The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket defied the odds and went into orbit Friday. The Falcon 9 represents a new direction in low-orbit cargo resupply missions, away from government-sponsored programs toward commercial spaceflight. The 180-foot high, 2-stage Falcon 9 carrying the Space X Dragon capsule succeeded on its first test flight Friday. Commercial spaceflight to the International Space Station for NASA took a major step with the successful launch.
Billion dollar spaceflight contracts
The Space X Falcon 9 is in line to replace NASA's space shuttles, which will be retired at the end of the year. Space X has prepared up to three Falcon 9/Dragon test flights for NASA, as outlined by Universe Today. Cargo deliveries to the International Space Station could start with the Falcon 9’s fourth flight as early as next year. NASA has awarded Space X a $ 1.6 billion contract to continue space station resupply duties once the space shuttle fleet is retired.
Falcon 9 launches conserve millions
The Space X Falcon 9 rocket is the first spacecraft in a decade powered by a new U.S.-made rocket engine design. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Space X, founded in 2002, has attracted hundreds of previous employees from NASA and its previous aerospace contractors to the companies’ facilities in California, Texas and Florida. Space X founder Elon Musk is investing $ 100 million from the fortune he made by selling PayPal to pursue a goal of making spaceflight a lot more affordable. Investors who believe in Musk threw down another $ 300 million. NASA is nevertheless spending $ 300 million a month on the Constellation moon rocket program President Obama will cancel at the end of the year.
Falcon 9 beats the odds
A successful Falcon 9 rocket test was doubtful. Spaceflight experts give the typical launch test a 50-50 chance. Earlier within the week Musk told reporters he figured the Falcon 9 had a 70 to 80 percent chance of succeeding. The chances of surviving a Russian roulette trigger pull are 83 percent . "So if anybody remembers that scene from 'The Deer Hunter,' Musk said, "That's tomorrow". The Space X Falcon 9 beat the odds and then some achieving orbit on its first test flight.
More tests later for Space X Falcon 9
It took four launches for Space X to get its earlier Falcon 1 rocket to orbit. MSNBC reports that some in Congress and also the space community have serious doubts about the ability of Space X and other commercial companies to meet NASA’s requirements for future spaceflight. But besides the successful Falcon 9 launch, Musk said the survival of his business, or the future of private spaceflight, didn't rest on the outcome.
More information on this topic
universetoday.com
orlandosentinel.com
cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com
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