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.

FMI: www.spacex.com