A lot has been happening with SpaceX this month:
1) After spending a month at the ISS, SpaceX resupply mission CRS-3 safely landed in the Pacific ocean on May 18. The Dragon V1 capsule lifted about 3400 pounds of cargo to the ISS, and returned about 3500 pounds of 'downmass', mostly scientific experiments. Some water leakage occurred on landing, but not enough to damage the downmass cargo.
The Dragon is the only vehicle capable of returning anything larger than a small carryon bag from the ISS to the earth.
The launch was delayed a couple of time for various minor issues, including a communications issue with range control, loss of a needed range tracking radar, a computer failure on the ISS that required a spacewalk to fix, and some concerns about possible interactions between an optical experiment and a shielding blanket .
After launch the Falcon 9v1.1 booster did a successful hover landing, with extended landing legs, over a preselected location in the Atlantic. Most observers expect the next CRS launch to include a booster landing on land.
These missions are flown under contract with NASA. There were two qualifying flights of the Dragon to the ISS prior to the 3 operational flights. A total of 12 ISS resupply flights are currently under contract.
2) The FAA issued a draft environmental impact statement that tentatively approves use of the McGregor Texas test facility for drop tests of the "DragonFly" test vehicle, which is probably a prototype Dragon V2 capsule.
The DragonFly will be dropped by helicopter from 10000' to test propulsive landings. About 30 drop tests are planned.
3) This week the FAA approved use of the SpaceX private launch site near Brownsville Texas for up to 12 launches per year. SpaceX has acquired about 56 acres of land near Boca Chica beach for this site.
4) Yesterday CEO Elon Musk unveiled Dragon V2, a reusable manned capsule capable of propulsive landings on earth "with the accuracy of a helicopter" and a turn around time measured in days.
The capsule seats seven, and has control positions for two pilots. The drop down instrument panel has four large LCD displays, a big control knob thingee, and "manual buttons for all critical functions".
The Dragon V2 uses new 'Super Draco' thrusters for landing and has a backup parachute system in case one of those scaredy cat Cirrus pilots buys one
. The Super Dracos are the first ever 3D printed operational rocket motors.
It also has a way cool leather looking interior!
SpaceX has 12 more flights manifested for 2014. You can order a flight for a mere $52 million dollars.
The best thing about SpaceX spaceships? They are made entirely in America. The SpaceX factory pretty much takes metal in one door and pushes rocket ships out the other door.
I guess we can still do a few things right in this country!
1) After spending a month at the ISS, SpaceX resupply mission CRS-3 safely landed in the Pacific ocean on May 18. The Dragon V1 capsule lifted about 3400 pounds of cargo to the ISS, and returned about 3500 pounds of 'downmass', mostly scientific experiments. Some water leakage occurred on landing, but not enough to damage the downmass cargo.
The Dragon is the only vehicle capable of returning anything larger than a small carryon bag from the ISS to the earth.
The launch was delayed a couple of time for various minor issues, including a communications issue with range control, loss of a needed range tracking radar, a computer failure on the ISS that required a spacewalk to fix, and some concerns about possible interactions between an optical experiment and a shielding blanket .
After launch the Falcon 9v1.1 booster did a successful hover landing, with extended landing legs, over a preselected location in the Atlantic. Most observers expect the next CRS launch to include a booster landing on land.
These missions are flown under contract with NASA. There were two qualifying flights of the Dragon to the ISS prior to the 3 operational flights. A total of 12 ISS resupply flights are currently under contract.
2) The FAA issued a draft environmental impact statement that tentatively approves use of the McGregor Texas test facility for drop tests of the "DragonFly" test vehicle, which is probably a prototype Dragon V2 capsule.
The DragonFly will be dropped by helicopter from 10000' to test propulsive landings. About 30 drop tests are planned.
3) This week the FAA approved use of the SpaceX private launch site near Brownsville Texas for up to 12 launches per year. SpaceX has acquired about 56 acres of land near Boca Chica beach for this site.
4) Yesterday CEO Elon Musk unveiled Dragon V2, a reusable manned capsule capable of propulsive landings on earth "with the accuracy of a helicopter" and a turn around time measured in days.
The capsule seats seven, and has control positions for two pilots. The drop down instrument panel has four large LCD displays, a big control knob thingee, and "manual buttons for all critical functions".
The Dragon V2 uses new 'Super Draco' thrusters for landing and has a backup parachute system in case one of those scaredy cat Cirrus pilots buys one
. The Super Dracos are the first ever 3D printed operational rocket motors.It also has a way cool leather looking interior!
SpaceX has 12 more flights manifested for 2014. You can order a flight for a mere $52 million dollars.
The best thing about SpaceX spaceships? They are made entirely in America. The SpaceX factory pretty much takes metal in one door and pushes rocket ships out the other door.
I guess we can still do a few things right in this country!
