Nope, its what krenshala said.Test of Grasshopper engines:
Space X to build reusable launch vehicle
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GIThruster
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SpaceX may build a test facility at the southern tip of Texas.
http://www.spacenews.com/launch/120409- ... -site.html
http://www.spacenews.com/launch/120409- ... -site.html
Yeah, if the powers that be, will let them....
Also note the fact that KSC is almost exactly 1000 miles east of KSC.
This would allow the planned reusable first stage to land downrange instead of having to turn arround and break. The stage could probably cruise most of the distance and would only need a little bit of fuel to stay on course and keep enough altitude to make it to the Cape. Certainly an interesting possibility.
Also note the fact that KSC is almost exactly 1000 miles east of KSC.
This would allow the planned reusable first stage to land downrange instead of having to turn arround and break. The stage could probably cruise most of the distance and would only need a little bit of fuel to stay on course and keep enough altitude to make it to the Cape. Certainly an interesting possibility.
NASA, SpaceX Declare Readiness For Station Cargo Mission
If they screw the pooch on this one, it'll be a long time before US astronauts get to orbit aboard commercial US hardware.
Grandstanding activist Congress Critters will make sure of that. A worst case scenario would have Dragon taking out the ISS. Not that I in any way want that to happen. Just thinking about the political ripples from such an unlikely event. (Elon, you've ignored my resume for years, so don't blame me if it happens.)
Fair seas and a following wind, SpaceX.
If they screw the pooch on this one, it'll be a long time before US astronauts get to orbit aboard commercial US hardware.
Grandstanding activist Congress Critters will make sure of that. A worst case scenario would have Dragon taking out the ISS. Not that I in any way want that to happen. Just thinking about the political ripples from such an unlikely event. (Elon, you've ignored my resume for years, so don't blame me if it happens.)
Fair seas and a following wind, SpaceX.
Yeah, I hope that SpaceX will succeed on that one. I would suggest that they take extra security measures. With the political interests involved, I would not be surprised if someone tried to "forget a bolt" in one of the turbopumps or something like that.
Of course you cant protect it against someone with a long range sniper rifle. But that would probably be more obvious.
Of course you cant protect it against someone with a long range sniper rifle. But that would probably be more obvious.
While this launch is being delayed a week (and for a good reason, in my opinion) I find it interesting that two different articles I read mentioned that SpaceX was planning two additional launches if Dragon this year.DeltaV wrote:Launch delayed to May 7. Flight software testing.
Hopefully they have their logistics right, and can do this. The more launches per year they manage, the better off the space industry will be.
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GIThruster
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SpaceX to Webcast Static Fire for Upcoming Mission on Monday
Mission Would Make SpaceX the First Commercial Company to Attempt to Send a Spacecraft to the International Space Station
Hawthorne, CA – On Monday, April 30, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will webcast a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket’s nine powerful Merlin engines in preparation for the company’s upcoming launch.
The webcast, available at spacex.com, is set to begin at 2:30 PM ET/ 11:30 AM PT, with the actual static fire targeted for 3:00 PM ET/ 12:00 PM PT.
The 9 engine test will take place at the company’s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as part of a full launch dress rehearsal leading up to the second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) launch. During the rehearsal, SpaceX engineers will run through all countdown processes as though it were launch day. The exercise will end with all nine engines firing at full power for two seconds.
After the test, SpaceX will conduct a thorough review of all data as engineers make final preparations for the upcoming launch, currently targeted for May 7. SpaceX plans to launch its Dragon spacecraft into low-Earth orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket. During the mission, Dragon’s sensors and flight systems will be subject to a series of tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to berth with the space station. If NASA decides Dragon is ready, the vehicle will attach to the station and astronauts will open Dragon’s hatch and unload the cargo onboard.
This will be the first attempt by a commercial company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station, a feat previously performed by only a few governments. Success is not guaranteed. If any aspect of the mission is not successful, SpaceX will learn from the experience and try again. It is also the second demonstration flight under NASA’s program to develop commercial supply services to the International Space Station.
The first SpaceX COTS flight, in December 2010, made SpaceX the first commercial company in history to send a spacecraft to orbit and return it safely to Earth. Once SpaceX demonstrates the ability to carry cargo to the space station, it will begin to fulfill its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract for NASA for at least 12 missions to carry cargo to and from the space station. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft were designed to one day carry astronauts; both the COTS and CRS missions will yield valuable flight experience toward this goal.
SpaceX also plans to broadcast the entire launch live at spacex.com on launch day.
Mission Would Make SpaceX the First Commercial Company to Attempt to Send a Spacecraft to the International Space Station
Hawthorne, CA – On Monday, April 30, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will webcast a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket’s nine powerful Merlin engines in preparation for the company’s upcoming launch.
The webcast, available at spacex.com, is set to begin at 2:30 PM ET/ 11:30 AM PT, with the actual static fire targeted for 3:00 PM ET/ 12:00 PM PT.
The 9 engine test will take place at the company’s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as part of a full launch dress rehearsal leading up to the second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) launch. During the rehearsal, SpaceX engineers will run through all countdown processes as though it were launch day. The exercise will end with all nine engines firing at full power for two seconds.
After the test, SpaceX will conduct a thorough review of all data as engineers make final preparations for the upcoming launch, currently targeted for May 7. SpaceX plans to launch its Dragon spacecraft into low-Earth orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket. During the mission, Dragon’s sensors and flight systems will be subject to a series of tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to berth with the space station. If NASA decides Dragon is ready, the vehicle will attach to the station and astronauts will open Dragon’s hatch and unload the cargo onboard.
This will be the first attempt by a commercial company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station, a feat previously performed by only a few governments. Success is not guaranteed. If any aspect of the mission is not successful, SpaceX will learn from the experience and try again. It is also the second demonstration flight under NASA’s program to develop commercial supply services to the International Space Station.
The first SpaceX COTS flight, in December 2010, made SpaceX the first commercial company in history to send a spacecraft to orbit and return it safely to Earth. Once SpaceX demonstrates the ability to carry cargo to the space station, it will begin to fulfill its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract for NASA for at least 12 missions to carry cargo to and from the space station. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft were designed to one day carry astronauts; both the COTS and CRS missions will yield valuable flight experience toward this goal.
SpaceX also plans to broadcast the entire launch live at spacex.com on launch day.
Last edited by GIThruster on Fri Apr 27, 2012 7:11 pm, edited 2 times in total.
"Courage is not just a virtue, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." C. S. Lewis
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GIThruster
- Posts: 4686
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 8:17 pm
On another note, Reaction Engines is testing their Sabre pre-cooler. Apparently successfully so far.
http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/news_mar12.html
http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/news_mar12.html
The development of atomic power, though it could confer unimaginable blessings on mankind, is something that is dreaded by the owners of coal mines and oil wells. (Hazlitt)
What I want to do is to look up C. . . . I call him the Forgotten Man. (Sumner)
What I want to do is to look up C. . . . I call him the Forgotten Man. (Sumner)