SpaceX tests Falcon 9 ahead of Dragon launch
Posted: Tue, May 1, 2012, 7:51 AM ET (1151 GMT)
SpaceX overcame a last-minute glitch and successfully carried out a test of the first stage engines of its Falcon 9 rocket on Monday, one of the last milestones before its test flight to the International Space Station next week. The nine engines on the rocket's first stage fired at full power for two seconds Monday afternoon, confirming that they were operating properly. The test was delayed by 75 minutes after the original countdown to the test was stopped by the flight computer less than a minute before ignition because a technical parameter was set improperly. SpaceX plans to launch the Falcon 9 next Monday, May 7, placing the Dragon cargo spacecraft into orbit. The Dragon is flying a test flight to approach and, if all goes well, berth with the station. A successful test will allow SpaceX to begin commercial cargo flights to the station later this year.
SpaceX overcame a last-minute glitch and successfully carried out a test of the first stage engines of its Falcon 9 rocket on Monday, one of the last milestones before its test flight to the International Space Station next week. The nine engines on the rocket's first stage fired at full power for two seconds Monday afternoon, confirming that they were operating properly. The test was delayed by 75 minutes after the original countdown to the test was stopped by the flight computer less than a minute before ignition because a technical parameter was set improperly. SpaceX plans to launch the Falcon 9 next Monday, May 7, placing the Dragon cargo spacecraft into orbit. The Dragon is flying a test flight to approach and, if all goes well, berth with the station. A successful test will allow SpaceX to begin commercial cargo flights to the station later this year.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, September 19
MISSION SUCCESS: Rocket Lab Launches 96th Electron Mission
Rocket Lab — 3:24 am ET (0724 GMT) AST SpaceMobile Faces Lawsuit Over Its Competitiveness With Starlink Mobile
PC Magazine — 1:24 am ET (0524 GMT) DIU and Space Systems Command award GHOST-R prototype contracts to support GEO recon capabilities for Department of War
US Space Force — 1:22 am ET (0522 GMT) Northrop Grumman to Deliver New Space Domain Awareness Prototype Satellite
Northrop Grumman — 1:21 am ET (0521 GMT) Is Space Force Pivoting Too Soon?
RealClearDefense — 1:21 am ET (0521 GMT) |
