Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Commercial spaceflight is a go!
The SpaceX company made history as its Falcon 9 rocket rose from its seaside launch pad and pierced the pre-dawn sky, aiming for a rendezvous later this week with the space station. The rocket carried into orbit a capsule named Dragon that is packed with 1,000 pounds of space station provisions.
Night owls and eastern hemisphere nerds were able to watch a live stream of the countdown and historic flight, which seemed to run nominal from ignition to final engine cutoff.
The mission is to resupply the International Space Station as the first step under a contract with NASA, perhaps the beginning of a new era in manned spaceflight.
NASA is looking to the private sector to take over orbital trips in this post-shuttle period; several U.S. companies are vying for the opportunity. The goal is to get American astronauts launching again from U.S. soil. SpaceX officials say that could happen in as little as three years, possibly four.
Many congratulations and godspeed to SpaceX and their young employees. America has been waiting for this.
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Dec '11
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Thanks for the video. It was a blast.:-)
Apr '11
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Way cool.
Is space flight going to return to aviation in the 1920's and 30's? Where private companies were doing the innovation?
I'm skeptical, because it is so expensive to fail. Developing Model 299 (the B-17 prototype) nearly broke Boeing, and that was a relatively modest project: IIRC they were $212,000 apiece, and the AAC/AAF tried to cut the price to $196,000.
Aug '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Falcon 9? Dragon Capsule?
I kinda miss rocket names based on greek and roman mythology.
Maybe Congress can pass a law...
;-)
Sep '11
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
According to SpaceX, the first is named after the "Millennium Falcon" of Star Wars; the second after "Puff the Magic Dragon."
I'm kinda curious about why they have named the thruster rockets "Draco." (I get the Harry Potter inference--but is this an allusion to the idea that thruster rockets achieve magic?)
May '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Glenn the Iconoclast: Way cool.
Is space flight going to return to aviation in the 1920's and 30's? Where private companies were doing the innovation?
I'm skeptical, because it is so expensive to fail. Developing Model 299 (the B-17 prototype) nearly broke Boeing, and that was a relatively modest project: IIRC they were $212,000 apiece, and the AAC/AAF tried to cut the price to $196,000. · 6 hours ago
Well, part of their goal is to lower the recurring cost by an order of magnitude. So they'll be flying rockets that are not super expensive, and the payload will make up most of the cost. Of course, you buy payload insurance, which is pretty expensive, but I'm not sure how the numbers balance out.
Apr '11
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
This is pretty exciting!
Mar '11
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Absolutely wonderful. They did it for an order of magnitude less cost than NASA believed possible.
Edited on May 23, 2012 at 1:01amMay '12
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Some of SpaceX's innovations involve a lot more software and control systems that replace swarms of technicians. Previous NASA programs requiring replacing engine parts would take a lot longer than 3 days and require lots more people and bureaucracy. Of course, the technology is available that the NASA engineers could only dream about.
Aug '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Awesome!
Aug '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Not surprising.
Mar '11
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
As much as I cannot ignore Musk's failed electric car business, SpaceX is an absolutely magnificent triumph, changing the future of launch forever more. He deserves every accolade.
This should mark the end of taxpayer-funded launch.
Sep '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
I was a little worried when the first launch was postponed. But I am glad they got it into orbit. Good luck for the docking.
May '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
There's still an enormous market for military launch that I believe should be maintained by the government.
Sep '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Great news. I'm looking forward to the rendezvous attempt.
Mar '12
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Go SpaceX go!
Mar '12
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
And all remember, this is hard and there will be failures. Risk is big in this business. As I like to say about testing software, if you don't find any bugs, you have a lousy test, not great software. Bugs are good, when found in testing. Tis mission is a test.
Dec '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Huzzah! for corporations in space.
Hopefully they can progress at a more or less steady pace with few giant setbacks.
Small failures happen, but the really big ones are what they're trying to avoid at all costs (which is why this launch was scrubbed so many times).
Better to take your time and do it with one vehicle than blow it up on the pad.
Slow and steady will win this race AND establish confidence in the new players.
I wish them the best of luck.
May '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Look how young they are. It's great.
http://vimeo.com/42608966
Aug '10
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
As an enthusiast for all things Space and Astronomy, I hope they have nothing but good fortune. Hopefully this leads to a new age of commercial competition producing better innovations in space travel.
Mar '11
Re: Historic: SpaceX Orbits Dragon Capsule en Route to Space Station Rendezvous
Well done, SpaceX. Fantastic news.