McGregor TX – Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) conducted the first three-engine firing of its Falcon 9 medium to heavy lift rocket at its Texas Test Facility outside McGregor, on March 8, 2008. At full power the engines generated over 270,000 pounds of force, and consumed 1,050 lbs of fuel and liquid oxygen per second. This three-engine test again sets the record as the most powerful test yet on the towering 235-foot tall test stand. A total of nine Merlin 1C engines will power the Falcon 9 rocket.

The test series continues with the addition of two engines for a total of five, then finally the full compliment of nine engines. With all engines firing, the Falcon 9 can generate over one million pounds of thrust in vacuum - four times the maximum thrust of a 747 aircraft.

“The incremental approach to testing allows us to closely observe how each additional engine influences the entire system,” said Tom Mueller, Vice President of Propulsion for SpaceX. “This ensures that we obtain as much data, knowledge and experience as possible as we approach the full nine engine configuration. To date we have not encountered any unexpected interactions between the engines.”

The Merlin 1C next generation liquid fueled rocket booster engine is among the highest performing gas generator cycle kerosene engines ever built, exceeding the Boeing Delta II main engine, the Lockheed Atlas II main engine, and on par with the Saturn V F-1 engine. It is the first new American booster engine in a decade and only the second American booster engine since the development of the Space Shuttle Main Engine thirty years ago.

The first Falcon 9 remains on-schedule for delivery to the SpaceX launch site at Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, by the end of 2008.

About SpaceX

SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles intended to increase the reliability and reduce the cost of both manned and unmanned space transportation, ultimately by a factor of ten. With its Falcon line of launch vehicles, powered by the internally developed Merlin engines, SpaceX is able to offer light, medium and heavy lift capabilities to deliver spacecraft into any inclination and altitude, from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit to planetary missions.

As winner of the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services competition, SpaceX will conduct three flights of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft for NASA. This will culminate in Dragon berthing with the International Space Station and returning safely to Earth. Falcon 9/Dragon will have the opportunity to provide crew and supply services to the Space Station, and fill the gap in US resupply capability when the Shuttle retires in 2010.

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Engine Bay Video Image
http://mfile.akamai.com/22165/wmv/spacex.download.akamai.com/22165/PR40-1.asx

South View Video Image
http://mfile.akamai.com/22165/wmv/spacex.download.akamai.com/22165/PR40-2.asx

Test firing of three Merlin 1C engines at the SpaceX test facility in McGregor, Texas. A total of nine Merlin 1C engines will power the Falcon 9 rocket. (Click images to play streaming videos from these views in Windows Media Player.)

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Visit SpaceX.com for more information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Ian Murphy
(310) 689-6397 / ian.murphy@nss.org

National Space Society Announces Themes and Featured Speakers for the 2008 International Space Development Conference

Commercial space entrepreneurs, NASA, research scientists and political leaders converge on Washington D.C. to discuss the future of the space industry.

Washington D.C. - March 17, 2008 – The National Space Society (NSS) announced today the themes and featured speakers for the 27th Annual International Space Development Conference (ISDC) taking place at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. from May 29, 2008 to June 1, 2008.

The primary theme for ISDC 2008 is The New Pace of Space.

“The purpose of ISDC is to provide a global forum for anyone with an interest in space to learn, interact and discuss the future with the leaders of space exploration, business and science,” said NSS Executive Director, George T. Whitesides.

With the shuttle retirement looming on the horizon and the rapid advances of commercial space entrepreneurs like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, a paradigm shift is occurring within the space industry. This shift is having a profound effect on not only the traditional civil and military sectors of the space industry but peripheral industries such as life sciences and energy, as well. ISDC will bring the major players from all corners of the space world to the nation’s capital for a symposium that will provide invaluable insight into the future of spaceflight and exploration.

The National Space Society is also pleased to announce that Space News will act as the exclusive media sponsor for ISDC 2008. “ISDC is an ideal venue for the public to engage space leaders about the future of the industry,” said Bill Klanke, Publisher of Space News. “Space News is delighted to be a sponsor of this important and valuable event.”

On Wednesday May 28, 2008 the conference will kick off with an exclusive pre-event, the 4th Space Investment Summit (SIS), bringing together the emerging commercial space industry with the established world of finance to exchange their goals, ideas and advice. Investors and established aerospace firms will hear business plans from some of the most exciting new companies in space-related business sectors, while expert panels discuss important issues like exit strategies for aerospace startups, as well as early and mid-stage financing.

