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  • SpaceX Dragon Cargo Ship Returns To Earth

    SpaceX Dragon Cargo Ship Returns To Earth

    The commercial cargo ship Dragon returned to earth on Sunday after stopping by the International Space Station to pick up over two tons of science experiments and equipment.

    The cargo ship was loaded and prepped on Saturday and released by astronaut Steven Swanson on Sunday. Swanson used the space station’s giant robot arm to release the cargo ship and it only took it five hours to return to earth.

    The Dragon is the only cargo ship that is capable of returning to earth.

    Every other ship burns up during re-entry, but the Dragon was built to travel between Earth and the space station. There have been three other Dragon ships that have been used in other missions.

    NASA tweeted about the release of the ship and anxiously awaited its return to Earth.

    They also tweeted that the ship had made it safely back home.

    SpaceX, the company that designed the Dragon cargo ship, also tweeted updates about the launch and return of the ship.

    The California-based SpaceX and Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corp have both created cargo ships capable of taking supplies to and from the International Space Station.

    Orbital will make the next delivery in a month. Both companies are used by Russia, Japan and Europe as well. The companies hope to someday transport astronauts the same way they do cargo.

    The supplies and experiments the Dragon brought back to earth will be examined by NASA scientists over the next few months.

    What do you think of the Dragon cargo ships?

    Image via YouTube

  • SpaceX Problem Alters Dragon Capsule Schedule

    SpaceX Problem Alters Dragon Capsule Schedule

    The second SpaceX mission to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) began early this morning as a Falcon 9 rocket lifted the Dragon capsule into orbit.

    Though the launch was successful, a problem with three of the capsule’s four thruster pods delayed the opening of its solar arrays. SpaceX engineers had to wait until the capsule was over its Australia-based ground station to “command inhibit override” and reactivate enough of the thruster pods to deploy the arrays. While only one of the thruster pods was reactivated, it was enough to successfully deploy the arrays.

    SpaceX spent hours trying to reactivate the two thruster pods that were still malfunctioning. At around 3 pm EST Space X founder Elon Musk tweeted that the thruster pods were back online and that the capsule is no longer drifting:

    The problems caused the capsule to miss one of its scheduled burns that would take it toward its scheduled docking with the ISS. As a result, the docking could be delayed.

    SpaceX and NASA have scheduled a teleconference for 3 pm EST. More details about the Dragon capsule and its docking schedule should be revealed during the call.

    The Dragon capsule is carrying 1,200 pounds of cargo and science equipment that will be delivered to the ISS’s crew of six international astronauts. The capsule is scheduled to return with refuse and used equipment on March 25. SpaceX successfully completed its first resupply mission to the ISS back in October 2012 when it delivered 882 pounds of supplies to the satellite.

    The launch of the capsule can be seen in the video below, which NASA released earlier today:

  • SpaceX Launch a Success, to Dock With Space Station on Wednesday

    SpaceX Launch a Success, to Dock With Space Station on Wednesday

    Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) yesterday evening launched its Dragon spacecraft into orbit from Cape Canaveral. The Dragon was lifted by a Falcon 9 rocket at 8:35 am, right on schedule. The vehicle carries cargo and supplies bound for the International Space Station (ISS).

    This SpaceX mission is NASA’s first privatized cargo and resupply mission under its Commercial Resupply Services contract. SpaceX is contracted to fly 12 more cargo missions to the International Space Station from now until 2016.

    “Just over one year after the retirement of the space shuttle, we have returned space station cargo resupply missions to U.S. soil and are bringing the jobs associated with this work back to America,” said Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator. “The SpaceX launch tonight marks the official start of commercial resupply missions by American companies operating out of U.S. spaceports like the one right here in Florida.”

    The Dragon is scheduled to be grappled by the ISS on Wednesday at 7:22 am. ISS crew members Sunita Williams of NASA and Aki Hoshide of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will use the station’s robotic arm to dock the Dragon, which will spend 18 days docked to the station.

