Tag: SpaceX
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SpaceX and ULA go toe-to-toe over EELV contracts
In what was one of the most fascinating hearings in years, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and United Launch Alliance (ULA) boss Michael Gass faced off against each other over the lucrative Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)-class contracts. Both gentlemen didn’t pull their punches, with Mr. Gass cited ULA’s superior reliability, while Mr. Musk denounced ULA’s costs,…
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SpaceX outlines CRS-3 landing legs plan toward first stage recovery ambitions
SpaceX believes they have “all the necessary pieces” to achieve a full recovery of the booster stage, with the next launch of their Falcon 9 v1.1 set to test another key technology towards that aim, via the debut of landing legs on the aft of the first stage. While there is a low likelihood SpaceX will…
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NASA to evaluate ISS resupply options through 2024
With the lifespan of the International Space Station (ISS) extended to at least 2024, NASA officials have begun evaluating options for the next phase of Commercial Resupply Services (CRS), allowing for the orbital outpost to be stocked up with supplies and equipment after the current CRS deal with SpaceX’s Dragon and Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft expires.…
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CRS-3 Falcon 9 first stage to sport legs and attempt soft splashdown
SpaceX is expected to take another leap towards the full reusability of their Falcon 9 launch vehicle next month, when the rocket’s first stage will be commanded back to Earth for a soft touchdown on water. The CRS-3/SpX-3 Falcon 9 v1.1 will also debut landing legs on its aft for the first time, according to…
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Affordable habitats means more Buck Rogers for less money says Bigelow
Robert Bigelow, founder and President of Bigelow Aerospace, believes that cost effective habitats and transportation systems are key to America’s space explorations ambitions throughout the solar system. In expansive documentation provided to NASA, Bigelow Aerospace presented a fleet of vehicles that could enable humanity’s ambitions. Inflated Aspirations: In the first of two reports recently issued…
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SpaceX realign Dragon’s CRS-3 launch to March 16
Dragon’s next trip to the International Space Station (ISS) is now targeting a launch date of NET (No Earlier Than) March 16, following consultation between SpaceX and NASA. This will be Dragon’s first ride on the upgraded Falcon 9 v1.1, with the launch tracking a T-0 of 04:41 Eastern from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex…
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Falcon 9 preparing to stretch her legs via Grasshopper trials
The prospect of a Falcon 9 v1.1 first stage returning to terra firma following launch is continuing to advance along a path towards reality, as the SpaceX team push forward with testing on the system’s landing legs at their Texas test facility. Photos of the Grasshopper 2 (GH2) test vehicle have surfaced, showing the leg…
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SpaceX test parachute system for Commercial Crew Dragon
NASA confirmed on Friday that SpaceX’s Commercial Crew Dragon program successfully conducted a parachute test – as part of the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) contract with NASA – in December. The test evaluated how the Dragon parachute system would function in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during ascent. Dragon Parachute Test:…
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SpaceX win contract to loft JCSAT-14 via Falcon 9
Hot on the heels of their first two Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) missions, SpaceX have been awarded the launch contract for the mission to loft the JCSAT-14 communications satellite to its GTO destination. The award from SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation of Japan calls for the satellite to ride uphill on a Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket in the…
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SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 Thaicom-6 launch slips to January 6
Following the successful completion of the Static Fire test on their Falcon 9 v1.1 at Cape Canaveral on Saturday, SpaceX was preparing for a January 3 launch of the Thaicom-6 satellite. However, due to an issue with the Falcon 9’s fairing, the launch has been slightly delayed to No Earlier Than (NET) target of January…