Cites Strong Demand From Recent Workshop

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. announced this week the addition of two DragonLab missions to its manifest as a result of demand from a workshop held at SpaceX headquarters on November 6 to introduce the new DragonLab product.

The first two flights are scheduled for 2010 and 2011 respectively from SpaceX’s launch complex (SLC40) at Cape Canaveral, FL. SpaceX is currently working contractual arrangements with multiple prospective customers.

DragonLab is a free-flying, reusable spacecraft capable of hosting pressurized and unpressurized payloads to and from space. It is the newest commercial offering from SpaceX. DragonLab launches to orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

DragonLab provides a platform for in-space experimentation, including recovery of pressurized and some unpressurized payloads, as well as deployment of small spacecraft. As a complete system, DragonLab provides for all aspects of operation: propulsion, power, thermal control, environmental control, avionics, communications, thermal protection, flight software, guidance, navigation and control, entry, descent and landing and recovery.

"The response to our DragonLab rollout has been absolutely astounding," said Max Vozoff, Product Manager for Dragon and DragonLab. "Our workshop was at full capacity and we even had to turn away qualified people. With the US Space Shuttle retiring in two years, clearly there is great demand from principal investigators, companies and institutions looking for ways to fly payloads in space and return them to Earth," said Vozoff. "We are adding these missions to our SpaceX manifest to provide firm launch dates for users to work toward. Definitely one mission won’t be enough to meet the large demand."

Attending the November 6 SpaceX DragonLab workshop were representatives from six NASA centers, NASA headquarters, the Department of Defense, university research departments and commercial aerospace companies. Attendees discussed their needs for using DragonLab for materials research, life sciences, biotech, radiation effects, thermal protection system validation, and robotic spacecraft servicing applications.

In addition, attendees toured the 550,000 square-foot SpaceX headquarters and manufacturing facility, viewing the Dragon spacecraft Qualification structure (just prior to its shipment to Texas for structural testing); heat shield material production and samples; the qualification and first flight Falcon 9 first stages; Merlin engines and other propulsion components; the transporter-erector and other launch pad systems being prepared for shipment to Cape Canaveral for the Falcon 9’s arrival at its launch site by year end.

FMI: www.spacex.com