Tag: SpaceX
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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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ISS translates robotic assets in preparation to greet SpaceX’s Dragon
The International Space Station’s robotic arm has completed a double walk-off to be in position to grapple SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft next month. Currently set to launch NET (No Earlier Than) April 30, Dragon will have to successfully complete a series of demonstration milestones, prior to permission being granted to approach the Station for berthing via…
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SpaceX team conduct successful Falcon 9 WDR ahead of Dragon’s ISS debut
The SpaceX team conducted a successful Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) on their Falcon 9 launch vehicle at Cape Canaveral on Thursday. The Launch Readiness Test was a major milestone ahead of the launch vehicle’s role to loft Dragon into orbit and en route to the International Space Station (ISS) late in April. SpaceX Falcon 9…
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SLS interest in DoD launch market and Secondary Payloads potential
The Space Launch System (SLS) teams are looking into the potential of finding extra roles for the vehicle, in addition to – or in tandem with – the flagship exploration missions, noting its availabity for Department of Defense (DoD) payloads and even what is known as “Secondary Payloads” – allowing satellites to hitch a ride…
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SpaceX Dragon advancing the Launch Abort System to new heights
SpaceX are continuing to make progress with their NASA commercial crew contract, with the latest milestone involving the firing of their SuperDraco thruster engine, an integrated element of the Dragon which will be used as its Launch Abort System (LAS). However, these engines are hoping to gain additional roles, including the ability to land Dragon…
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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 performs hardware and software upgrades to support inaugural Dragon visit
The six-member crew of the International Space Station (ISS) have been hard at work over the past few weeks, performing multiple hardware and software upgrades in order to ready the station to support the new fleet of commercial resupply vehicles, ahead of next month’s inaugural visit of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to the orbital outpost. CUCU/CCP…
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ISS sails into challenging 2012 on back of successful achievements in 2011
The International Space Station (ISS) has now entered what will be a challenging new year, which will see access to the station for both crews and cargo tested, in wake of last year’s retirement of the Space Shuttle, the start of new commercial resupply flights, and recent failures of Russian launch vehicles. ISS cargo deliveries:…
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Stratolaunch introduce Rutan designed air-launched system for Falcon rockets
Funded as a Paul G. Allen project under the banner of Stratolaunch, Burt Rutan is taking his space tourism concept a step further, by developing an air-launch system for payloads in the 10,000lbm class into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The system will be able to launch from several possible operational sites and eventually aims to…