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Tag: Falcon 9

  • SpaceX Announces First All-Commercial Space Flight

    SpaceX Announces First All-Commercial Space Flight

    SpaceX has announced the first-ever all-commercial space flight, consisting exclusively of civilian pilot and passengers.

    SpaceX has been on the forefront of commercializing space travel, and today’s announcement is a major step in that direction. The mission, named “Inspiration4,” is targeting the fourth quarter of 2021 at the earliest.

    The flight will be piloted by Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments. He is also donating the remaining three seats to members of the general public.

    The Inspiration4 crew will receive commercial astronaut training by SpaceX on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft, orbital mechanics, operating in microgravity, zero gravity, and other forms of stress testing. They will go through emergency preparedness training, spacesuit and spacecraft ingress and egress exercises, as well as partial and full mission simulations.

    This multi-day journey, orbiting Earth every 90 minutes along a customized flight path, will be carefully monitored at every step by SpaceX mission control. Upon conclusion of the mission, Dragon will reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a soft water landing off the coast of Florida.

    It’s a safe bet Inspiration4 will soon be followed by other flights of its kind, further democratizing space travel.

  • SpaceX Launches 60 Starlink Satellites – Bullseye Sea Landing

    SpaceX Launches 60 Starlink Satellites – Bullseye Sea Landing

    SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida Sunday morning.

    “You are watching a live webcast of our 14th Starlink mission,” said Andy Tran, a production supervisor at SpaceX. “It’s also our 18th mission this year. To date, we’ve launched more than 750 Starlink satellites to orbit. Starlink is a constellation of satellites that can provide high-speed low-latency internet all over the globe, particularly in remote areas where connectivity is limited or completely unavailable. Today we will be performing two second-stage burns and deploying our 60 Starlink satellites at approximately one hour into the mission. The two burns allow us to deploy our satellites into a circular orbit which in turn helps them get to their final orbit much quicker.”

    Starlink Deploys 60 Satellites To Orbit

    “Our first stage is going to make its way back to Earth to attempt landing for the sixth time on our droneship in the Atlantic Ocean,” says Tran. “Right down the middle, Falcon 9 has landed. This particular booster has landed for the sixth time. This marks our 62nd successful recovery of a Falcon 9 first stage and the 32nd time we’ve landed on this particular droneship, ‘Of Course, I Still Love You.’ A great way to start off a Sunday.

    Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported Crew Dragon’s first demonstration mission to the International Space Station, launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, and three Starlink missions this year. Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s fairing halves each previously supported two missions. The Starlink satellites deployed approximately 1 hour and 3 minutes after liftoff.

    “As our Starlink network is still in its early stages, the Starlink team continues to test the system, collecting latency data and performing speed tests of the service,” says the SpaceX team in a blog post. “The team also recently installed Starlinks on the Administrative Center building and about 20 private homes on the Hoh Tribe Reservation, located in a remote area of western Washington State where internet access is limited or completely unavailable.”

  • Elon Musk Shares Gnarly SpaceX Rocket Crash Stills

    Elon Musk Shares Gnarly SpaceX Rocket Crash Stills

    Last week, Elon Musk’s SpaceX tried to land a rocket on a drone ship, floating in the Atlantic Ocean. They failed.

    Now, Musk has posted some images of the Falcon 9’s collision and the gnarly explosion that followed.

    According to Musk, the rocket’s fins lost power, causing the rocket to hit at a near 45 degree angle – smashing the legs and engine section. After that, leftover fuel and oxygen met up and … well, here:

    RUD! You know what they say – you gotta crack a few rockets …

    Image via Elon Musk

  • SpaceX Rocket Launch Postponed Until July

    SpaceX Rocket Launch Postponed Until July

    The SpaceX launch that was planned for Sunday was postponed after a pre-flight check showed an area of concern.

    SpaceX said that they planned to try the launch again on Tuesday, as long as everything was working correctly, but they were not able to launch Falcon 9 that day either.

    “Today’s ORBCOMM launch attempt has been scrubbed to address a potential concern identified during pre-flight checks,” SpaceX said in a written statement on Sunday. “The vehicle and payload are in good condition, and engineering teams will take the extra time to ensure the highest possible level of mission assurance prior to flight.”

    The team will work on the rocket while it remains on the launch pad. SpaceX first tried to launch the rocket on Friday but was unable to do so because of a possible leak that was found during a pressure reading.

    They tried again on Saturday, but poor weather prevented them from launching the rocket, named Falcon 9.

    The weather conditions were better on Sunday, but SpaceX was not sure if they would allow for the launch.

    “The primary concerns are cumulus clouds, lightning, anvil clouds and high electric fields within the window. With conditions not appearing to change through mid-week, similar weather concerns will persist for a few days,” according to the 45th Weather Squadron’s launch operations forecast Sunday morning.

    After the repair crew was unable to fix the rocket on Tuesday, SpaceX made the decision to postpone the launch again until July.

    “SpaceX will stand down Tuesday while our engineering teams evaluate further, which will also allow the Range [Cape Canaveral] to move forward with previously scheduled maintenance,” SpaceX and Orbcomm representatives said in the mission update. “We are currently targeting the first week of July and will work with the Range to confirm the next available launch opportunities.”

    If Falcon 9 is launched in July, it will make the 10th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket since debuting in June 2010.

    Do you think the Falcon 9 will launch in July as planned?

    Image via Twitter

  • 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’s Success May Lead To Military Contracts

    SpaceX’s Success May Lead To Military Contracts

    SpaceX made history 2 weeks ago becoming the very first private company to launch a capsule into space and have it dock with the International Space Station. Now that the Dragon has successfully returned to earth, SpaceX can start working on it’s 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.

    This launch was the second one for the Falcon 9 and after a third successful one they will be allowed to bid for military contracts to launch satellites into space. “The new entrant criteria did say three launches are required (for Falcon 9) before certification can happen for national security payloads,” said SpaceX Communications Director Kirstin Brost Grantham.

    “If the new entrant has a launch vehicle with a more robust, demonstrated successful flight history, then we may require less technical evaluation for certification. But, it also depends on the risk assessment of the mission,” Air Force spokeswoman Tracy Bunko said. Which basically means that it is at the Air Forces discretion as to whether the launch vehicle (Falcon 9) is sound enough to launch national security payloads into space. If it isn’t then more testing of the technology will take place.

    All of this is great news for the taxpayers because right now there is only one company certified to launch the satellites and that is United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. In the mean time ULA will remain the sole provider of heavy and medium lift commercial launch services to the U.S. military with its Delta 4 and Atlas 5 rockets. But watch for SpaceX to start getting some of those contracts once its Falcon 9 Heavy is ready. Once the Falcon 9 Heavy is ready it will be the most powerful rocket currently in use in the world and the second most powerful rocket of all time behind the Saturn V rockets used to take the astronauts to the moon.

    “The one market that we have not yet been successful with is launching Defense Department satellites, although we’re hopeful that we’ll win one or two demonstration launches this year,” CEO Elon Musk said after Dragon’s return from orbit. “Hopefully the successive flights of Falcon 9 in a row will give them the confidence they need to open up the defense contract for competition.”

    picture 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’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
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  • 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.