Archive for May, 2012

“Welcome Home Baby”

“Welcome Home Baby”

SpaceX Press Release on Dragon Landing

SpaceX Press Release on Dragon Landing

THE DRAGON HAS (SPLASH) LANDED SpaceX’s Dragon Spacecraft Safely Completes Historic Mission to the Space Station   Hawthorne, CA – This morning, at approximately 8:42 AM Pacific/11:42 AM Eastern, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) completed its historic mission when the Dragon spacecraft splashed down safely in the Pacific.  The vehicle will now be recovered by boats […]

You Can Run….

You Can Run….

First video of the Dragon approaching the International Space Station.

Inside a Dragon

Inside a Dragon

SpaceX posted the first picture taken inside the Dragon spacecraft as it orbits the Earth, gradually chasing down ISS for a historic rendezvous. If the Dragon completes all its objectives and is berthed with the station, the next step will be another spaceflight first.  As astronauts enter the Dragon capsule to begin removing the supplies hauled up on this test mission, […]

The Sun Rises on a New Age

The Sun Rises on a New Age

Lifting off at  3:44:38 Am Eastern Time, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the first fully functional Dragon capsule ushered in the dawn of a new era in spaceflight.  Moments later, immediately after entering orbit, the spacecraft achieved a major milestone, successfully extending its solar panels and coming fully to life for the first time.  Although the immediate destination is Low […]

Falcon 9 launches! Solar arrays deployed!
By 2012.05.22 0 Comments Read More →

Falcon 9 launches! Solar arrays deployed!

SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon 9 this morning. Dragon is in orbit and both solar arrays have deployed!   Congratulations to SpaceX!

SpaceX Prepares To Try Again

SpaceX Prepares To Try Again

After changing out a troublesome valve, SpaceX prepares for its second launch attempt for COTS 2/3. It is interesting to note that even with 9 engines clustered around the base of a what is not a large launch vehicle, SpaceX was once again able to effect repairs in short amount of time. While everyone concerned would have preferred […]

Dragon Launch Scrubbed

Dragon Launch Scrubbed

Apparently the pressure surrounding the SpaceX COTS 2/3 launch early Saturday morning ultimately found an outlet. Unfortunately, it was in the  number 5 Merlin engine. According to early reports, a high chamber pressure reading triggered an automatic abort.  If further analysis reveals the problem can be corrected by adjusting the sensor’s parameters, then  new launch attempt will be scheduled […]

Musk Tweets View of His Console at Mission Control

Musk Tweets View of His Console at Mission Control

Posted in: SpaceX
Waiting the Dawn

Waiting the Dawn

With just over three hours before launch, the main players at the media press site are the mosquitoes

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