NASA delays Nov. shuttle launch for test flight

[October 20, 2009]  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA is delaying its November space shuttle launch by four days to provide more breathing room for a test flight of its new rocket.

Atlantis was supposed to lift off Nov. 12. Now launch is targeted for Nov. 16. NASA said Monday the delay will make it easier to get the experimental Ares rocket flying next week. The Ares I-X is supposed to blast off Oct. 27 on a brief suborbital flight. NASA will move the rocket to the pad Tuesday morning.

The Ares test vehicle will carry neither people nor payloads when it takes off. Much of the rocket consists of mock-up hardware. NASA wants to see how well the partial first stage performs.

The same Kennedy Space Center team is supporting both the Ares and Atlantis launches.

[Associated Press; By MARCIA DUNN]

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