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-127 crew members are greeted by NASA officials. From left, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Keiji Tachikawa shakes the hand of Pilot Doug Hurley; JEM Development Project Team Project Manager Koki Oikawa and Acting Administrator of Exploration Systems Doug Cook greet Mission Specialist Julie Payette, with the Canadian Space Agency; Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier and Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana greet Mission Specialist Tom Marshburn; and Mission Specialist Dave Wolf follows. The crew returned to Earth on space shuttle Endeavour to complete the 16-day, 6.5-million mile journey on the STS-127 mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour's main gear touchdown was at 10:48:08 a.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 10:48:21 a.m. and wheels stop was at 10:49:13 a.m. Endeavour delivered the Japanese Experiment Module's Exposed Facility and the Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section to the International Space Station. The mission was the 29th flight to the station, the 23rd flight of Endeavour and the 127th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 71st landing at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The booster segments for the Ares I-X test rocket were delivered to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida by the Florida East Coast Railroad and the NASA Railroad. Accompanying the train on its route from Jacksonville, Fla., were NASA and ATK officials. Standing here, from left, are ATK Ares I Flight Tests Program Director Joe Oliva, ATK Ares I-X Florida Program Manager Russ Page, NASA Ares Program Manager Steve Cook, ATK Deputy Site Director in Florida Ted Shaffner, NASA KSC Ares I-X Deputy Mission Manager Jon Cowart, ATK Vice President of Space Launch Propulson Cary Ralston, ATK Ares I First Stage program Director Fred Brasfield, ATK Vice President Space Launch Systems Charlie Precourt, ATK Ares I Flight Tests Deputy Program Director Kathy Philpot, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Reusable Solid Rocket Booster Integration Lead Roy Worthy, ATK Florida Site Director Bob Herman, NASA Res First Stage Project Manager Alex Priskos and NASA KSC Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach. The four reusable motor segments and the nozzle exit cone, manufactured by the Ares I first-stage prime contractor Alliant Techsystems Inc., or ATK, departed Utah March 12 on the seven-day, cross-country trip to Florida. The segments will be delivered to the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility for final processing and integration. The booster used for the Ares I-X launch is being modified by adding new forward structures and a fifth segment simulator. The motor is the final hardware needed for the rocket's upcoming test flight this summer. The stacking operations are scheduled to begin in the Vehicle Assembly Building in April. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett