Will Vet Design Before Potential Customers This Week
On Tuesday, commercial launch services provider SpaceX
introduced its new DragonLab -- a free-flying, reusable spacecraft
capable of hosting pressurized and unpressurized payloads to and
from space. DragonLab will launch to orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9
launch vehicle.
SpaceX tells ANN that 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.
SpaceX will host a DragonLab Users Workshop on November 6, 2008.
The invitation-only workshop will be an opportunity for potential
customers to fully explore DragonLab’s capabilities, as well
as present customer-specific interests and requirements. The
workshop agenda includes an overview of the Dragon spacecraft,
concept of operations, payload accommodations and cost
parameters.
"Just as importantly," said Max Vozoff, Product Manager for
Dragon and DragonLab and host of the Users Workshop, "we will hear
from potential users about their applications, requirements, and
concerns, as well as discuss contracting mechanisms. We will also
include a tour of our 550,000 square foot SpaceX manufacturing
facility where we design and build all major systems for SpaceX
launch vehicles and spacecraft."
As ANN reported, on September 28 SpaceX
finally succeeded in launching its smaller Falcon I rocket into
orbit... the first successful Falcon launch in four attempts. As
SpaceX works to launch other Falcon Is with commercial payloads
onboard, the company is also moving forward with its Dragon
spacecraft and Falcon 9 launch vehicle to provide the US with cargo
services to the International Space Station (ISS) under
NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)
competition.
The maiden flight of Dragon/Falcon9 is currently scheduled for
June 2009 from SpaceX’s Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape
Canaveral, Florida. Two subsequent flights will be completed by
2010, culminating with Dragon berthing with the ISS. SpaceX also
plans a manned Dragon variant.