Tag: SpaceX
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SpaceX conduct successful WDR on their latest Falcon 9
Preparations for SpaceX’s debut Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in October are on track, following Friday’s successful Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR). The test was carried out on their Falcon 9 launch vehicle, minus its Dragon passenger, at Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40). SpaceX CRS-1 (SpX-1): This latest mission…
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NASA safety panel now satisfied with SpaceX anomaly resolution team
NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) have gone on record to say they are satisfied with SpaceX’s explanations, relating to their “fast” scrub turnaround for Falcon 9’s May launch. After claiming they were initially concerned with the pace of the turnaround, the ASAP members were reassured via overviews provided to them by NASA and SpaceX’s Mission Assurance manager.…
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USAF Kestrel Eye 1 spacecraft to ride on Falcon 9 in 2013
The US Air Force’s Kestrel Eye 1 Tactical Imaging Spacecraft spacecraft will head uphill in 2013 as a secondary payload on a commercial Falcon 9 launch. Technically classed as a nanosatellite, the spacecraft will be hosted on the Spaceflight Secondary Payload System (SSPS), as part of SpaceX and Spaceflight’s Launch Services Agreement (LSA). Kestrel Hitching…
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NASA CCiCAP funding for SpaceX, Boeing and SNC’s crew vehicles
NASA’s Commercial Crew integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative award winners were announced on Friday, with SpaceX, Boeing and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) all winning agency money to develop their vehicles to the next stage of providing domestic access to the International Space Station (ISS) for US astronauts. CCiCAP: The follow-on to the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev-2)…
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SpaceX joy at Merlin 1D test – Orbital fire up their AJ-26 engine
Two loud rumbles in the south of the United States marked two milestones for the country’s drive to regain its space flight independence, as SpaceX and Orbital both fired their new engines. SpaceX’s Merlin 1D rumbled for a full mission duration firing, while Orbital’s AJ-26 continued its testing ahead of its debut on their Antares launch…
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SpaceX deal boosts Falcon 9’s secondary payload manifest
SpaceX and Spaceflight Inc. have agreed to a Launch Services Agreement (LSA) framework that will allow for a multitude of secondary payloads to hitch a ride uphill with future Falcon 9 launches. Attached to the Spaceflight Secondary Payload System (SSPS), numerous small satellites will be lofted into space on the Falcon 9’s Upper Stage. Hitching…
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SpaceX’s Dragon returns to Earth following successful ISS mission
SpaceX’s Dragon unberthed from the International Space Station (ISS) early on Thursday, ahead of its final hours in space. Following a successful re-entry, splashdown off the coast of California was recorded at 08:42 local time . The nominal End Of Mission (EOM) – coupled with a good post flight review – will clear the way…
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SpaceX’s Dragon berthed on the ISS to complete historic arrival
SpaceX’s Dragon is now through the opening stages of being berthed on the International Space Station (ISS), after the spacecraft was captured by the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) on Friday. The effort to fully install Dragon to the ISS will continue throughout the day, although the major elements of the historic milestone have…
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Dragon completes ISS fly under comm test ahead of berthing opportunity
One of the major test objectives of Dragon’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) test flight was completed early on Thursday, as the SpaceX spacecraft flew under the International Space Station (ISS) and successfully received commands via a UHF system. Dragon continues to be on schedule for its historic berthing with the ISS on Friday. Dragon…
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SpaceX’s Dragon already achieving key milestones following Falcon 9 ride
Preliminary results are showing SpaceX’s Falcon 9 enjoyed a nominal ride uphill – with no issues – prior to deploying the Dragon spacecraft on orbit. So as not to let down its ride, Dragon then passed several major – and new – milestones, including the deployment of both solar arrays, and the opening of its…