Tue, Oct 06, 2009
Both Stages Headed To Cape Canaveral Next Month In Preparation
For Launch
Acceptance testing has been successfully completed for both
the Falcon 9 first and second stages in preparation for the first
flight of Falcon 9, SpaceX said Monday. Acceptance testing took
place at SpaceX's Texas Test Site, a 300-acre structural and
propulsion testing facility, located just outside of Waco,
Texas.
This recent series of tests subjected both stages to a variety of
structural load and proof pressure tests to verify acceptability
for flight. Acceptance testing began in late summer with the first
stage and concluded last week at SpaceX's Texas facility with
completion of acceptance testing for the second stage.
"The successful completion of these tests marks another key
milestone in our preparation for Falcon 9's first flight," said
Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "Our team will now move forward
with a static fire of the first and second stages, the last major
milestone before hardware is transferred to SpaceX's launch pad at
Cape Canaveral."
The inaugural flight of Falcon 9 is a demonstration flight, and is
expected to occur one to three months after Falcon 9 arrival at
Cape Canaveral next month. The final launch date will depend on
range scheduling, weather conditions and time required to make
adjustments for any vehicle-to-ground equipment interactions. For
its first flight, Falcon 9 will launch a Dragon spacecraft
qualification unit into orbit to provide SpaceX with valuable
aerodynamic and performance information.
The second flight of the Falcon 9/Dragon system is the first
flight under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
(COTS) program, a new commercial-government partnership under which
SpaceX will demonstrate the ability to dock with the International
Space Station, transfer cargo, and return cargo safely to
Earth.
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