OrbitalHub

October 8, 2012

SpaceX CRS-1 Launch

Posted by dj

From the SpaceX press release:

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) today successfully launched its Dragon spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on the first official cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The launch went off on schedule at 8:35 p.m. ET from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The SpaceX CRS-1 mission marks the first of at least 12 SpaceX missions to the space station under the company’s cargo resupply contract with NASA. On board the Dragon spacecraft are materials to support investigations planned for the station’s Expedition 33 crew, as well as crew supplies and space station hardware.

“We are right where we need to be at this stage in the mission,” said Elon Musk, CEO and Chief Technical Officer, SpaceX. “We still have a lot of work to do, of course, as we guide Dragon’s approach to the space station. But the launch was an unqualified success.”

Credit: NASA/SpaceX

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October 6, 2012

Computer Simulated Black Holes

Posted by dj

A team at NASA\’s Goddard Space Flight Center is using computational models to explore the mergers of supersized black holes.

Credit: NASA GSFC

SpaceX CRS-1 Static Fire Test

Posted by dj

SpaceX dixit:

On September 29, 2012, SpaceX completed a successful static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket\’s nine Merlin engines. During this test, SpaceX engineers ran through all countdown processes as if it were launch day. All nine engines fired at full power for two seconds while the rocket was held down to the pad. This is the last major all systems test in preparation for Falcon 9 and Dragon\’s next mission to the space station, targeted for October 7.

Credit: SpaceX

Ariane-5 Launch with Astra-2F and GSAT-10

Posted by dj

On September 28, 2012, an Ariane 5 launch vehicle lifted off from French Guiana with two telecommunications satellites, Astra-2F and GSAT-10.

Credit: ESA/Arianespace

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October 4, 2012

ATV-3 Undocking

Posted by dj

ATV-3 “Edoardo Amaldi”, the European Space Agency\’s Automated Transfer Vehicle undocked from the International Space Station on Septermber 28, 2012.

Credit: ESA/NASA/Roscosmos

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October 2, 2012

SpaceX\’s Grasshopper VTVL First Test

Posted by dj

SpaceX dixit:

“On Friday, September 21, 2012 SpaceX\’s Grasshopper vertical takeoff and landing test vehicle (VTVL) took its first test flight hop from the company\’s rocket testing facility in McGregor, Texas. The short hop of approximately 6 feet is the first major milestone for Grasshopper, and a critical step toward a reusable first stage for SpaceX\’s proven Falcon 9 rocket. As seen in the video, Grasshopper consists of a Falcon 9 first stage, a Merlin-1D engine, four steel landing legs, and a steel support structure. SpaceX is working to develop vehicles that are fully and rapidly reusable, a key element to radically reducing cost and increasing the efficiency of spaceflight. Testing of Grasshopper continues, with the next big milestone — a hover at roughly 100 feet — expected in the next several months.”

Credit: SpaceX