This is the first NASA mission by SpaceX that includes an upgraded version of the Falcon 9. Outwardly, the biggest change is an arrangement of eight engines in a circle around the center engine. Previously, the nine engines were built in three rows of three. SpaceX says the octaweb reduces the length and weight of …
At T-60 minutes, all remains on track for the SpaceX-3 mission to lift off on time at 3:25 p.m. EDT. The spacecraft carries no people, but is loaded with about 5,000 pounds of supplies, experiments and equipment for the International Space Station and its crew of astronauts. Six people live on the space station now …
The Falcon 9 rocket has been loaded with the kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen that will power the nine first stage engines and one second stage engine during launch and the flight into orbit. The first stage engines will generate about 900,000 pounds of thrust at liftoff. The launch window is instantaneous, meaning the liftoff …
We’re an hour and 10 minutes from the scheduled launch of the third operational SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. The skies over our Florida launch site have been clearing in the last hour or so and the weather is not violating any of the launch criteria right now. Liftoff remains on …
The Launch Weather Officer reports that conditions around Cape Canaveral improving this afternoon. The weather remains unstable, but all constraints have been cleared and the weather is expected to remain “go” through launch time. Officially, the forecast remains at a 40 percent chance of acceptable conditions for the 3:25 p.m. EDT launch time. NASA TV …
By Rick Forster Our team finally made it to the ice sheet on April 8, after being delayed for almost two weeks due a series of storms. That day, we awoke to patches of blue sky over the village of Tasiilaq and were eager to get to the heliport for our scheduled 11:40 AM flight […]
Good morning from a cloudy Florida where SpaceX is preparing to launch its third operational mission to the International Space Station. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft loaded with cargo have been rolled to the launch pad at Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and raised to its vertical launch position. …
SpaceX (SpX)-3 Launch/Berth, Extravehicular Activity (EVA) 26 Status: The ISS Program elected to target April 18th and 19th for SpX launch attempts. Teams are evaluating the following options: SpX launch on 4/18, berth on 4/20 and EVA 26 on 4/23 SpX launch on 4/19, EVA 26 on 4/20 and SpX berth on 4/22 Body Measures …
SpaceX released some of the details about the helium leak in the Falcon 9 rocket that scrubbed Monday’s launch attempt of the SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. Here is what the company said: “During Monday’s launch attempt, preflight checks detected that a helium valve in the stage separation pneumatic system was …
The International Space Station Program and SpaceX have selected Friday, April 18 for the next launch attempt for the Falcon 9 rocket to send the Dragon cargo craft on the company’s third commercial resupply mission to the space station. Launch is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. EDT. The NASA Launch Blog and NASA TV coverage will …