    The Dragon capsule carries 882 pounds of supplies, including 390 pounds of material for scientific research. When it returns to earth, splashing into the Pacific Ocean, it will be holding 1,673 pounds of used crew supplies, scientific research, and vehicle hardware.

  • NASA Preparing For Privatized ISS Resupply Launch Next Week

    NASA Preparing For Privatized ISS Resupply Launch Next Week

    NASA this week is preparing for the first SpaceX launch under its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. NASA has not had the capability, on its own, to deliver and return cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS) since the space shuttle program was retired just over one year ago.

    The launch of the SpaceX CRS-1, or “Dragon”, spacecraft will take place on Sunday, October 7th at 8:35 pm EDT. If that launch window is not met, there are backup launch windows available on October 8th and October 9th.

    On Sunday, SpaceX conducted a successful static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket that will carry Dragon into space. Meanwhile, NASA is preparing a series of tests for Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Antares rocket, which will carry the Cygnus cargo spacecraft into orbit during a demonstration mission “in the coming months.” Orbital Sciences is also part of NASA’s CRS contract, and will also be resupplying the ISS in the future.

    This launch is one of 12 that have been contracted by NASA to resupply the ISS. NASA states that the Dragon will be filled with around 1,000 pounds of supplies, including materials to support the investigations planned for the ISS crew. The vehicle will also return around 734 pounds of scientific materials and an estimated 504 pounds of ISS hardware.

    A Dragon spacecraft has already visited the ISS once, during a successful test mission in May of this year. The photo above is from the launch of that mission.

    (Photo courtesy SpaceX)

  • Galaxy S III Gets An Amazing Dragon Case That You Can’t Have

    Galaxy S III Gets An Amazing Dragon Case That You Can’t Have

    The Galaxy S III by Samsung is one of the hottest phones to come out this year. It beat the iPhone 5 to market and will put up some stiff competition this holiday season. Too bad the phones sold in stores will not include the most amazing custom case mod to ever be put on a phone.

    Our story begins with a simple Facebook message. Shane Bennett, Samsung super fan, sent a private message to Samsung’s PR team on their Facebook page. He was asking for a free Galaxy S III and drew an amazing dragon picture as payment. Obviously, Samsung replied with a no, but sent an equally amazing picture of a kangaroo riding a unicycle for his troubles.

    Galaxy S III Dragon Case Mod

    Bennett posted the above conversation on Reddit and it quickly shot to the front page. Needless to say, the Reddit thread gained Samsung a lot of new fans that day. It was unintentional viral marketing at its best. Samsung appreciated the boost in fans and interest and decided to reward Bennett in the best way possible.

    TechCrunch caught up with Bennett after he received this one of a kind Galaxy S III. It features the dragon that he drew etched onto the back of the case. It’s also on the front with a matching background that completes the drawing. Here’s the custom Galaxy S III in all its glory.

    Galaxy S III dragon case mod

    Now, don’t go rushing out drawing crude pictures of mythical beasts in hopes of getting a free phone. It rarely works out that way. Bennett just happened to be in the right place at the right time. That being said, it does once again prove the power of the Internet in marketing. Fans are a company’s greatest asset and they would be wise to leverage that power across Reddit, Facebook, Twitter and others.

  • NASA Enlists SpaceX To Send Americans Back To Space

    NASA Enlists SpaceX To Send Americans Back To Space

    SpaceX is doing it. The company created by PayPal/Tesla Motors co-founder Elon Musk, is going to send people into space.

    The company became the first private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station in May, and now NASA has chosen SpaceX (via a $440 million contract) to complete final modifications to prepare its Dragon spacecraft for human transport.

    “This is a decisive milestone in human spaceflight and sets an exciting course for the next phase of American space exploration,” said Musk. “SpaceX, along with our partners at NASA, will continue to push the boundaries of space technology to develop the safest, most advanced crew vehicle ever flown.”

