Tag: Falcon 9
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Falcon 9 boost as Merlin 1D engine achieves major milestone
SpaceX’s Merlin 1D engine has achieved flight qualification status during its test program at the company’s rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas. An enhanced design to the engines that have flown on the first five Falcon 9 launches, the Merlin 1D will debut on the first Falcon 9 v1.1 launch this summer. Merlin 1D: SpaceX’s…
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Resilient CRS-2 Dragon successfully berthed on the ISS
Back to full health, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft was captured and then berthed by the Canadarm 2 on the International Space Station (ISS) Sunday morning. Arriving just one day later than planned – due to required troubleshooting with the spacecraft’s propulsion system – Dragon marked its third arrival at the orbital outpost. CRS-2 Status –…
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CRS-2: Dragon’s tantrum subdued following Falcon 9 launch
SpaceX conducted its tenth launch on Friday, sending the fourth Dragon spacecraft on a mission to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). The launch of CRS-2 (SpX-2) – which also marked the fifth flight of the Falcon 9 carrier rocket – occurred at 10:10 Eastern (15:10 UTC). However, a problem with the Dragon’s thrusters required…
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SpaceX win another contract ahead of CRS-2 mission
As SpaceX prepare for their next Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission, the company is continuing to fill its order book for their Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy fleet. The latest order was announced this week, when contracts were signed for the launch of Spacecom’s AMOS-6 satellite – set to be sent into orbit on a…
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SpaceX Crewed Dragon: Pressing home the advantage
With all three Commercial Crew partners providing a status update at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) this week, SpaceX have outlined their path towards launching a crew on their Dragon spacecraft in 2015. With the advantage of already flying cargo missions on a near-human rated Dragon, SpaceX are leading the drive to return domestic crew…
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SpaceX’s Grasshopper successfully conducts a 40 meter leap
SpaceX’s ambitions of creating a full reusable launch vehicle have taken another step forward via the third – and most ambitious to date – test of their Grasshopper test vehicle. The 40 meter leap into the skies at their test facility in Texas – followed by a stable hover and smooth landing – was conducted without…
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SpaceX get their foot in the EELV door with double launch contract win
The United States Air Force (USAF) have awarded SpaceX with two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)-class missions to ride on their Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The launches, which fall under Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3), will mark SpaceX’s debut for this class of mission. SpaceX EELV-class Wins: OSP-3 is an…
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ULA: Launch services customers class reliability as their main consideration
The ever-competitive launch services market has once again been thrown into the spotlight, with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk promoting the low cost of his vehicles, claiming Arianespace’s Ariane 5 has “no chance” of competing with his Falcon rockets on price. However, another big player in the market – the United Launch Alliance (ULA) – believe…
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SpaceX’s Dragon returns to Earth with precious cargo from ISS
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft has completed its trip back to Earth, carrying with it a valuable load of cargo from its host since October 10, the International Space Station. While the re-entry and splashdown of the Dragon was significant in itself – as it will be only the third time that a Dragon has performed this…
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Dragon enjoying ISS stay, despite minor issues – Falcon 9 investigation begins
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is behaving well – bar a couple of minor issues – during its berthed phase of the CRS-1 (SpX-1) mission, as it closes in on its departure at the end of the month. The unberthing will be conducted by the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), which translated away from the Dragon…