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Tag: Falcon 9
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Aviation Week reports that the U.S. Air Force and SpaceX are within a week of agreeing on a plan for the certification of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets to compete to launch defense payloads.
The plan includes launching Dscovr (Deep Space Climate Observatory) aboard a Falcon 9 in late 2014 to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1, which is located 930,000 miles from Earth. SpaceX will also launch the Air Force’s Space Test Program (STP-2) mission — which consists of two satellites — aboard a Falcon Heavy in mid-2015.
“SpaceX says that in addition to preparing for the two OSP-3 missions and additional flights of the Falcon 9 and Heavy variants, it must undergo extensive audits of its spacecraft control and operations software along with reviews of launch site operations prior to certification,” Aviation Week reports.
Once the launch vehicles are certified, SpaceX will be able to compete with United Launch Alliance for defense missions.
Read the full story.
The Texas State Senate Committee on Administration has approved a measure that would allow officials to close Boca Chica Beach to allow for SpaceX to launch Falcon rockets from a proposed launch complex near Brownsville. The approval paves the way for a vote in the full Senate, where approval is expected.
The measure had been held up for two days after John Whitmire, D-Houston, raised concerns about setting a precedent by closing a public beach for a private company. Whitmire’s concerns were addressed and he now supports the legislation, according to media reports.
Stephane Israel (Credit: Arianespace)
New Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël has a clear message for his customers and rivals: “Launches speak louder than words.”
Israël mentions this phrase, which is Arianespace’s unofficial motto, in a Q&A published by the company on its website. It’s not clear precisely to whom he might be referring, but one might guess that it is a certain American entrepreneur named Elon Musk who talks a lot and whose company, SpaceX, has only a handful of launches under its belt.
SpaceX has, of course, notched a lot of launch contracts for satellites waiting to be flown. This accomplishment that has put a great deal of fear into other launch providers, not that you would know it from Israël’s answers. While it’s unlikely that Musk will suddenly stop speaking as much as he does in the years ahead, SpaceX will have a lot more launches that will speak to the company’s reliability and accuracy.
Continue reading ‘New Arianespace Chief: “Launches speak louder than words”’
View from the International Space Station of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as the robotic arm moves Dragon into place for attachment to the station May 25, 2012. (Credit: NASA)
CCP Spotlight on Development
Via NASA
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is planning for a detailed safety review with NASA and aerospace industry experts to ensure the company’s integrated human space transportation system is progressing to meet mission safety requirements.
Teams will look closely at SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft and flight operations plans for crewed missions to low-Earth orbit during this ninth Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) performance milestone. Through CCiCap, NASA is accelerating the development of systems that can be used by government or commercial customers.
To learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) and its CCiCap partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew.
| SpaceX CCiCAP Milestone | ||||
| No. |
Description | Date | Status | Amount |
| 9. | Safety Review. SpaceX will hold a Safety Review at the SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, CA, or a nearby facility to demonstrate that the CTS design is progressing toward meeting the Commercial Crew Program’s safety goals. | October 2013 | Pending | $50 Million |
Artist’s conception of the proposed SpaceX commercial launch facility near Brownsville, Texas.
The FAA’s draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on SpaceX proposed commercial launch facility near Brownsville, Texas, has found no significant impacts on health, safety or the environment, paving the way for the project to proceed.
Continue reading ‘FAA Draft Environmental Impact Statement Supports SpaceX Texas Launch Site’
Atlas V launches OTV3 into orbit from Cape Canaveral. (Credit: Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance.)
Over at InnerSpace.net, Stewart Money is pushing for an end to ULA’s current monopoly on military launches by letting SpaceX fully compete for contracts immediately:
In the meantime, with news of defense cutbacks and the impacts of sequestration, which Administrator Bolden pointed out yesterday is a 10 year program, presented in dire tones almost daily, why exactly is it that United Launch Alliance, utterly uncompetitive on the commercial market, and with no meaningful program of technology improvement remotely on par with that being undertaken by SpaceX, still enjoys a competition-free firewall around 80% of its business, and worse, much worse, is still receiving an annual launch subsidy ranging between $500 million and $1 billion per year?
It’s a good question. The answer lies in understanding how the military performs its duties in keeping the nation safe, and in the different statuses of the two company’s launch vehicles.
Continue reading ‘Why the Air Force is Taking Its Time With New Launch Providers’
Dragon recovery (Credit: SpaceX)
Dragon Post-Mission Press Conference
Participants
Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator
Julie Robinson, International Space Station Program scientist
Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer and CEO, SpaceX
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President and COO
Opening Remarks
Bolden:
- We’re really pleased at working together that SpaceX and NASA teams were able to berth at station and return safely
- Importance of the commercial cargo program and how critical it is for the ISS program
- Orbital Sciences is other COTS partner – set for a test flight of Antares rocket in April
Continue reading ‘Dragon Post-Mission Press Conference Notes’
NASA CCP Spotlight on Development
Thursday, 21 Mar 2013
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) continues to work with NASA on plans for a Dragon pad abort test at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40.
Hawthorne, CA (SpaceX PR) – Space Exploration Technologies’ (SpaceX) Merlin 1D engine has achieved flight qualification, a major milestone for the next generation Merlin engine. Through a 28 test qualification program, the Merlin 1D accumulated 1,970 seconds of total test time, the equivalent run time of over 10 full mission durations, and is now fully qualified to fly on the Falcon 9 rocket.
Continue reading ‘SpaceX Declares Merlin 1D Engine Flight Qualified’
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