Friday, April 27, 2012

SpaceX To Webcast Test Firing Monday

Hawthorne-based commercial spacecraft developer SpaceX said Friday that it will be webcasting its test firing of its Falcon 9 rocket, as it prepared for its upcoming launch to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX said it will be conducting a static fire test of the Falcon 9 on Monday, April 30th, at 11:30 A.M. The entire test will be webcast on the SpaceX site. SpaceX said the tests are a "full launch dress rehearsal" for its second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) launch, which is now set for May 7th. If successful, the launch will be the first docking of a commercially built and operated spacecraft with the ISS, with the SpaceX Dragon capsule delivering cargo to astronauts. SpaceX, headed by technology mogul Elon Musk, is hoping to convince NASA to not just delivery cargo, but also astronauts, using its vehicles.