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December 8, 2010
Into the air junior birdmen!
SpaceX, the Hawthorne-based rocket venture, has successfully reached orbit with its Dragon spacecraft, the company said. The company's massive Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Caneveral, Fla. on Wednesday at 7:43 a.m. Approximatley 10 minutes later, the Apollo-like Dragon space capsule appeared to reach low Earth orbit. -- SpaceX successfully reaches orbit with Dragon capsule | Technology | Los Angeles Times
Posted by Vanderleun at December 8, 2010 10:45 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Posted by: JD at December 8, 2010 11:10 AM
And the capsule made a successful splashdown!
SpaceX's efforts hold the promise of substantially reducing the cost of launch and spaceflight, one of the biggest barriers to human breakout into space.
Posted by: Don Rodrigo at December 8, 2010 11:52 AM
Oops, I hadn't noticed this when I left my comment on the Day of Infamy thread. I included some links, so go check them out.
This is the only thing I've been able to think about all day long; and indeed I had trouble getting to sleep last night thinking about it. Today will go down in history. I just can't express how important this flight was, and to think that it was for all intents and purposes perfect. Not bad for a first test flight!
If all goes well, the Dragon capsule will begin making unmanned cargo flights to the ISS next year. It is hoped that a manned version will fly in about three years. It will be able to carry a crew of seven to and from Earth orbit (the same as the space shuttle), and its heat shield is designed for a return from the Moon or Mars (definitely not the same as the shuttle).
This is thrilling as all hell, and despite my lack of sleep last night, I wouldn't be surprised to have trouble getting to sleep again tonight!
Posted by: rickl at December 8, 2010 6:50 PM