Tag: Falcon 9
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Falcon 9’s Merlin engines fire – launch date slipping
The next key milestone ahead of the historical SpaceX mission to the International Space Station (ISS) took place on Monday, as the integrated Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft underwent their full dress rehearsal for what was a May 7 launch – a date that is now slipping. Known as the Static Fire test, all nine…
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SpaceX, NASA managers decide on May 7 launch date following slip
Following SpaceX’s announcement that their Falcon 9 launch date will be slipping from its April 30 target, evaluations have been taking place – in cooperation with NASA – to ascertain when the Dragon spacecraft can make its debut attempt to berth with the International Space Station (ISS). With the NET date of May 7 now…
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NASA FRR tentatively sets April 30 for Dragon’s first flight to fully prepared ISS
For the first time in history, NASA’s extensive Flight Readiness Review (FRR) process has concluded that a privately-owned spacecraft is tentatively cleared to visit the International Space Station (ISS). With a launch date still tracking April 30, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will lift off toward a space station that is now fully prepared to extend a…
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Dragon ISS flight slips – SpaceX determined to return US crewed access to LEO
SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 flight with the Dragon spaceship – a mission which is expected to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) – is slipping in order to allow for due diligence “safety checks” ahead of launch. SpaceX’s decision to slip what was a February 7 launch came after comments noting their sense of…
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SpaceX to begin testing on Reusable Falcon 9 technology this year
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) will begin testing on a vertical propulsion landing system later this year, part of a long-term project to evaluate the potential of creating a fully-reusable version of their Falcon 9 launch vehicle. SpaceX believe a fully and rapidly reusable orbital class rocket would provide a critical breakthrough for the human…
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ISS managers evaluating SpaceX via safety reviews ahead of debut arrival
In what will be a major milestone, not only for SpaceX, but for the entire space program, International Space Station (ISS) teams are working through the long list of safety requirements to approve Dragon’s debut ‘test’ mission to the orbital outpost. Several specific areas of interest are in work, including ongoing evaluations into the potential…
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SpaceX: Falcon Heavy, Falcon 9 tag team set to share 20 launches a year
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) head Elon Musk revealed their latest launch vehicle on Tuesday, the Falcon Heavy. Effectively three Falcon 9 core stages strapped together, the new vehicle – set to debut as soon as 2013 – will be the most powerful US rocket to have launched since the Saturn V was built for the…
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Falcon 9 completes Static Fire at the third attempt
As part of a full launch dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, SpaceX conduct a static fire of their Falcon 9 launch vehicle on Saturday, in preparation for the first Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) launch of the Dragon spacecraft. Friday’s static fire was aborted at 1.1 seconds due to high chamber readings Engine…
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SpaceX success for maiden launch of Falcon 9
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle has enjoyed a successful maiden flight on Friday, carrying a prototype Dragon spacecraft into orbit. Launch – at 2:45pm Eastern – came near the end of a four hour launch window, which was interrupted by an issue with the Flight Termination System (FTS) – several incursions into the Range, and an abort at T-3…
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STS-129 ready to support Dragon communication demo with ISS
When STS-129 launches next week, Atlantis will have one eye on the future, as she carries the CRS UHF Communication Unit (CUCU), a key element for the upcoming demonstration of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, ahead of its debut arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010. STS-129’s Dragon Payload: The Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)…