Following on the heels of Rich’s post regarding the successful launch of the Ares 1-X launch, is this article at Popular Mechanics that calls into question the need for the NASA program and even the term “success”.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/4335662.html

The two main points of the article are:

1. Was it a success?  There was a potential gantry collision, a reduced performance margin and what appeared to be a 1st stage to 2nd stage collision…it calls into question the “success” of the mission.
2. Cost and efficacy.  This mission cost an estimated 500 million dollars.  That is an astsronomical number for one launch.

The article sums it all up in the last few paragraphs when it talks about the SpaceX program:

For what NASA proposes to spend on Ares I itself…seventy SpaceXs could be formed.