    Modifications that SpaceX will make to Dragon, include making room for 7 astronauts, a “breakthrough” propulsive landing system for gental ground touchdowns on legs, refinements/testing of “essential aspects” of the craft’s design (such as life support systems and an advanced cockpit design), and what the company calls “the most technically advanced launch escape system ever developed”. That system would include “powered abort possibilities from launch pad to orbit.”

    The company expects its first manned flight to happen in 2015.

    NASA has also reached agreements with Sierra Nevada and Boeing as part of its Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative, which has the goal of making commercial human spaceflight available. The deal with Sierra Nevada is for $212.5 million, and the Boeing deal is worth $460 million.

  • SpaceX Tests Its New Rocket “Merlin 1D” [Video]

    SpaceX Tests Its New Rocket “Merlin 1D” [Video]

    SpaceX continues to push its space dominating agenda forward with its newest test of the ‘Merlin 1D” rocket propulsion system. Building on the technology from its previous 3 launches, including the historic launch and recovery of the Dragon capsule, the Merlin 1D has achieved a full mission duration firing and multiple restarts at target thrust and specific impulse (Isp). In other words, the test was highly successful.

    “This is another important milestone in our efforts to push the boundaries of space technology,” said SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk. “With the Merlin 1D powering the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, SpaceX will be capable of carrying a full range of payloads to orbit.” The Merlin 1D will indeed knock out 2 birds with 1 stone. It will offer the pure power that the Falcon Heavy needs to do its missions, but it will also offer performance improvements to the Falcon 9.

    With nine Merlins on the first stage, the Falcon 9 rocket will produce nearly 1.5 million pounds of thrust in a vacuum. An enhanced design makes the Merlin 1D the most efficient booster engine ever built, with a vacuum thrust-to-weight ratio exceeding 150, while still maintaining the structural and thermal safety margins needed to carry astronauts. All of this is important going forward because SpaceX really wants the NASA contract to put astronauts on the ISS and maybe even the moon one day.

    The new design of the Merlin also will fulfill an extensive manifest of launches and the new engine is designed for improved manufacturability by using higher efficiency processes. It also has increased robotic construction and reduced parts count. Look for SpaceX to continue to push forward and try to cut costs through improved technology in only the way that a private company can. This is why it is important for the private sector to get involved in things that are extremely expensive like the space program.

    SpaceX

    SpaceX19 hours ago

    Firing of the SpaceX Merlin 1D engine! 
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    photo and video courtesy of SpaceX

  • SpaceX Dragon Space Capsule To Return Home

    SpaceX Dragon Space Capsule To Return Home

    Earlier today the Dragon space capsule departed from the International Space Station and began its trip back down from the heavens. The Dragon capsule spent 5 days connected to the ISS and it was able to deliver supplies and is returning nearly 1,400 pounds of old space station equipment and some science samples, a little more than it took up. Because it is a test flight, NASA did not want to load it with anything valuable.

    Last week SpaceX became the first private company to connect to the ISS in a feat that could change spaceflight forever. This is the final testing point for the Dragon and will mean that going forward NASA can further trust SpaceX with experiments and hopefully will be putting people up there soon because the Dragon is capable of moving both cargo and people. In fact, Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder, expects to have astronauts riding his Dragons in three or four years.

    The targeted splashdown zone is 560 miles southwest of Los Angeles and it will parachute down like the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo spacecraft did way back in the 60’s and 70’s.

    The next Dragon supply mission will be in September and a Falcon 9 rocket is already at Cape Canaveral awaiting launch. This will be part of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contract through NASA. The resupply contract for the International Space Station has it making 12 runs in total. Mix that in with the news yesterday that SpaceX signed a deal to launch satellites into space, and the future looks very bright for them.

    photo courtesy of SpaceX

  • SpaceX Dragon Capsule From ISS [Photos]

    SpaceX Dragon Capsule From ISS [Photos]

    Last week SpaceX did what had never been done before. They managed to become the very first private company to dock with the International Space Station. The momentous feat was part of an effort to shift some of responsibilities of cargo shipments to and from the ISS away from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and give it to SpaceX which won a Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contract. This flight is the first of 12 that will ferry experiments, trash, and supplies back and forth.

