NASA sets date for next SpaceX COTS flight
Posted: Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 8:46 AM ET (1346 GMT)
NASA announced Friday that the next commercial cargo demonstration mission to the ISS by SpaceX will launch on February 7. On that date SpaceX plans to launch its Dragon cargo spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft will approach the station and perform a flyby at a distance of tow miles to demonstrate its ability to safely operate close to the station. If successful, the spacecraft will then more closely approach the station, whose robotic arm will grapple the spacecraft and berth it to the station's Harmony node. The flight will combine the objectives of two separate original Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration flights, and if successful will clear the way for SpaceX to make regular cargo delivery flights to the ISS. SpaceX performed an initial COTS flight a year ago, launching a Dragon spacecraft into orbit and safely returning it to Earth.
NASA announced Friday that the next commercial cargo demonstration mission to the ISS by SpaceX will launch on February 7. On that date SpaceX plans to launch its Dragon cargo spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft will approach the station and perform a flyby at a distance of tow miles to demonstrate its ability to safely operate close to the station. If successful, the spacecraft will then more closely approach the station, whose robotic arm will grapple the spacecraft and berth it to the station's Harmony node. The flight will combine the objectives of two separate original Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration flights, and if successful will clear the way for SpaceX to make regular cargo delivery flights to the ISS. SpaceX performed an initial COTS flight a year ago, launching a Dragon spacecraft into orbit and safely returning it to Earth.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
New Virgin Galactic spaceplane arrives at Spaceport America
Posted: Sat, Oct 31 10:38 AM ET (1438 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 2
Forum: Springs’ space future is bright without Space Command
Colorado Springs Gazette — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) S. Korea's Air Force to participate in U.S.-led space war game for 1st time
Yonhap News — 5:35 am ET (1035 GMT) The growing threats that make the Space Force essential
Washington Examiner — 5:33 am ET (1033 GMT) Lawfare against Elon Musk could affect the Artemis program
The Hill — 5:26 am ET (1026 GMT) Southland's global space company won't write down military policy
The Southland App (NZ) — 5:25 am ET (1025 GMT) |
