Good news for those of us following developments in private space exploration, as SpaceX successfully tested its Falcon 9 rocket over the weekend. SpaceX is contracted with NASA to provide cargo transport to the International Space Station through 2016, and is scheduled to take its first official test flight of its Dragon spacecraft sometime this spring:
But regardless of the exact launch date, Saturday’s engine test brings the Falcon 9 rocket a step closer to that test flight, SpaceX officials said.
“The test validated the launch pad propellant and pneumatic systems, as well as the ground and flight control software that controls pad and launch vehicle configurations,” SpaceX officials said in an update. “The completion of a successful static fire is the latest milestone on the path to the first flight of the Falcon 9, which will carry a Dragon spacecraft qualification unit to orbit.”
This successful rocket test was the “final step” for the rocket and launch pad – all that waits now is testing of the flight termination system and sign-off from the U.S. Air Force and SpaceX can move forward with the test flight.
(Image courtesy of SpaceX)