LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 (Flight 2) - COTS-1 - Launch Updates - December 8, 2010

[Chris Bergin]

Space Industry Leaders and Astronauts Congratulate SpaceX on Historic Flight of Dragon Spacecraft



Washington, D.C., Wednesday, December 8, 2010 – Space industry leaders, astronauts, and the Commercial Spaceflight Federation are issuing the following statements following the successful launch, orbital operation, and splashdown of the Dragon capsule, a milestone in commercial spaceflight:


Bretton Alexander, President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation:

“It's a milestone on the path to realizing the first commercial human spaceflight capability.  It's historic in that it's the beginning of a paradigm shift from a government human spaceflight architecture to one that opens up human spaceflight to the private sector.”


Mark Sirangelo, Chairman of Sierra Nevada Corporation Space Systems and Chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation:

“On behalf of all the members of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation I would like to send our congratulations to Elon, Gwynne Shotwell and everyone working at SpaceX.  The spaceflight community has received a historic piece of great news today.  Years of hard work, resources and risk went into this flight and have led to this terrific achievement that stands as a door-opener for a new era in space.”


Frank DiBello, President and CEO of Space Florida:

“This flight marks another giant leap forward on the path of commercial spaceflight.  Florida’s aerospace workforce can take special pride that SpaceX’s launch happened right here at the Space Coast.  This success means more jobs for Florida and Floridians, and promises a vibrant commercial space capability for the nation.  Florida is proud to host SpaceX for launch operations, and we look forward to many more flights of the Falcon and Dragon spacecraft as SpaceX and other commercial companies continue to create new jobs for Florida’s aerospace workforce."


Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman of the X PRIZE Foundation:

"In NASA's new plans for space exploration a new player has taken center stage – American capitalism and entrepreneurship – and today’s SpaceX success strengthens my hope that entrepreneurial commercial space companies will at long last remove the cost barrier that slows our exploration of the solar system."


Eric Anderson, Chairman of Space Adventures:

"What a tremendous accomplishment for SpaceX to succeed on the first Dragon spacecraft launch attempt. We see a bright future for the commercial spaceflight industry and today was another advancement.”


Byron Lichtenberg, former Space Shuttle astronaut:

"I expect that there will be a lot more astronauts in the future because of today’s success with Dragon.  Lower cost launches means more flights, which means more astronauts. We’ve only had 500 astronauts in the history of the Space Age, but I hope to see thousands more in the decades to come thanks to new spacecraft like Dragon.”


Dr. Alan Stern, former NASA Associate Administrator for Science and now Associate Vice President at the Southwest Research Institute:

"Congratulations to SpaceX on this historic achievement and giant leap forward! Falcon 9, Dragon, and similar commercial rockets and spacecraft will open up commercial spaceflight in new ways, and make NASA's Space Station program far stronger. They'll also someday hopefully reduce or eliminate the need to depend on Russian launchers to get NASA astronauts to and from the Station, and that's extremely important."


Mike Lounge, former Space Shuttle astronaut:

"This is an exciting tipping point for commercial space.  It goes a long way to validate a legitimate role for private enterprise in space exploration.  Congratulations to SpaceX for their successful mission!"


About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation
The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation’s member companies, which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers, and service providers, are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. For more information please visit www.commercialspaceflight.org or contact Executive Director John Gedmark at [email protected]

[Retired Downrange]

I wonder what nice ground transport the tech who trimmed the nozzle will get for his return trip?

Perhaps a Tesla roadster?

[Mark Max Q]

Well done MS and well done SpaceX

[joncz]

Talk about bare bones operations! That recovery photo made it look like SpaceX had subcontracted the recovery to some Somali pirates.

+1!

[stockman]

Thanks SpaceX - I have accomplished absolutely NOTHING at work today!! 

[Chris Bergin]

That had the potential to be fluffy, but Elon came out with some really key stuff there, and I'm not really talking about today's events.

Amazing smackdown on Orion, without being rude.

Knowing the engineer who dealt with the nozzle, and that he was scared to fly, but got on a plane for this.

About being small and mobile to get things down.

About wanting to take humanity to other planets and do the things in the sci fi movies.

About not being about maximizing profitability, and that he told his investors that.