    One if the astronauts on the ISS is named André Kuipers. Kuipers is a Dutch astronaut flying for the ESA. He is currently stationed as the ISS and snapping a ton of hi-res photos that he puts on his blog. Well he just released an album that has to dea with the Dragon capsule docking and being entered by the crew of the ISS. Kuipers had this to say: “The Dragon mission is the operational highlight of my mission. But it is also a milestone for international spaceflight.”

    Check out some of the amazing photos:

  • SpaceX’s Dragon Gets Closer To Docking With ISS

    SpaceX’s Dragon Gets Closer To Docking With ISS

    Two days ago, SpaceX started a historic journey to become the first commercial company to dock to the International Space Station. Since the launch the Dragon space capsule has had one task to complete after another and it has done every one of them without complaining once.

    Early this morning, Dragon’s thrusters fired, bringing the vehicle 2.4 kilometers below the International Space Station. The vehicle completed two key tests at that distance. Dragon demonstrated its Relative GPS and established a communications link with the International Space Station using CUCU. Astronauts commanded on Dragon’s strobe light to confirm the link worked. These are the last few tests before the Dragon attempts to dock with the ISS. Here is the video of the Dragon below the ISS:

    There are 2 tasks left in the journey of the Dragon space capsule:

    FRIDAY MORNING

    – Final Approach, Dragon Grapple

    Around 2:00 AM Pacific/5:00 AM Eastern NASA will decide if Dragon is GO to move into the approach ellipsoid 1.4 kilometers around the space station. If Dragon is GO, after approximately one hour Dragon will move to a location 250 meters directly below the station. Dragon will then perform a series of maneuvers to show systems are operating as expected. If NASA is satisfied with the results of these many tests, Dragon will be allowed to perform the final approach to the space station.

    Sometime around 6:00 AM Pacific/9:00 AM Eastern, astronauts on the space station will grapple Dragon with the space station’s robotic arm and the spacecraft will attach to the station.

    SATURDAY MORNING

    – Hatch Opening

    If all goes well, at approximately 2:00 AM Pacific/5:00 AM Eastern, the crew will start procedures to open Dragon’s hatch. It will take around 2 hours to complete all operations leading to the hatch opening. Once the hatch is opened, astronauts will enter Dragon for the first time in space.

    If the mission of docking with the ISS is successful, then SpaceX will begin to fulfill its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contract through NASA). The resupply contract for the International Space Station has it making 12 runs, and since it is reusable, they will have the ability to ferry items back and forth, not just trash but experiments.

    Here is a picture of the ISS taken by a thermal camera on the Dragon courtesy of SpaceX:

    Here is a photo from the ISS of the Dragon on approach courtesy of NASA:

  • SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Set To Launch Dragon Into Space

    SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Set To Launch Dragon Into Space

    After a successful test firing of the Falcon 9 boosters, and what seems like 300 delays, the crew at SpaceX are finally set to launch their rocket into space. The Falcon 9 will attempt to deliver its payload, the Dragon space capsule, to the ISS for docking. If the launch is deemed successful by NASA, SpaceX will get the OK to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) to deliver its payload and take on trash.

    If the mission is successful, then SpaceX will begin to fulfill its contract through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The resupply contract for the International Space Station has it making 12 runs, and since it is reusable, they will have the ability to ferry items back and forth, not just trash but experiments.

    Everyone seems to be excited about the launch except for CEO Elon Musk who told the NewYorkTimes, “I think there’s a significant chance that the mission does not succeed.”

    The launch is scheduled for 4:15am tomorrow morning from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Live webcam feed can be seen here.

