SpaceX completed a crucial test of its Falcon 9 rocket destruct system Tuesday, clearing the way for the first flight of the new launch vehicle on Friday.The 180-foot rocket will be rolled out of its assembly hangar Wednesday and erected at Launch Complex 40. The Falcon 9 is is slated to blast off during a window that will open at 11 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. Friday. Air Force meteorologists say there is a 60 percent chance the weather will be good enough to go.
SpaceX and contractor Ensign-Bickford Aerospace have been working with the Air Force to qualify the Falcon 9 Flight Termination System for launch. The system comprises a series of small pyrotechnic devices that would be used to deliberately destroy the rocket by radio command if it veered off course and threatened populated areas.
SpaceX officials said the company completed a critical end-to-end test of the system that is required by the Air Force. The Air Force 45th Space Wing provides tracking, range safety and weather forecasting services for all launches from the Cape Canaveral air base and nearby Kennedy Space Center.
SpaceX has booked both Friday and Saturday as potential launch dates on the Air Force Eastern Range.
7 comments:
good because they probably going to need it...lol
I hope it clears the pad and doesnt kill anybody before they hit the chicken switch and blow it up.
Glad to see people stand behind their words (that's a joke, son!). Best of luck to Falcon 9, but if the first one fails, they'll just try again. That's rocketry. If I had to make a guess, I'd say they may have some staging problems, just because staging is always a problem.
as if NASA didn't blow a bunch of rockets up themselves on the launch pad or just after launch . . .
as if NASA launches ALL of their rockets perfectly on time.
To G.Hauer, Austria: Sorry, but I can't post that comment. Clean up the language and try again.....
let's see... 1 of 5 falcon 9's (the forth failure didn't make the correct orbit).. I'm guessing 1 of 3 for Falcon 9. How much money can musk spend? Oh yeah... he's cash broke... help me uncle louie!
I'm betting they do better than Delta III!
Post a Comment