Article Posted on : - Oct 30, 2009

The Ares I-X was launched on Wednesday. Image credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL (AP/PTI): The booster rocket used in a test flight was badly dented when it fell into the Atlantic, NASA has said.

The new Ares I-X rocket was launched on a brief flight on Wednesday. NASA officials said Thursday that the first-stage booster was found to be dented near the bottom when it was recovered from the ocean.

NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said there's still no official word on whether all three parachutes on the booster deployed properly. A parachute failure could account for the damage.

The Ares I-X is a prototype of what's supposed to replace the space shuttles and ultimately fly to the moon.

Shuttle managers, meanwhile, have chosen November 16 for the launch of Atlantis on a space station mission.