Rainy, cloudy weather could interfere with test flight of NASA’s new rocket for moon program

Bad weather could interfere with NASA test flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s newest rocket is on the verge of blasting off on a test flight.

The Ares I-X rocket is set to lift off Tuesday morning. But forecasters say there’s a 60 percent chance that rain and clouds could delay the experimental flight. It’s already a half-hour late because of extra time needed for the countdown.

This is the first step in NASA’s effort to return astronauts to the moon.

The flight will last two minutes. Parachutes will drop the first-stage booster into the Atlantic for recovery. The upper portion of the rocket — all fake parts — will fall uncontrolled into the ocean.

NASA expects to learn a lot, even if it’s for another type of rocket. The White House is re-evaluating the human spaceflight program.