Now THAT is a Sensationalist Headline

That "under certain conditions" caveat could be used to create any doomsday scenario one could think of. As in "under certain conditions" the Ares could tip over even before ignition, conditions like say a category 5 hurricane. But NASA isn't stupid enough to roll a launch vehicle out to the pad in a cat 5 storm. Likewise NASA probably isn't stupid enough to attempt a launch under the narrow set of conditions that could cause an Ares I to hit the tower, IE a 13 mph SE wind.

Ah, the Times online. They also wrote an article claiming nuclear powered aircraft are coming soon.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5024190.ece

"Nuclear-powered aircraft may sound like a concept from Thunderbirds, but they will be transporting millions of passengers around the world later this century, the leader of a Government-funded project to reduce environmental damage from aviation believes."

But luckily we have the Register to clear things up.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/01/not_the_atomic_airliner_man_crusty_nimby_wedges/

"I spoke to the Times for an hour and a half," he told the Reg. "I did mention the American tests - I said the idea of nuclear powered planes is not forbidden by the laws of physics, and it's the sort of thing which could happen beyond 2050, maybe. That was it, two minutes. But it's the only thing they wrote about."

Yeesh. Maybe a flame from the Times is actually a sign that Ares is SO awesome that standing next to it improves your sex appeal.

Maybe.