    Elon Musk
    @elonmusk    Just passed final launch review with @NASA. All systems go for liftoff on Sat morn. Webcast live at http://t.co/VrDqA7aq.
    20 hours agovia web · powered by @socialditto
     Reply · Retweet · Favorite

  • SpaceX Finally Sets Date For Dragon Launch

    SpaceX Finally Sets Date For Dragon Launch

    On May 19th, private space firm SpaceX, will finally launch its vaunted Falcon 9 rocket into space. Aboard the rocket is the Dragon space capsule. The hopes of this launch is to have the Dragon capsule dock with the International Space Station and both deliver a payload and unload space garbage.

    The launch was originally suppose to take place on May 7th, but was delayed for unknown reasons. Most people believe that it was for the SpaceX engineers to tweak the programming one last time to make sure that the capsule will be able to meet its specified goal.

    If the Falcon 9 launch is successful, and the Dragon capsule is able to dock to te International Space Station, then SpaceX will begin to fulfill its contract through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The resupply contract for the International Space Station has it making 12 runs, and since it is reusable, they will have the ability to ferry items back and forth, not just trash but experiments.

    The Falcon 9/Dragon program is part of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement has been worth about $381 million for hitting 37 out of 40 milestones, and that will hit $396 million if SpaceX is able to hit them all.

    Between SpaceX and Virgin, it is nice to see private companies take a risk like this. Even though they do have government grants, the owners did have to take a risk to get SpaceX up and running.

    The launch is set for Saturday, 19 May at 8.55 GMT, with coverage starting on NASA TV at 7.30 GMT.

  • SpaceX Has To Delay ISS Launch….Again

    SpaceX Has To Delay ISS Launch….Again

    SpaceX is trying to be the very first private company to launch a rocket into space and have it link up with the International Space Station to deliver cargo. Well, it has hit another snag. The engineers at Space X have had to delay the launch for the second time.

    On Monday April 30th, SpaceX successfully tested the Falcon 9 rocket propulsion system. In doing so they set themselves up for the first launch to actually try to attach to the ISS with the Dragon module that sits atop the rocket. The Dragon module is the first of it’s kind as it is designed to both support the transportation of cargo and humans.

    They have delayed the launch, that was originally suppose to be on May 7th, to a later unknown date. A software problem seems to be the culprit. “I think we have a got a pretty good shot but it is worth emphasizing that there is a lot that can go wrong on a mission like this,” Paypal Co-Founder Elon Musk said.

    If the Dragon is found capable of doing it’s job, SpaceX will then start to fulfill its Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract for NASA for at least 12 missions to carry cargo to and from the space station.

    Since the space shuttle was retired, only Russia has the ability to shoot astronauts into space. SpaceX wants to give the world a non-Russian alternative to putting people in space.

  • SpaceX Prepares for Historic Launch This May

    SpaceX Prepares for Historic Launch This May

    After a series of delays, SpaceX is finally expected to launch on May 7th. The event will mark the first time a privately owned vessel has made the long, hard trip to the International Space Station (ISS). Additionally, this adventure represents a return to space travel since NASA famously ended its program last year.

    The Dragon, a transport that will carry supplies to those on-board the ISS, was originally scheduled to make its excursion into the the cosmos on February 7th. However, SpaceX determined that more tests were required before properly launching the capsule, pushing the date back to April. Now that everything appears to be a-okay with the space-bound container, officials have penciled its initial flight for May. The time of the launch is scheduled for 9:38am.

    When the Dragon docks with the ISS, it will bring with it 1,149 pounds of cargo. The return trip home will find the capsule carrying a 1,455 payload back to Earth.

    Privately funded trips into space are expected to become the norm within the next ten years. NASA has dumped an impressive $270 millions into such programs, which they hope will become big business in the near future. These commercial flights will also allow US astronauts to make trips to the ISS without relying on the Russian space program for assistance, the price for which is estimated to skyrocket by 2015.

    Companies such as BlueOrigin LLC, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and Boeing are looking to toss their space-friendly hats into the proverbial ring, as well.

    For an animated look at what’s expected to transpire at the International Space Station this May, take a peek at the video embedded below.

