NASA prepares to assemble Ares I-X rocket

June 11 (UPI) -- Stacking is to begin this month for the Ares 1-X rocket -- the first time a new U.S. rocket has been assembled on NASA's mobile launch platform in 25 years.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the rocket's first flight test is to take place this summer at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Ares 1-X forward assembly was moved Thursday from Kennedy's Assembly Refurbishment Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it will be stacked on NASA's mobile launch platform.

The Ares I-X rocket, part of NASA's Constellation program, is a combination of existing and simulator hardware that will resemble the Ares I crew launch vehicle in size, shape and weight. It will provide valuable flight data to guide the final design of the Ares I, which will launch astronauts in the Orion crew exploration vehicle.

"This is a very exciting week for the team to have the hardware moving out of the ARF, showing how much progress we've made and that we are that much closer to launch," NASA Ares I-X mission manager Bob Ess said.