Falcon 1 makes orbit!

[Ian Curtis]

SpaceX!

Well, this is pretty late, but I don't spend much time around CD during the off season, and I'm really surprised this hasn't shown up.

On September 28th, SpaceX launched the Falcon 1 into orbit, and became the first privately funded company to do so. It really is a remarkable achievement. Even more amazing is the forthcoming Falcon 9 and Dragon space capsule. The Dragon space capsule is being developed under a COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services) contract with NASA. It's currently just for cargo to the ISS, much like ESA's ATV. However, SpaceX is building a capsule that could become man-rated within two or three years if necessary. After the Soyuz waiver was recently approved, it isn't as much of a current issue, but it is still really really cool! The Falcon 9 which can lift the capsule with cargo to the ISS, is scheduled for a test launch from Cape Canaveral in early 2009, so that's pretty exciting as well.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

SpaceX!

Well, this is pretty late, but I don't spend much time around CD during the off season, and I'm really surprised this hasn't shown up.

On September 28th, SpaceX launched the Falcon 1 into orbit, and became the first privately funded company to do so. It really is a remarkable achievement. Even more amazing is the forthcoming Falcon 9 and Dragon space capsule. The Dragon space capsule is being developed under a COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services) contract with NASA. It's currently just for cargo to the ISS, much like ESA's ATV. However, SpaceX is building a capsule that could become man-rated within two or three years if necessary. After the Soyuz waiver was recently approved, it isn't as much of a current issue, but it is still really really cool! The Falcon 9 which can lift the capsule with cargo to the ISS, is scheduled for a test launch from Cape Canaveral in early 2009, so that's pretty exciting as well.

Actually, the Dragon is planned to be man-capable. They're also working on Falcon 9 (heavy), which uses a pair of Falcon 9 first stages for extra boost.

Oh, and the first stage is recoverable. I would assume that also means reuseable. (Someone was saying something about reuseable liquid-fueled rockets a few minutes ago?)

The site is pretty interesting; they've got a lot of information about their projects.

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by EricH

Actually, the Dragon is planned to be man-capable. They're also working on Falcon 9 (heavy), which uses a pair of Falcon 9 first stages for extra boost.

Oh, and the first stage is recoverable. I would assume that also means reuseable. (Someone was saying something about reuseable liquid-fueled rockets a few minutes ago?)

The site is pretty interesting; they've got a lot of information about their projects.

Planned, yes (they even put windows in it!), but if you read the interviews, Elon said they need a good 2 or 3 years* to actually have it man-rated.

*I can't find the source for this, as I've got to go, but it's somewhere on SpaceX's media page.

Originally Posted by Elon Musk

SpaceX is one of two companies with contracts under the NASA COTS program to develop launch and delivery capability to the international space station. Elon has told me (and NASA) that he expects to have cargo transport capability by 2010, and that he could have crew transport a year or two later. But to do that, he would need some additional COTS funding -- described in the initial Space Act agreement that set up COTS -- to make Falcon 9 human rated. But NASA has not made the funds available to this point, because it has its own budget problems and because, as Mike Griffin told me, he's not sure yet that SpaceX will succeed (though he very much wants it to.)

The additional funds would be needed to develop and build the crew launch abort mechanism, and would entail about $300 million. There have been some efforts in Congress to force NASA's hand regarding this aspect of COTS funding, but no success at this point.

Source

As far as recoverability of the first stage goes, I'd assume that a good chunk of the system still needs to be overhauled after they pull it out of the water. I emailed them to see if they actually recovered the first stage from this flight, and am waiting to see if they get back to me after the weekend.

[EricH]

I should have asked them for more details--they had a booth at my college's Career Fair last Tuesday. (And yes, they are looking for interns, or starting to, for next year.)

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by EricH

I should have asked them for more details--they had a booth at my college's Career Fair last Tuesday. (And yes, they are looking for interns, or starting to, for next year.)

That's freakin awesome! What year of college do you need for that? Sophomore or Junior?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

That's freakin awesome! What year of college do you need for that? Sophomore or Junior?

I'm a sophomore; I don't know what year(s) they're looking for. They haven't officially posted anything yet in terms of jobs, but putting your resume up can't hurt. (I already did.)