images

Illustration of Ares I during launch

by

Nasa/Novapix

Reference

e-exl01-20003

Date

2007-08-24

Ares rockets, named for the Greek god associated with Mars, will return humans to the moon and later take them to Mars and other destinations. Ares I is an inline, two-stage rocket configuration topped by the Orion crew vehicle and its launch abort system. Ares I may also deliver resources and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS), or to "park" payloads in orbit for retrieval by other spacecraft bound for the moon or other destinations.