NASA tentatively confirms April 30 SpaceX launch
Posted: Tue, Apr 17, 2012, 6:56 AM ET (1056 GMT)
NASA and SpaceX officials met Monday and gave approval for an April 30 launch of a SpaceX's Dragon mission to the ISS, pending some final tests. After Monday's Flight Readiness Review, NASA officials said the planned April 30 launch of the Dragon mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral "looks good", but that some additional simulations and software reviews still needed to be completed prior to the launch. The launch is currently scheduled for 12:22 pm EDT (1622 GMT) April 30, with a backup day May 3; after that, SpaceX would wait for an Atlas launch from the Cape and a Soyuz flight to the station before trying again in mid-May. The mission, designated "C2+", is designed to combined the second and third demonstration missions of SpaceX's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) award from NASA. The Dragon spacecraft will closely approach and maneuver around the station; if those objectives are achieved, it will berth with the station. Both NASA and SpaceX emphasized that this was a test flight, although the Dragon will be carrying over 500 kilograms of non-essential cargo to the station on this mission.
NASA and SpaceX officials met Monday and gave approval for an April 30 launch of a SpaceX's Dragon mission to the ISS, pending some final tests. After Monday's Flight Readiness Review, NASA officials said the planned April 30 launch of the Dragon mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral "looks good", but that some additional simulations and software reviews still needed to be completed prior to the launch. The launch is currently scheduled for 12:22 pm EDT (1622 GMT) April 30, with a backup day May 3; after that, SpaceX would wait for an Atlas launch from the Cape and a Soyuz flight to the station before trying again in mid-May. The mission, designated "C2+", is designed to combined the second and third demonstration missions of SpaceX's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) award from NASA. The Dragon spacecraft will closely approach and maneuver around the station; if those objectives are achieved, it will berth with the station. Both NASA and SpaceX emphasized that this was a test flight, although the Dragon will be carrying over 500 kilograms of non-essential cargo to the station on this mission.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Retired Air Force officer nominated to be NASA deputy administrator
Posted: Sat, May 10 9:44 AM ET (1344 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, May 13
ScotRail trials wi-fi using satellite technology
BBC — 5:15 am ET (0915 GMT) Elon Musk’s Starlink to be used for internet services on Scottish trains
The Times of London — 5:14 am ET (0914 GMT) Starlink gets 90-day waiver to operate without local gateway
The Daily Star (Bangladesh) — 5:14 am ET (0914 GMT) Rep. Strong reaffirms Huntsville's suitability for Space Command headquarters during Athens address
WZDX-TV Huntsville, AL — 5:12 am ET (0912 GMT) US, Italy Sign Joint Space Security Deal
The Defense Post — 5:12 am ET (0912 GMT) |
