Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has moved a step closer to the first flight of its Falcon 9 medium-lift launch vehicle with a 329-second test of its single-engine upper stage, mimicking the burn that will be required to put the company’s planned Dragon cargo vehicle in orbit.
That clears the way for the stage to be shipped from the SpaceX test site in Texas to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., by the end of January for integration with the nine-engine Falcon 9 first stage on the path to a launch.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said on the company’s Web site that integration could be finished in time for a February liftoff — in keeping with the most optimistic current plan — or it could move back as late as the end of April.
The Merlin engine generated 92,500 pounds of thrust during the static test Jan. 2, according to SpaceX. The company also has tested the staging mechanism on the composite interstage structure, using a mass-simulated upper stage atop the mechanical device, and has integrated the interstage with the first stage.
Work on the first Dragon flight vehicle also is progressing, the company said, with the pressurized portion of the qualification Dragon mated to its unpressurized “trunk.” After testing in Texas, that vehicle will be shipped to Cape Canaveral for integration with the Falcon 9, the company said.
Not much to say here. I just hate being the cable monkey.
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