  • PayPal Founder’s SpaceX Preps First Human-Piloted Shuttle Launch

    PayPal Founder’s SpaceX Preps First Human-Piloted Shuttle Launch

    It’s been about fourteen months since the first successful private spaceship launch, Dragon, and now that same space exploration company is prepping to step into their next phase: a human-piloted launch.

    SpaceX, founded by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, is preparing the next flight test in which the Dragon spacecraft will go to the International Space Station: first with supplies then, later, with humans. SpaceX is notable in space exploration history as it was the first private company to ever receive the Federal Aviation Administration’s commercial license to reenter a spacecraft from orbit. More, in safely returning its spacecraft to earth, SpaceX achieved what only six countries on earth have been able to do.

    Since the success of Dragon back in 2010, the company’s been working on the crew cabin digs for Dragon to function in both nominal and off-nominal scenarios. Details were provided from an update on SpaceX’s website:

    The engineering prototype includes seven seats as well as representations of crew accommodations such as lighting, environmental control and life support systems, displays, cargo racks, and other interior systems. During the daylong test, SpaceX and NASA evaluators including four NASA astronauts, participated in human factors assessments which covered entering and exiting Dragon under both normal and contingency cases, as well as reach and visibility evaluations. The seven seats mount to strong, lightweight supporting structures attached to the pressure vessel walls. Each seat can hold an adult up to 6 feet 5 inches tall, 250 lbs, and has a liner that is custom-fit for the crewmember.

    As you can see, the crew looks like they’re having a pretty good time fitting their seats out.

    If that wasn’t big enough, the cabin also has enough room to accomodate three additional people. To convey exactly how capacious this shuttle is, SpaceX notes that a three-person Soyuz capsule descent module could fit inside of Dragon’s pressure vessel. For reference’s sake, the Soyuz had more than seven cubic meters of living space inside of it. For you non-metric minded, that’s over 247 cubic feet. In other words, say goodbye to astro-claustrophobia.

    That white-coated gent in the center there, by the way, is Musk calmly contemplating the future of space exploration.

    Back in December 2010, Gizmodo, who tipped off the news of SpaceX’s plans for a human-piloted launch, documented Dragon’s first successful launch with live coverage as well with a couple of videos of the launch.

    Below you can check out an altitude test of Dragon that was conducted back in August 2010 in order to confirm the functionality of the parachute deployment systems and recovery options.

    If all goes well with SpaceX’s plans this year, the company stands to press the business of space exploration into some exhilarating new directions.

  • FUS RO DAH: Skyrim Shout Becomes Latest YouTube Video Meme

    For those who have been playing Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, you might not have discovered the latest video meme yet, probably because you’ve been playing so much Skyrim. However, the power of FUS RO DAH is taking over the internet. Specifically, YouTube.

    It all started with this video, which came out before Skyrim even released. Who would have guessed that it would have lead to the latest craze.

    The powerful shout, which can only be learned by a dragon-born, i.e. your Skyrim character, has now become one of the most fun phrases to shout. In game, the shout causes a shockwave to stun and push away enemies. Its translation means “Force Balance Push”.

    In essence, that’s what these videos illustrate. Some force, unbalancing, and pushing. Sometimes many people or goats being pushed.

    I’m sure as the craze continues, we’ll keep seeing more FUS RO DAH’s make their rounds. Have you seen a video that really captured the essence of the shout? What has been your favorite FUS RO DAH so far? I have to go with the entire congregation getting pushed back.

    People are really getting into the spirit on Twitter as well.

    @Fitzlock
    Mark Atkinson    Brilliant there’s a Kinect mod for Skyrim on PC with voice activation. Thousands of people yelling FUS RO DAH at their screens ftw #fusrodah 23 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @Adroodaloo
    Andrew Crane    Got an 85% on my speech because #FUSRODAH 33 minutes ago via txt · powered by @socialditto

    @dragonstomp
    Patrick Vick    Dammit. I fusrodah’ed in my house in whiterun and sent pots and pans flying. I’m not cleaning this up. #skyrim 11 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto