Do you know what fear is? It isn’t something to take lightly. Look up — what do you see? Nothing; the sky is dark. But it isn’t empty, oh, no. Somewhere (far beyond what your feeble eyes can perceive) waits a dragon, its jagged legs slicing the vacuum of space. You have lived for decades on that blistered rock you call a home, the product of millions of years of evolution. It has existed for only a few years, sprung forth ex nihilo like Athena from Zeus’ brow. And yet it is greater than you, and it will see things you will never see. And someday, soon, it is coming home. Know that, dear reader, and know fear — or wonder.
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Stories of the day:
After being scrubbed a few days ago, it appears we are just minutes from viewing the launch of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule as it blasts it’s way toward the ISS. Launch time is officially set for 3:44AM ET, and you can view it live via NASA’s UStream embedded after the break or on SpaceX’s feed at the source link.
..developing
Continue reading SpaceX Dragon is ready for launch (again) at 3:44AM ET, view the live stream now
SpaceX Dragon is ready for launch (again) at 3:44AM ET, view the live stream now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 03:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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SpaceX and Elon Musk will not be held from the history books. Last night the company announced that engineers were currently replacing a faulty valve on engine #5, and if successful pending a data review today, the company would attempt a second launch on Tuesday, May 22nd. This comes as SpaceX’s maiden voyage to the International Space Station was cut a half second short by an automated safety function built into the rocket.
SpaceX is attempting to become the first privately owned entity to reach and dock a capsule with the ISS, therefore increasing its chance to win what will likely be a lucrative contract to ferry cargo and humans between Earth and Space. So far these duties have been carried out by the U.S., Russia and Japan. However, as governments are cutting space budget programs they are looking to hand over these relatively nominal duties to the private sector and redirect funds to long-range space exploration and science programs.
Come next Tuesday, SpaceX will attempt to make history again
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SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace are teaming up to cross-promote their private aerospace tech. The duo are kicking off a tour in Asia to drum up governmental and business support for the Falcon 9 rocket and BA’s BA 330 floating habitat. The latter has 330 cubic meters of space and can support a crew of six for scientific experimentation, or ensuring no-one can ever out-do your bachelor party. More details about the tie up are expected just as soon as Elon Musk’s company can get that DragonX to escape the atmosphere.
Continue reading SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace drum up support for the space hotel of the future
SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace drum up support for the space hotel of the future originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 11:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Just a week after NASA signed off on its launch, SpaceX has had to postpone the flight of the Dragon. It’s yet another delay to NASA’s efforts to supply the International Space Station using private spacecraft and reduce the US’s dependence on Souyz rockets. Taking to Twitter, founder Elon Musk said that the company needed to do more testing on the docking code for the capsule, while spokesperson Kirstin Brost Grantham told Space.com that the company needed more time to test and review the hardware. Pending NASA’s approval, it’ll begin its journey heavenward on the head of a Falcon 9 between May 3rd and May 7th. Given that the original mission was scheduled for November last year, they’ll probably need to check the use-by dates on those space rations.
SpaceX redefines ‘fashionably late’ as Dragon trip to the ISS is delayed again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Spaceflight start-up, SpaceX, has been demonstrating the potency of its SuperDraco rockets, testing at its own facility over in Texas. The rockets will help land its Dragon spacecraft — as demonstrated in a swish animation last year. They will also power emergency escape functions, something that will, according to founder Elon Musk, make the Dragon “the safest spacecraft in history.” It has already made a successful orbital flight and will tote eight engines apparently offering up to 120,000 pounds of thrust to the spaceship. Unfortunately, SpaceX’s plan for a February launch was postponed in favor of continued development time, but we’re not going complain if the company still fulfills its promise of ferrying people to the ISS. Coundown from ten for ignition right after the break.
Continue reading SpaceX test-fires its ‘super’ rocket engines (video)
SpaceX test-fires its ‘super’ rocket engines (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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With the demise of the space shuttle program fresh in my mind, I’m forced to find my space-related solace wherever I can. Luckily, with companies like SpaceX still devoted to removing the obstacles to commercial space flight, I can’t be too bummed — and as Reuters has reported, SpaceX is preparing their next step. After their literal show of force a few months back, SpaceX is aiming their sights just a little higher.
Late this November, SpaceX is set to launch their second test pod to the International Space Station and bring her back home again. Should it succeed, Elon Musk and company will have come one step closer to their goal of becoming one of two commercial entities who can deliver cargo to the ISS. SpaceX is also looking to transport people between the station and home, and is currently looking at their Dragon multipurpose craft to do much of the people moving.
Admittedly, it’s no mission to Mars, but it’s an important project that will help sustain the International Space Station and hopefully pave the way for similar projects in the future. Besides, once we get all this low Earth orbit business down pat, it should be time to move onto some loftier ambitions.
SpaceX unveils Falcon heavy lift rocket plans Space Exploration Technologies has outlined plans to build a commercial heavy lift rocket, which would carry twice the playload of existing large rockets ( ZDNet UK – Emerging Tech ) Read more on ZDNet UK
Consumer Reports recommends iPad 2, competition Consumer Reports has given a stamp of approval to the iPad 2. But before the fanboys can rejoice, they need to know two things: CR gave the same stamp to several key competitors, too. And the publication has yet to emblazon the coveted “best buy” mark on any tablet, despite declaring iPad 2 a leader in “both quality and price.” Read more on MSNBC
iPad 2 Shortages Spread to the Afterlife Shortages of iPad 2 have hit Chinese families in Asia, where paper replicas are avidly sought this year to burn as part of a traditional rite honoring dead ancestors. Read more on PC World
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SpaceX promised something big, and it’s now delivered. The company today revealed its plans for the Falcon Heavy, which promises to be the “world’s most powerful rocket.” Just how powerful is that? SpaceX says the 22-story rocket will be able to carry satellites or spacecraft weighing over 53 metric tons (or 117,000 pounds) into low earth orbit, which is nearly twice what the Space Shuttle is able to carry. What’s more, this isn’t just a far off promise. SpaceX says the rocket will be “ready” sometime next year, and the first test flight is planned for 2013. The rocket’s sheer size isn’t it’s only selling point, though — it also promises to drastically reduce the cost of sending things into space, with each launch expected to cost “only” $ 100 million. Head on past the break for a taste of what’s in store.
Continue reading SpaceX reveals plans for world’s most powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy
SpaceX reveals plans for world’s most powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Okay, okay, so the last time a company teased “something big,” they were exaggerating a tad, but this video here comes from SpaceX, maker of giant rockets. So when the only commercial organization that shot a hunk of burning metal into orbit tells us to look out for something with “five new engines” and “two new rockets” on 11:15AM ET on April 5th, you’d best believe we’re going to have our tails firmly pressed into comfy chairs and popcorn at the ready to watch it. Spoiler alert: it’s probably the Falcon Heavy.
[Thanks, Doug]
SpaceX teases ‘something big’, suggests we check back April 5th (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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