Tag: RLV

SpaceX Video Confirms Soft Landing on Orbomm Flight

SpaceX Video Confirms Soft Landing on Orbomm Flight

  SpaceX released the following video of the first stage return on the July 14 Orbcomm mission. Early front runner for best short film of the year. SpaceX Description Published on Jul 22, 2014 Video of the Falcon 9 first stage reentry and landing following successful delivery of six ORBCOMM satellites to orbit. This test […]

Posted in: SpaceX
SpaceX Orbcomm Mission Lifts Off to a Long Awaited Success, First Stage Breaks Up On Landing

SpaceX Orbcomm Mission Lifts Off to a Long Awaited Success, First Stage Breaks Up On Landing

Lifting off into a bright blue sky punctuated by intermittent clouds, the SpaceX Falcon 9 / Orbcomm OG-2 mission launched at 11:15 am EDT today from Cape Canaveral’s SLC-40.  After initially pushing the planned launch time back from to 9:21 to 11:44 am in order to investigate a possible ground equipment issue,  it finally came […]

Posted in: SpaceX
Update: SpaceX Counting Down to Orbcomm OG-2 Launch

Update: SpaceX Counting Down to Orbcomm OG-2 Launch

Update from SpaceX: The ORBCOMM OG2 launch is currently targeted for liftoff on Monday, July 14, 2014 at 11:44am ET. A live launch webcast will begin here at approximately 11:25am EDT. Out of an abundance of caution, the team took some extra time this morning to look at a potential ground systems issue; we have […]

Posted in: SpaceX
SpaceX Adds Steerable Fins to F9R for Flight Testing

SpaceX Adds Steerable Fins to F9R for Flight Testing

What a fascinating time.  SpaceX RLV testing is proceeding on two fronts, one at Cape Canaveral with orbital launches, and the other at its McGregor Rocket Development Facility.  Yesterday, SpaceX released this video showing the next step in its sequential program. Here is the official description: “Video of Falcon 9 Reusable (F9R) during a 1000m […]

SpaceX /Orbcomm Launch Set for Friday, June 20

SpaceX /Orbcomm Launch Set for Friday, June 20

The much anticipated,  but oft delayed launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying 6 Orbcomm OG2 satellites has been reset for this Friday, with a backup slot open on Saturday.  The latest delay was triggered when Orbcomm  elected to perform further investigations regarding an undisclosed problem on one of the six satellites.  The issue apparently […]

Posted in: SpaceX
And the Curtain Drops; A Dragon Revealed

And the Curtain Drops; A Dragon Revealed

Taking the stage in front of a crowd of employees, customers including representatives of U.S. Government agencies as well as Robert Bigelow, Elon Musk put on his best Tony Stark and dropped the curtain tonight on the SpaceX Dragon V2. If guests or reporters were dismayed that the show started late, Musk more than made […]

SpaceX Orbcomm Launch Now Scheduled for June 11

SpaceX Orbcomm Launch Now Scheduled for June 11

According to an update posted on Orbcomm’s website, a new launch attempt has now been scheduled for June 11, with a backup slot available the next day.  The new date comes approximately one month after the previous effort scheduled for May 10 was scrubbed due to an undisclosed problem which occurred during fueling for a […]

Posted in: SpaceX
SpaceX on Track for Saturday Launch

SpaceX on Track for Saturday Launch

Photo credit: SpaceX After a Flight Readiness Review on Monday indicated conditions are “go,” SpaceX is counting down towards a Saturday morning launch for the next Falcon 9 mission. The next step, a static fire of the 9 Merlin 1-D first stage engines was scheduled to take place today. Barring any last minute problems, the […]

Posted in: SpaceX
Falcon 9-R Flies to 1 Kilometer

Falcon 9-R Flies to 1 Kilometer

SpaceX released this video of the Falcon 9-R rising to 1000 meters today. What a way to end a week marked by the bitter battle between SpaceX and United Launch Alliance over the right to compete against 30 year old technology developed by the Soviet Union, the sweet sights and sound of progress being made […]

Posted in: SpaceX
SpaceX Releases Landing Video, Elon Musk Announces Reveal of Dragon 2.0

SpaceX Releases Landing Video, Elon Musk Announces Reveal of Dragon 2.0

As promised, SpaceX has posted a video of the recent Falcon 9 first stage soft landing attempt which took place on April 18.  As promised, it is rather garbled to say the least. And this is the improved footage, which SpaceX still hopes will be further cleaned up in a crowd sourced effort. Also forthcoming, […]

π