OMG it's the SpaceX Party Thread!

[tigerade]

Uh, what happened?  "This video has been removed by the user."

Ok I have fixed the original link with the new video.  It should be viewable now.

[oiorionsbelt]

So what is the "next milestone" for SpaceX?

[wolfpack]

So what is the "next milestone" for SpaceX?

CRS-1

[oiorionsbelt]

So what is the "next milestone" for SpaceX?

CRS-1

That's not a milestone, is it? I thought it'd be more likely to do with CCDEV/ CCiCAP or whatever it's called now.

[docmordrid]

I would say the upcoming Grasshopper hops, a ground abort test of the DragonRider thruster pack and F9 v. 1.1 flt 1.

[Zed_Noir]

So what is the "next milestone" for SpaceX?

Manned Dragon Rider

[Lars_J]

Every flight is the "next milestone" - thus CRS-1.

[oiorionsbelt]

I'm sure they have lots of internal milestones, some  that we aren't privy to.
Do they have another NASA milestone, that's in play that they need to meet before they get X?
What do/did they have to achieve in regard  to the $75 million for the for the LAS, as far as NASA is concerned?
I assumed they meet all their 'milestones' as far as Cargo resupply was concerned, making the CRS flights 'operational' flights to fulfill their contract, no?

[rickl]

I assumed they meet all their 'milestones' as far as Cargo resupply was concerned, making the CRS flights 'operational' flights to fulfill their contract, no?

Is NASA going to make an official announcement whether or not they've met all of the COTS 2 & 3 requirements?

[darkenfast]

I really like SpaceX, but I think their next milestone needs to be: launching at or really close to the currently scheduled date. If they can get a couple of CRS flights off the ground without major delays, then they will have made a serious statement about their approach to all this.

[Robotbeat]

No earlier than. Do we understand this meaning?

[oiorionsbelt]

Everyone seems to be misunderstanding the term milestone (or maybe it's me)
I get the whole they need to get a launch tempo, they need to deliver on CRS and all that good stuff, NET etc, but.....
 
Is there a milestone set by NASA that SpaceX signed on to, that they have not yet completed?
If so what is it?

(I'm assuming NASA signed off on all COTS 2+ milestones. If NASA didn't I'd like to know that also)
Thanks, party on.

[AnalogMan]

(I'm assuming NASA signed off on all COTS 2+ milestones. If NASA didn't I'd like to know that also)
Thanks, party on.

From the latest 60-day NASA report on Commercial Spaceflight:

"[...] The program has confirmed that SpaceX successfully completed all COTS demonstration mission objectives.

As originally envisioned, the COTS project has two major goals: 1) demonstrate crew and cargo transportation services that NASA could potentially purchase in the future and 2) enable the U.S. to become more competitive in the global launch marketplace. Successful completion of this demonstration mission, along with SpaceX’s recent announcements of commercial launch agreements with other customers, indicate both goals are being accomplished."

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/660802main_June_2012_60_Day_Report_508.pdf

[Retired Downrange]

So what is the "next milestone" for SpaceX?

CRS-1

That's not a milestone, is it? I thought it'd be more likely to do with CCDEV/ CCiCAP or whatever it's called now.

CCDev2 milestones shown in this chart

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/660801main_CCDev2_Public_20120613_508.pdf

[oiorionsbelt]

Thanks guys and to Ben the Space Brit over in SpaceX general discussion thread 5. (man you miss one day of reading every thread in NSF and you have some catching up to do

[Chris Bergin]

So what's the next event we need a party thread for? MSL?

[Rocket Science]

So what's the next event we need a party thread for? MSL?

Or a Dream Chaser drop test...

[kevin-rf]

NROL-15 of course!!! You can not get a larger launch event

[edfishel]

Chris...Love these party threads. Great idea!

[quark]

Just a note about the video.. Orbital's Pegasus launch vehicle was the first commercial rocket to reach orbit. The Falcon 1 was the first liquid fuel commercial launch vehicle to reach orbit from the ground. Even that claim is suspect as almost all launch vehicles have been designed by commercial companies. I guess SpaceX could say that they are the first in house designed non government commercial launch vehicle to reach orbit from the ground. I must be getting older. I find the music track for the video annoying.

Huh??  what about Atlas I, II, IIA, IIAS, IIIA, IIB & V?  All were designed in house by GD or LM with no (or minimal for Atlas V) government funding.