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SpaceX Meets Key Milestone for Commercial Spaceflight
Earthdate: 2011:1208
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The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket takes off December 8, 2011 on a milestone test of its Dragon capsule. Image: SpaceX
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Commercial space transport company, SpaceX, is now one milestone closer to becoming a full-fledged member of the international space effort.
The immediate goal is to send astronauts to the International Space Station using SpaceX's launch platform. So far, the company's performance in reaching their NASA-mandated milestones has been astounding.
On December 8, 2011, SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket with its Dragon space capsule atop the missile. Several minutes later, the capsule splashed down and was recovered. The capsule is designed to ferry up to 7 astronauts at a time into space. Compated to the Russian rate of $62 million per seat aboard their Soyuz spacecraft, Dragon costs a mere $20 million per seat.
The International Space Station above Earth. Image: NASA
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The International Space Station seemingly hovers over the Earth—humanity's current footstool to deep space.
With NASA's Space Shuttle no longer in operation, we have had to depend on Russian launches to send replacement crew members to this orbiting platform.
But now, with commercial interests building a competent foundation for a space launch vehicle enterprise, manned access to space has more options.
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SpaceX Corporation's Dragon space capsule sits in the ocean awaiting pickup by a recovery vessel seen approaching, here. This followed orbital maneuvers. Splashdown occurred some 3 hours after the successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket.
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The SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down. Image: SpaceX
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The SpaceX Dragon capsule sits on the recovery vessel deck. Image: SpaceX
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Sitting on the recovery vessel deck, the SpaceX Dragon capsule stands as a first for a commercial corporation.
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The next major milestone for SpaceX and their Dragon capsule is to rendezvous with the International Space Station to ferry several astronauts there for duty.
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International Space Station above Miami, Florida.
Image: NASA
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References:
http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20111020
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/home/cots_project.html
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