SpaceX: countdown to the era of commercial space flight
SpaceX is a company founded by Elon Musk of PayPal and Tesla, which recently became the first privately-owned group to launch a mission to the International Space Station. Its Dragon capsule successfully docked with the ISS after detaching from a Falcon rocket, clearing SpaceX to proceed with a $1.6 billion contract covering at least six further missions to the station.
SpaceX signs three-year deal with Spaceport America to test Grasshopper reusable rocket
SpaceX has secured a three-year lease to make use of New Mexico's Spaceport America. The commercial spaceflight startup plans to use the port's land and facilities to conduct more advanced tests of its Grasshopper reusable rocket, which is intended to land intact on a launch pad upon its return from space.
NASA delays astronaut flights with SpaceX and other companies, extends Russia contract
NASA has not had the ability to send astronauts to the International Space Station since the space shuttle fleet was retired in 2011, and that's not going to change anytime soon. A plan to replace the shuttle by paying for rides on commercial spacecraft from SpaceX, Boeing or several other private companies has been delayed from its original 2015 anticipated start date due to budget cuts, NASA announced today. Instead, NASA has extended a contract with the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos),...
SpaceX's prototype rocket Grasshopper hovers at 820 feet in highest flight yet
Last night SpaceX released a video of the latest successful test flight of its Grasshopper prototype rocket, a spacecraft designed to launch and land vertically. We've already seen the Grasshopper hit some impressive marks, flying over 260 feet high in March before landing precisely back on the launch pad at SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas. But this latest test flight, Grasshopper's fifth, continues SpaceX's goal of launching the rocket to ever-increasing heights — this time up to...
SpaceX's reusable rocket prototype Grasshopper leaps to new record height, nails landing
SpaceX just overcame a glitch to connect its Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station last week, but the company's work on its next generation of rockets is going a bit smoother. On Saturday, SpaceX launched its reusable test rocket Grasshopper from McGregor, Texas, on its highest and most accurate test flight yet, landing in the center of launch pad for the first time. Later that day, SpaceX founder Elon Musk showed off footage of the 262.8-foot-high launch during his keynote...
Thirty Seconds to Mars' new single had a seat aboard the SpaceX Dragon launch yesterday
Forget about late-night talk show appearances — what better way is there to get publicity for a new album than sending it into space? Appropriately, American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars is doing just that with its first single, "Up in the Air" from its upcoming fourth studio album. Yesterday morning a copy of the single was included onboard the Dragon capsule launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as part of 12 NASA-contracted flights to resupply the International Space Station.
"Up in...
NASA says SpaceX Dragon is safe to dock with the International Space Station on Sunday
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft was delayed after experiencing a glitch on Friday, casting doubt on its chances for docking with the International Space Station in the near future, but NASA has just announced that the Dragon is clear to deliver its payload. The Dragon began experiencing trouble after it reached orbit and disconnected from its Falcon 9 rocket; SpaceX noticed problematic pressure readings that prevented the company from activating all of the spacecraft's thruster pods that are...
SpaceX overcomes Dragon glitch, but docking delayed until Sunday
SpaceX's Dragon is still on track to link up with the space station despite suffering a glitch after launch on Friday morning. But the glitch has delayed the window for docking from Saturday until Sunday at the earliest, possibly even longer. "We'd keep it [Dragon] up there for a month at least trying to sort out any issues," SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said during a press conference this afternoon.
SpaceX Dragon launched into orbit, but suffers problem (updated)
SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station at 10:10 AM ET this morning, but the Dragon suffered a problem as it reached orbit, with three of four total thrusters not responding. SpaceX was able to overcome the problem and deploy Dragon's solar arrays at 11:49 AM ET. The craft is still on track to reach the space station, but docking has been delayed until Sunday at the earliest. The mission is SpaceX's third flight to the space...
NASA to deliver commercial space flight program progress update today at 2PM ET
Today NASA will be discussing the progress of its Commercial Crew Program, which hopes to utilize commercial spaceships to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station. NASA's Commercial Spaceflight Development director and Commercial Crew Program manager will both be present, as well as representatives from Boeing, the Sierra Nevada Corporation, and SpaceX. The three organizations have been working with NASA to create and test a full commercial crew transportation system,...
