stuff.............stuff..................stuff.............stuff...............stuff.

Search This Blog

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Capsule Built by SpaceX Returns Safely From Orbit - NYTimes.com

Capsule Built by SpaceX Returns Safely From Orbit - NYTimes.com
Scott Audette/Reuters

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifting off in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Wednesday.

By KENNETH CHANG
Published: December 8, 2010

Related

  • Liftoff of Private Rocket to Usher In a New Phase (December 8, 2010)
Enlarge This Image
SpaceX

The Dragon capsule returning safely to Earth.

The launch, a test of a commercially developed spacecraft designed to take cargo and eventually astronauts to the International Space Station, was successful from beginning to end on Wednesday.

The flight was the first demonstration flight in a program by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to use private companies to ferry cargo and supplies to the space station.

“It reinforces what the president laid out and what Congress endorsed as the future of space transportation,” said Lori Garver, NASA’s deputy administrator. “This does indeed validate the path we are on.”

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, launched its Falcon 9 rocket, carrying a Dragon capsule, at 10:43 a.m. Eastern time from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The rocket appeared to operate flawlessly as it headed skyward.

Nine minutes later, the Dragon capsule reached orbit. It circled the Earth twice at an altitude of 186 miles before re-entering the atmosphere. Slowed by three parachutes, it softly splashed in the Pacific Ocean about 500 miles west of northern Mexico. Ms. Garver said she had been told it landed within a mile of the recovery ship.

The entire flight lasted less than three and a half hours.

A second demonstration flight, going close to the space station but not docking, is scheduled for next spring. A third and final demonstration flight under SpaceX’s $278 million development contract would dock at the station.

With the success of the first flight, SpaceX is likely to pursue its desire to combine the second and third demonstration flights. With the completion of the demonstrations, SpaceX would then begin delivering cargo under a separate contract, worth $1.6 billion.

Posted by the B210 guy at 3:22 PM
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

No comments:

Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Followers

Blog Archive

  • ►  2015 (1)
    • ►  August (1)
      • ►  Aug 23 (1)
  • ►  2011 (27)
    • ►  June (2)
      • ►  Jun 27 (1)
      • ►  Jun 23 (1)
    • ►  May (6)
      • ►  May 27 (1)
      • ►  May 26 (3)
      • ►  May 25 (2)
    • ►  April (4)
      • ►  Apr 25 (1)
      • ►  Apr 18 (1)
      • ►  Apr 11 (1)
      • ►  Apr 05 (1)
    • ►  March (12)
      • ►  Mar 21 (1)
      • ►  Mar 20 (1)
      • ►  Mar 18 (1)
      • ►  Mar 17 (3)
      • ►  Mar 13 (2)
      • ►  Mar 12 (2)
      • ►  Mar 09 (1)
      • ►  Mar 04 (1)
    • ►  February (2)
      • ►  Feb 27 (2)
    • ►  January (1)
      • ►  Jan 08 (1)
  • ▼  2010 (30)
    • ▼  December (13)
      • ►  Dec 27 (1)
      • ►  Dec 17 (1)
      • ►  Dec 13 (1)
      • ▼  Dec 08 (2)
        • Liftoff of Private Rocket t...
        • Capsule Built by SpaceX Returns Safely From Orbit ...
      • ►  Dec 07 (3)
      • ►  Dec 05 (3)
      • ►  Dec 04 (1)
      • ►  Dec 02 (1)
    • ►  November (17)
      • ►  Nov 27 (2)
      • ►  Nov 22 (1)
      • ►  Nov 21 (2)
      • ►  Nov 20 (2)
      • ►  Nov 19 (1)
      • ►  Nov 18 (2)
      • ►  Nov 17 (2)
      • ►  Nov 15 (3)
      • ►  Nov 13 (2)
Simple theme. Powered by Blogger.