In case you missed it, the Ares 1-X launch this morning was successful.
Ares is the new NASA expendable launcher, developed under the Constellation program, designed too provide medium and heavy (Ares V) lift after Shuttle and to provide man-rated launchers for future maneuverable crewed capsule launches - the Orions.
Think Saturn 1 and Saturn V type launchers, with Apollo type capsules - but modernised and hopefully safer, and cheaper.
Ares 1-X is the prototype experimental test vehicle for Ares 1
It finally launched this morning.
All went well, apparently.
Cool launch video though.
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The part where it broke in half was actually quite scary. But expected, apparently.
Beautiful.
The worrisome point for me was when the transonic shockwave formed around around the front of the vehicle (@ about 0:53).
And this was just a test of the first stage. The whole of the second stage was filled with recording equipment. The capsule area was just dummy weight. Can't wait for a full vehicle launch.