Tag: CRS
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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 Dragon to make third ISS visit amid logistics schedule challenges
With less than one week now remaining until the launch of SpaceX’s second operational International Space Station (ISS) resupply mission, preparations to make the orbital outpost ready to receive the Dragon capsule are progressing smoothly. However, resupply flights for the remainder of the year continue to be re-shuffled around a packed and challenging logistics flight…
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Hot fire success for Orbital’s Antares
Orbital’s Antares vehicle has enjoyed a successful hot fire test on Friday. The success followed last week’s scrubbed attempt at at T-1.5 seconds – related to a low pressure purge condition ahead of engine ignition. With the issue resolved, the Antares came to life for the first time, firing its engines for 27 seconds. Antares…
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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 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…
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SpaceX’s CRS-1 Dragon arrives at the ISS for successful berthing
The first official commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) successfully passed the critical phase of its arrival at the orbital outpost, as SpaceX’s CRS-1 Dragon was “tamed” by the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) ahead of schedule, at 6:56am Eastern. The vehicle was then successfully berthed to the Harmony module. Dragon Berthing (milestones will…
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Falcon 9 launches Dragon on CRS-1 mission to the ISS
SpaceX have launched the first mission of the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) programme Sunday night, with the Dragon spacecraft beginning its third mission atop a Falcon 9 carrier rocket. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station was on scheduled – and at the first attempt – at 20:35 EDT (00:35 UTC on Monday). The Falcon…
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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…