NASA tests rocket going nowhere?

The five-segment solid motor of the Ares booster, meant to carry the Orion capsule into orbit, was a success. Such a test adds to our knowledge of how large solid rocket motors behave, but it may have no practical use. The Ares, like the Orion and the whole of Project Constellation, is on the edge of oblivion. Meanwhile, SpaceX plans to test its Dragon capsule on its Falcon 9 rocket on October 23: a new spacecraft and new capsule tested in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost it's taken for NASA and its contractors to get an equivalent system built.

See the spectacular test here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fy2JGNVdR4