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SpaceX Completes Dragon Spacecraft Demonstration Systems Review For Berth At ISS
Hawthorne CA (SPX) Dec 20, 2007 Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has completed the Systems Requirements Review (SRR) for what will be the third Falcon 9 / Dragon demonstration under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. NASA representatives attended the event, held on the first day of regular business operations at SpaceX's new headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Under COTS, SpaceX will conduct three Falcon 9 / Dragon flights, demonstrating the ability to approach, berth, and ultimately deliver cargo to the $100 billion International Space Station (ISS), and return cargo to Earth. On this third demonstration, the Dragon spacecraft will approach the ISS and hold its position nearby. Then, according to the SpaceX plan, a robotic arm on the station will capture Dragon and guide it to a berthing port on the Harmony module. "When the hatch opens, a new era in space transportation will begin," said Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. "By providing commercial delivery services to orbit, SpaceX will transform the way the government and private entities access space. The Falcon 9 / Dragon system will ensure that there is no gap in US space transportation capabilities following retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2010." During the meeting, all comments and questions raised by NASA's experts were addressed by the SpaceX design team. "Because we connect to the ISS on this mission, NASA applied significant additional scrutiny to ensure the safety of the station and its crew," said Max Vozoff, SpaceX Mission Manager. By receiving NASA approval for this review, SpaceX continues its record of successfully meeting all COTS milestones on schedule. Although these demonstrations are for cargo re-supply, SpaceX designed the Dragon spacecraft to transport up to seven astronauts to Earth orbit and back. Related Links SpaceX Station at NASA Station and More at Roscosmos S.P. Korolev RSC Energia Watch NASA TV via Space.TV Space Station News at Space-Travel.Com
Whitson And Tani Complete The 100th Station Spacewalk
Houston TX (SPX) Dec 19, 2007Space station Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Dan Tani completed the 100th spacewalk in support of station assembly and maintenance. The 6 hour and 56 minute spacewalk ended at 11:46 a.m. EST. The spacewalkers inspected the starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ) and the Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA). They also removed a trundle bearing assembly, which moves along the race ring in the SARJ, and brought it inside the station for further examination. |
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