SpaceX's reusable rocket lifts cowboy into the air and lands vertically
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has tweeted images and video of the company's Grasshopper rocket taking a brief test flight. Carrying a six-foot high mannequin dressed as a cowboy, the rocket propelled itself 131 feet into the air before hovering for a while and returning to the ground.
The rocket is currently in development and entered the testing phase last month. The end game for the Grasshopper project is to have a reusable rocket that can take off and land vertically. If it's successful in its...
SpaceX awarded contract from the US Air Force to provide Falcon rockets for two missions in 2014 and 2015
Private spacecraft manufacturing firm SpaceX has been awarded two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)-class missions from the Air Force, marking the first time the company received any sort of military contract. The two missions will take place in 2014 and 2015, both using SpaceX's Falcon launch rockets. The first mission will utilize the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which recently powered the first privatized space flight to the International Space Station. The second mission will use the...
SpaceX Dragon captured by ISS, successfully docked
The SpaceX Dragon has been captured by the International Space Station en route to completing the first resupply mission ever by a private company. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, along with JAXA colleague Akihiko Hoshide, captured the capsule using a robotic arm at 6:56AM ET. The duo are currently guiding the capsule into a dock. Dragon is delivering 822 pounds of supplies to the laboratory onboard the ISS, including crew supplementaries, scientific research, and hardware. Then, 18 days...
First SpaceX Space Station resupply mission underway
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo spacecraft are set to lift off in a few short minutes, as the company begins its CRS commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station. The launch is scheduled for 8:34PM EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, and is streaming right now on NASA's website.
The mission is the first of twelve scheduled resupply flights, a contract with NASA worth $1.6 billion. While this is the first commercial voyage, the company s...
SpaceX cleared to begin resupply missions to the International Space Station in October
SpaceX has received final clearance from NASA to begin flying resupply missions to the International Space Station. Space News reports that the first of twelve resupply flights is scheduled to take place in October, marking an important milestone for commercial spaceflight. It's the culmination of the SpaceX's Commercial Orbital Transportation services agreement, a $400 million contract that required the company to successfully recover a craft from low-Earth orbit, and then successfully...
NASA gives Boeing, SpaceX, and Sierra Nevada $1.1 billion to replace the Space Shuttle
NASA has announced funding for three private aerospace companies, pledging a total of $1.1 billion to help launch astronauts to the International Space Station from American soil. Boeing and SpaceX will have their proposals fully funded, receiving $460 and $440 million respectively. The Sierra Nevada Corporation will also receive $212.5 million, likely towards its Dream Chaser. The funding is part of the CCiCAP, or Commercial Crew Integrated Capability initiative. From now until May 2014, the...
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New SpaceX rocket generates 147,000 pounds of thrust in test video
SpaceX, the private space transport firm headed up by PayPal founder Elon Musk, has released a minute-long video showcasing the latest improvements to its Merlin series of boosters. Featuring part of a 185-second test, the video shows the Merlin 1D rocket — billed as "the most efficient booster engine ever built" — producing 147,000 pounds of thrust in a stationary position, pummeling the ground beneath it with flames.
According to the official SpaceX press release, the test shows that...
SpaceX Dragon capsule lands in Pacific Ocean after ISS mission
The SpaceX Dragon capsule has just completed its historic mission to and from the International Space Station by landing back on Earth. After several delays, the capsule launched and successfully docked at the ISS, where astronauts retrieved its contents and sent it back to Earth. Now, after an early morning departure, the Dragon has landed in the Pacific Ocean, a few hundred miles off the coast of Baja California. CEO Elon Musk watched the craft's arrival from Mission Control, and ships are...
Watch this: SpaceX Dragon splashdown expected at 11:44AM ET
SpaceX's journey into orbit hasn't been the smoothest ride, but last week the Falcon 9 rocket finally blasted off, and a few days later the Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station. Now it's time for the Dragon to come back home, and of course it's all going to be broadcast live. The capsule's return is going to be covered in two different segments. First, NASA TV will cover the actual departure of the capsule from the ISS itself. The live coverage is set to...
SpaceX Dragon reminds ISS astronaut of 'sci-fi filmset,' images of docked spacecraft hit Flickr
SpaceX's Dragon capsule successfully berthed with the International Space Station a few days ago, and the ISS crew is now getting a firsthand look at the unmanned spacecraft. In describing the privately-funded vessel, astronaut and physician André Kuipers refers to the module as "beautiful," "spacious," and "modern." The Dragon "feels a bit like a sci-fi filmset" with its multiple blue LED lights, says Kuipsers. "Of course it's from Los Angeles," he says — an obvious nod to SpaceX's...
SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully docked at the International Space Station
The SpaceX Dragon capsule has just been successfully "captured" by the International Space Station. This marks the first time a commercial craft has ever landed at the ISS, as well as a huge step forward for private space flight. A few minutes ago, the capsule was grappled to the Station by a robotic arm; it will remain unopened until a routine air inspection can be performed. Over the course of the next two weeks, about 1,000 pounds of food and supplies will be unloaded, and the capsule will...
Watch this: SpaceX Dragon docking with the ISS (live now)
Although it took a few delays before the SpaceX rocket got off the ground and into orbit, now that the commercial craft is in space we've seen nothing but success. That track record has a chance to continue today as the Dragon capsule is scheduled to begin its docking maneuvers with the International Space Station at 2AM ET / 7AM BST. They'll be taking it slow, with a full berthing not expected until around 11AM ET.
More big tests tonight for SpaceX #Dragon, to quote the Beastie Boys -...
SpaceX rocket carries the ashes of Scotty from 'Star Trek' and 307 others into space
James Doohan, the actor who famously portrayed Montgomery Scott, the chief engineer on the original Star Trek series, has finally made his way into space, albeit posthumously. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that successfully launched this morning carried on board the ashes of Doohan and 307 other people who had signed up for a so-called memorial spaceflight service. Operated by a company called Celestis, these services can range from a simple journey into low-Earth orbit and back all the way to a...
SpaceX successfully blasts off to the International Space Station
At 3:44AM ET this morning, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in the first mission to the International Space Station by a privately-funded company. The Dragon capsule is currently in orbit with solar arrays deployed and, if all goes to plan following the launch, will dock with the ISS early Friday morning. The test flight will demonstrate SpaceX's capability to both abort and successfully perform a rendezvous with the station. Once successful, the...
Watch this: SpaceX launch live on NASA TV at 3:44AM ET / 8:44AM BST
After a series of delays and false starts, the historic SpaceX mission to the International Space Station is set to launch this morning. Liftoff is scheduled for 3:44AM ET, or 8:44AM BST, and if all goes to plan SpaceX's unmanned Dragon capsule will become the first privately-owned craft to dock with the ISS early on Friday morning. It's worth noting that we've gotten this far before and ended up disappointed by a last-minute abort, but we have a good feeling this time around. You can watch...
SpaceX Dragon capsule scheduled for yet another launch attempt Tuesday at 3:44AM ET
The on-again, off-again launch of SpaceX's unmanned Dragon capsule is on target for yet another attempt tomorrow (Tuesday) at 3:44AM ET. This comes after Saturday's liftoff was aborted at the last possible second — quite literally — when a faulty check valve led to high chamber pressure in the engine of the Falcon rocket that Dragon is hitching a ride on. The hardware in question has now been replaced, and SpaceX claims that extensive tests have revealed no further problems. In another...
Reminder: watch the SpaceX launch livestream Saturday at 4:55AM EDT (update: aborted)
It took a long time to get to this point, with a number of delays along the way, but SpaceX's mission to the International Space Station is finally set to get underway Saturday morning — and you can watch the whole thing streaming live. Things kick off bright and early with a 4:55AM EDT launch time, though pre-launch coverage actually begins even earlier at 3:30AM EDT. The entire event will be streamed live on NASA Television, while a replay of the launch will be played at 5:25AM EDT,...
SpaceX mission gets NASA approval: takeoff set for May 19th
SpaceX has received approval from NASA to launch its Dragon capsule into orbit on May 19th. Scheduled for 4:55AM ET, NASA Television will be offering live coverage of the send off beginning at 3:30AM ET. The company's attempt to make history as the first privately-funded cargo mission to rendezvous with the International Space Station has seen more than its fair share of delays: the most recent of which came last week after software issues erased any hopes for a May 7th launch. May 22nd has...
SpaceX wants to fly you to expandable habitats orbiting the Earth
SpaceX has announced a new partnership that could eventually see the company's Dragon spacecraft used to ferry passengers to habitats orbiting the planet. Once they arrive, customers would be set-up in an expandable habitat called a BA 300, which is being developed by Bigelow Aerospace and provides 330 cubic meters of space — or enough room for six people. It features an inflatable hull that can be expanded once it's in orbit, and multiple units can be linked together to provide more space....
