SpaceX Successfully Launches the Falcon 9 and Dragon Spacecraft

The NASA Commercial Crew & Cargo Program will extend human presence in space by enabling an expanding and robust U.S. commercial space transportation industry. Summary: SpaceX became the first commercial company to successfully re-enter a spacecraft from Earth orbit, in the first demonstration flight under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement. All demonstration objectives were accomplished and post flight analysis is ongoing. This demonstration flight is a paid milestone, M, under the COTS agreement. Description: SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon capsule from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The first stage separated on time and the second took over as planned. The Dragon capsule then worked through its maneuvers in orbit, successfully re-entered Earth's atmosphere, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. Time Frame: Falcon 9 launched at 10:43 a.m. EST and the Dragon capsule splashed down just after 2:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 8, 2010. Space Application: NASA wants rockets like the Falcon 9 and Orbital Sciences' Taurus II to launch spacecrafts carrying important supplies, experiments and equipment to the space station after the space shuttle fleet is retired in 2011. More information: About SpaceX About the COTS project Download PowerPoint file
NASA Identifier: 506726main_2010-39