SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket roared to life at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Saturday, firing its first stage engines in a test considered a crucial step toward its inaugural flight."The completion of a successful static fire is the latest milestone on the path to first flight of the Falcon 9,” the company said in a statement.
A qualification model of the company’s Dragon spacecraft will be launched on the maiden mission, which is tentatively set for launch April 12.
The 18-story rocket was anchored to its pad at Launch Complex 40 when nine first-stage engines ignited at about 12:30 p.m., sending up cloud of smoke.
Check out the video here:
The Merlin 1C engines are powered by liquid oxygen and RP-1, a highly refined kerosene. Company officials said the test went well and that all systems appear to have operated normally.
The 3.5-second “hot-fire” was performed to verify the operation of ground support systems as well as ground and flight control software. It was deemed key to demonstrating flight readiness.
Click to enlarge the images, which came in overnight from SpaceX. Photo credit: Chris Thompson/SpaceX
3 comments:
Looks like a non-hydrogen burning motor as I don't see the ROFI's light prior to engine ignition, as will the shuttle SSME's. Congrats to SpaceX. Now, let's see it fly to orbit successfully.
Correct, its not hydrogen but RP-1 and LOX.
Yes. Kerosene and liquid oxygen. My money is on a successful launch next month.
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