SpaceX: May 7th launch 'unlikely' due to software issues
SpaceX may be forced to delay its historic first private flight to the International Space Station once again. Spokesperson Kirstin Grantham told the AFP that the software assurance process with NASA is taking longer than expected, and that the company will make a further announcement once a launch date is set in stone — expected to be by Friday. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft could lift off as soon as Thursday May 10th, three days on from the previously scheduled date of the 7th,...
Watch SpaceX test-fire its Falcon 9 rocket today at 2:30pm EDT
The SpaceX Falcon 9 spacecraft is being put through its paces in preparation for a launch next week. This afternoon, a full rehearsal will take place starting at 2:30pm EDT, culminating in the Falcon's nine engines firing at full power for two seconds. The actual event will occur at Cape Canaveral in Florida but will be streamed live on the SpaceX site; the rocket is expected to fire around 3pm. If all goes well, the Falcon 9, carrying a Dragon supply capsule, will launch into low-Earth orbit...
SpaceX launching first commercial flight to International Space Station on May 7th
After a series of delays, SpaceX has confirmed the date of its inaugural test flight — May 7th is the day when the International Space Station will accept its first commercial visitor. NASA has approved the company's Dragon spacecraft for a launch at 9.38 AM ET, with the crew onboard the ISS using a robotic arm to help it dock. Dragon will carry 1,149 pounds (521 kilograms) of cargo to the space station and return to Earth with 1,455 pounds (660 kilograms) in a test of the craft's planned...
SpaceX wants to build a commercial spaceport in southern Texas
SpaceX, one of the companies building the next generation of American spacecraft, is apparently considering opening its own private airfield in Texas. Ars Technica and enthusiast site HobbySpace have found a Federal Aviation Administration document (PDF) in which SpaceX announces it will begin scoping out Cameron County, located at the southern tip of Texas, as a future launch site that could support up to 12 commercial launches per year. If it goes ahead with the plan, it would apply for FAA...
SpaceX shows off Dragon spacecraft's interior
SpaceX has posted a look at the interior of its Dragon spacecraft. Dragon was the first commercial spacecraft ever to return from orbit, and if all goes to plan will dock with the International Space Station for the first time on an upcoming test flight. The craft can seat seven people up to 6'5" (195.6cm) in height, with each seat being individually lined for the designated crew member, and it's more spacious than you'd think — SpaceX notes that an entire Russian Soyuz capsule descent...
Launch of first commercial spacecraft to dock with ISS delayed to March
Unfortunately, the unmanned Dragon space capsule that was originally going to be launched into space on February 7th has been delayed to sometime in late March. Designed and built by Space Exploration Technologies, better known as SpaceX, it is to be the first privately made spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station. SpaceX said that it was delayed for more engineering tests, "there are a few areas that will benefit from additional work and will optimize the safety and success...
Paul Allen, Burt Rutan, SpaceX cooperate on giant space launch system
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen announced his next space venture with Burt Rutan today, called Stratolaunch Systems. The company follows up on the duo's SpaceShipOne project which won the $10 million Ansari X Prize in 2004 for being the first private craft to launch into space twice in two weeks, but this one will be run by NASA's former chief engineer Gary Wentz and is much bigger. Six 747 engines will power the carrier plane — developed by Rutan's company Scaled Composites — and it'll...
First commercial spacecraft to dock with ISS in February
NASA has announced the launch date for what may be the final test of SpaceX's Dragon transportation spacecraft, which is slated to replace the retired US Space Shuttle. On February 7, the Dragon will approach the International Space Station, where crews will test its rendezvous capabilities. If all systems appear functional, the ISS will attempt to dock the Dragon. If the docking or any other part of the launch fails, a third demonstration will be scheduled.
A fully successful test would...
SpaceX says reusable VTVL rockets are the key to colonizing mars
SpaceX promised to never give up on reusable rockets, and this week it revealed a new plan to achieve that goal — CEO Elon Musk envisioned a two-stage rocket where each component can return to Earth under its own power, and land gently on the ground like a Harrier jet. This rocket would carry passengers inside a Dragon Capsule, which could connect to the International Space Station before returning to Earth by the same method. Current Falcon 9 systems use parachutes for landing, and the...
