Our Space Program In Limbo

TW: Above are prototypes for our next manned spacecraft. The one on the left is the Ares I in which astronauts would be launched into orbit. The lower stage is a modified space shuttle booster rocket. The astronauts would launch into lower orbit where they would meet up with equipment carried into space by the vehicle on the right, the Ares V. The Ares V being a modified Apollo rocket assisted by a couple of the Shuttle booster rockets.

The Ares I allegedly will fly in 2015. Allegedly because if it did it would be about the first space program to stay on schedule since Apollo. In the meantime we will have no manned space launch vehicles after next year when the Shuttle is meant to be retired.

Jay Barbree has a nice write-up below on the genesis of the Ares.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31496353/ns/technology_and_science-space/

The Ares vehicles are meant to be precursors to an American return to the moon in 2020 or so (again I would emphasize the "or so" part). I strongly believe in the manned space program as it symbolizes technological excellence, leadership and exploration of new frontiers.

Unfortunately our POTUS does not share my enthusiasm. The entire program is up for review with an August report due that is meant to articulate whether Obama et al. will continue with the Ares approach, suggest a new one or greatly scale back our ambitions. We shall see. In the mean time the Chinese and others are quietly readying their own projects which I suspect will soon accelerate past our's.