On Thursday May 29, up-and-coming commercial launch providers will be on hand to show how they are working with NASA and the military to decrease the cost of access to space. In addition, the growing commercial sector is finding new customers in the life science and energy industries that are in need of a microgravity environment for experiments and payload transport to orbit respectively. Members from these communities will share their thoughts for the future of space-related industry. Featured speakers include Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn and SpaceX Founder Elon Musk. A special luncheon will feature the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Dr. Anthony Tether.

On Friday May 30, ISDC will focus the discussion on NASA and its future. NASA has announced it will return to the Moon and then begin to look towards Mars and beyond. The Shuttle retires in two years and the civil sector has been busier than ever, preparing for the next generation of space vehicles represented by Project Constellation and the Orion space exploration vehicle. Featured speakers include Hon. Nick Lampson (D-22nd District-TX), United States House of Representatives; Director of NASA Ames Research Center, Dr. Simon “Pete” Worden;Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate of NASA, Dr. Alan Stern; and Doug Cooke, Deputy Associate Administrator of NASA’s exploration programs

Saturday May 31 will be focused primarily on personal spaceflight. We have reached a time when anyone can purchase a ticket to ride on a spaceship and a handful of people have taken advantage of that opportunity. In a few years, smaller vehicles developed in the private sector will take someone to sub-orbit for around $200,000. Space Tourism is now a major part of commercial space and ISDC will bring together organizations, companies and individuals who will inform the public about how to get there and what it’s like to be a private space explorer. Featured speakers include X PRIZE Foundation Founder and Chairman Dr. Peter Diamandis, Private Space Explorers Dr. Anousheh Ansari and Gregory Olsen and Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson.

The final day of the conference will concentrate on the visionaries, scientists and entrepreneurs who look far in to the future at deep space settlements, ways to use and inhabit mars and the methods used to protect our planet from near earth objects such as asteroids.

To register for the 27th Annual International Space Development Conference please visit www.isdc2008.org or call (202) 429-1600.

All media interested in attending the conference can do so by emailing Ian Murphy at ian.murphy@nss.org or calling (310) 689-6397. Registered media will have their registration fee waived.

About the National Space Society
The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, grassroots organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. Founded in 1974, NSS is widely acknowledged as the preeminent citizen’s voice on space. NSS counts thousands of members and over 50 chapters in the United States and around the world. The society also produces the annual International Space Development Conference. For more information on the society or the conference, please visit: http://www.nss.org

Press Release: First SpaceX Falcon 9
Launch Vehicle Remains on Schedule for Delivery to Cape Canaveral

Target date refers to delivery of the flight
vehicle to the launch site. The actual launch date is dependent on a variety of
factors, which may include regulatory approvals, launch range scheduling,
weather, customer payload readiness and vehicle to launch pad integration.

About SpaceX

SpaceX is developing a family of launch
vehicles intended to reduce the cost and increase the reliability of both manned
and unmanned space transportation, ultimately by a factor of ten. With its
Falcon line of launch vehicles, SpaceX is able to offer a light, medium and
heavy lift capability, delivering spacecraft into any inclination and altitude,
from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous transfer orbit to interplanetary
missions.

As winner of the NASA Commercial Orbital
Transportation Services (COTS) competition, SpaceX will conduct three flights of
its Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft for NASA. This will culminate
in Dragon berthing with the International Space Station and returning safely to
Earth. When the Shuttle retires in 2010, Falcon 9 / Dragon will have the
opportunity to replace the Shuttle in providing both up and down transportation
services to the Space Station.

Sorry everyone, we’ve been working hard on various projects! We’ll be blogging more soon. Enjoy another edition of video from Chandra.

Cheers

 

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There are two questions regarding space on http://www.politico.com/ that you can vote on. The debate is happening right now 7pm Central until 8:30ish on CNN. The questions that get the most votes will be asked to the candidates.

Click on the Vote banner select Obama (this is where the space questions are) and vote for them and they may get asked during the debate going on right now. I’m not sure why none of the space questions aren’t under Hilary but doesn’t matter they will both respond.

Doesn’t matter if you are a Republican, Democrat etc…. Make the canidates discuss space. Only 1 hour left. Must act now

good luck

SpaceDev will have a presence at the following events in the Space Industry during 2008:

RedChip Scottsdale Small-Cap Conference Feb 7, 2008 Jesup & Lamont 2008 Emerging Growth Conference Feb 28, 2008

In New York today we final got a peak at the exterior of what WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo will look like. Virgin put out a new press package of video and images. The below video is courtesy of Virgin.

Enjoy! Email me if you’re interested in seeing the how it was built video. I have that too.

 

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