SpaceX dixit:
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. The 10-story Grasshopper test vehicle consists of a Falcon 9 first stage, a Merlin-1D engine, four steel landing legs, and a steel support structure. It is being tested in successively higher jumps at SpaceX\’s rocket development facility in Texas.
Credit: SpaceX
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On November 3, 2012, a Proton-M/Breeze-M launch vehicle placed into the designated orbits two communications satellites, Luch-5B and Yamal-300K.
Credit: Roscosmos
NASA dixit:
Blue Origin conducted a successful pad escape test on October 19, 2012, at the company\’s West Texas Launch Site, firing its pusher escape motor and launching a full-scale suborbital crew capsule from a propulsion module simulator. The test was part of Blue Origin\’s work supporting its funded Space Act Agreement with NASA\’s Commercial Crew Program during Commercial Crew Development Round 2.
Credit: NASA
Suni Williams and Akihiko Hoshide completed the 253rd spacewalk performed by U.S. astronauts. During the 6-hour, 38-minute spacewalk, the two astronauts repaired an ammonia leak in one of the station\’s radiators.
Credit: NASA
Read more about the International Space Station…
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On October 31, 2012, a Soyuz-U launch vehicle lifted off from Baikonur with the Progress M-17M cargo spacecraft. Progress will dock with the Zvezda service module of the Russian segment of the International Space Station, and will deliver more than 2,500 kg of cargo.
Credit: Roscosmos
Read more about the International Space Station…
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SpaceX dixit:
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft returned to Earth from the International Space Station, safely splashing down approximately 250 miles off the coast of southern California. “This historic mission signifies the restoration of America\’s ability to deliver and return critical space station cargo,” said SpaceX CEO and Chief Technical Officer Elon Musk. “The reliability of SpaceX’s technology and the strength of our partnership with NASA provide a strong foundation for future missions and achievements to come.” Dragon departed the station early this morning with 1,673 pounds of return cargo including hardware, supplies, and a GLACIER freezer packed with scientific samples. Dragon is the only craft capable of returning a significant amount of supplies to Earth, and this mission marks the first time since the space shuttle that NASA has been able to return research samples for analysis. The SpaceX recovery team is now transporting Dragon by boat to a port near Los Angeles, where early cargo will be delivered to NASA. Dragon then will be transported to SpaceX\’s facility in McGregor, Texas for processing. There, the remaining cargo will be delivered to NASA. The mission, called CRS-1, began October 7, when the Falcon 9 rocket launched Dragon from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. SpaceX and NASA are currently investigating an anomaly that occurred with one of Falcon 9\’s first-stage engines during the launch. Analysis to date supports initial findings: the engine experienced a rapid loss of pressure and Falcon 9\’s flight computer immediately commanded shutdown, as it is designed to do in such cases. The team will continue to meticulously analyze all data in an effort to determine root cause and will apply those findings to future flights. This mission is the first of at least 12 to the International Space Station that SpaceX will fly under NASA\’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract.
Credit: NASA / SpaceX
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