NASA Tests Martian Transport Today

In a few minutes, NASA’s space agency will launch the first test launch of the Ares IX launch vehicle. Such a rocket will carry people to a colony on Mars, the settlement of which is planned for the coming decades, as well as to the lunar base, which will be built by 2020.

The main cargo of the carrier will be the Orion manned research ship (currently under development). It will accommodate from four to six astronauts and will be a replacement for the outdated shuttles. If tests pass normally, then this solid-fuel rocket and research ship will become our main transport in space for several decades to come.

The launch of Ares IX will take place today from the space center in Florida from 8:00 to 12:00 local time (15:00 - 19:00 Moscow time), if the weather does not let us down. The live broadcast here has already begun.