Tag: SpaceX
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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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Dragon safely en route to ISS as SpaceX review Falcon 9 ascent issues
SpaceX’s Dragon is continuing its journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on its debut Commercial Resupply Mission (CRS-1/SpX-1). Meanwhile, evaluations are taking place into the failure of Engine 1 – possibly related to the failure of the Merlin 1C fuel dome – and the unsuccessful delivery of the first Orbcomm satellite to its preferred…
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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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Falcon 9 hot fires its engines as the ISS prepares for Dragon’s arrival
SpaceX ignited all nine engines on their Falcon 9 launch vehicle on Saturday, a key test ahead of what remains an October 7 launch from Cape Canaveral. The Falcon 9 will be tasked with lofting the Dragon spacecraft on its first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which has been…
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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…