And a side note, there are examples where a guy fixing the GUCP will be known by a top end manager, and internally they do "speak like that", but NASA sometimes does a poor job at showing that side of itself. Heck, we've even gone out of our way to note some really great, inspirational comments from a manager on a Standup, and what does it get? Snide remarks from a PAO guy on his personal twitter.

Makes you wonder, it really does. Thought some of Elon's answers were nothing short of amazing, even if he was a bit "headblown", and a nice guy too, who's once e-mailed me out of the blue asking if I wanted to interview him.

Nuff said.

Really like that. Thanks for giving us coverage. Has been great to see a Shuttle/NASA stronghold take to us as an equal and you do a great job running this site and covering us from day 1, which I don't think a lot of people realize. Very good journalist.

I'll stop there as I'm on the champers

Thank you, even if that may be the booze talking But that's really nice to say on the public thread, given we talked on PM a bit earlier, so I'll do likewise and repeat my congratulations on a great day

[kevin-rf]

Talk about bare bones operations! That recovery photo made it look like SpaceX had subcontracted the recovery to some Somali pirates.

Most likely the only way you can get an aircraft carrier in the drop area these days

Missing photo caption: taken through the gun sight of a sniper rifle on the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan

[amon]

Since you are posting quotes... since I'm part of the senior leadership of NSS and fed the Exec Director some of the info in between my own live blogging on Samizdata, here is the National Space Society statement from our official blog:

"Today, SpaceX became the first commercial company in history to re-enter a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit.

SpaceX launched its Dragon spacecraft into low-Earth orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 10:43 AM EST from the Air Force Station at Cape Canaveral.

The Dragon spacecraft orbited the Earth at speeds greater than 17,000 miles per hour, reentered the Earth’s atmosphere, and landed in the Pacific Ocean shortly after 2:00 PM EST.

This marks the first time a commercial company has successfully recovered a spacecraft reentering from low-Earth orbit. It is a feat performed by only six nations or government agencies: the United States, Russia, China, Japan, India, and the European Space Agency.

It is also the first flight under NASA’s COTS program to develop commercial supply services to the International Space Station. After the Space Shuttle retires, SpaceX will fly at least 12 missions to carry cargo to and from the International Space Station as part of the Commercial Resupply Services contract for NASA. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft were designed to one day carry astronauts; both the COTS and CRS missions will yield valuable flight experience toward this goal."

[Chris-A]

I'll take a guess for the secret payload. Buster the crash test dummy.

[neilh]

Landed within 10km of estimated landing point!

Huh, actually, I may have misunderstood that. I think 10km was the initial estimate, but it actually may have been as little as 800m. (did anyone hear this better during the press conference)

[Hootz]

Thanks SpaceX - I have accomplished absolutely NOTHING at work today!! 

LOL!! That makes at least two of us!!

[Cog_in_the_machine]

I'll take a guess for the secret payload. Buster the crash test dummy.

This would be some mighty powerful symbolism, but it's too good to be true.

[racshot65]

Landed within 10km of estimated landing point!

Huh, actually, I may have misunderstood that. I think 10km was the initial estimate, but it actually may have been as little as 800m. (did anyone hear this better during the press conference)

I think your correct

[pippin]

anything orion can do, Dragon can do (better)

Probably a bit of a stretch/hyperbole, since Orion is not complete

Which is why it's not hyperbole but safe to say the way he did. Orion can do nothing so far so that's easy...

[2552]

I'll take a guess for the secret payload. Buster the crash test dummy.

Probably not, but that would've been awesome.

Huge congrats to SpaceX !

[Patchouli]

I'll take a guess for the secret payload. Buster the crash test dummy.

Probably not, but that would've been awesome.

Huge congrats to SpaceX !

Yah that would have been funny.

I can see Adam and Jamie throwing him into there saying "Enjoy your flight Buster."
Since everything worked as planned it would have been Buster's easiest test ever.

[tobi453]

[Robotbeat]

I know I'm being swept up by the enthusiasm, but...
The world feels a little different after this successful mission! Maybe gravity is a little bit less, Mother Earth relinquishing her grip on us and letting us fly to trees...

_{Sorry if that's a little over-the-top for you, but that's just the feeling I have right now.}

[tigerade]

Does anyone have the video of the post-mission press conference?

[amon]

I'd put my vote on a can of spam or a stuffed parrot.