SpaceX launch moved back

It is important in this field to have everything exactly the way you want it. Failure is really not an option and so many variables can lead to a failed launch. This flight particular has an extra important reason to look perfect. It is supposedly the future method of commercial space travel which of course depends on this launch. This is why it must be moved from time to time. This time only happens to be a week or so. It has been moved from April 30, 2012 to May 7, 2012.

This launch is more of a precursor to the future transport of human cargo. It is only taking up much needed supplies on this run but the implications of this flight are tremendous. It is the very first privately built  and funded spacecraft to make a stop at the International Space Station. SpaceX pushed back the flight and NASA has claimed they are more than willing to wait to ensure the success of such a historic occasion and actually appreciate the fact that they will wait.

It shows trust in a privately owned company (SpaceX)that they aren't trying to force this into success. So many things in the past have gone horribly wrong because a company would not admit to their unpreparedness for an important deadline. In most cases, this would reflect badly on the company, but when it comes to something so important, it can be encouraged.

Imagine if something does go wrong with this flight. No one will ever want to buy tickets to their possible demise and SpaceX could be ruined. It will never leave peoples minds that the first time we actually used this thing, it blew up. This could send commercial space travel back several years until we could convince the public to try it again. I suspect that hundreds upon hundreds of public cargo runs would need to be done before i would ever set foot on one.

Nevertheless, it still remains important that we expand the possibilities of extending our reach. We don't want to be restricted to only sending 6 or so guys somewhere every few months or longer. So much more research could be done with groups of 50 or more. Every step is a step in the right direction no matter what happens.

We look forward to the success of this launch! Good Luck SpaceX!

The Dragon is Ready for Launch!

 A company known as SpaceX has built a spacecraft and rocket to carry supplies and people up to the International Space Station. This is significant due to the fact that never before have we been this close to starting a private space travel industry. This upcoming trip scheduled for April 30th, 2012 and will only be carrying cargo this time. The cargo is only going to be supplies for the astronauts and future customers.

Falcon 9 1st Demo Launch

The spacecraft is named Dragon and has only ever seen one test launch so this cargo transport is mostly a test. 1200 pounds of material will be transported to the International Space Station (ISS) and the craft will return to Earth. If this test is successful then the Dragon will be making regular runs to the ISS. The test are extremely nerve wrecking as launching something over 17,000 mph at a target that is very small can be an extremely difficult task. 

The Dragon is actually propelled by a rocket which was also built by SpaceX. The Falcon 9 rocket has seen 2 previous launches and is also very new. In December 2011, the Falcon 9's second launch, which included the Dragon spacecraft for its first time, it made history as being the first ever launch of a privately built and operated spacecraft to to be launched to Earths orbit and then also recovered.

NASA's Interest in Commercial Space Travel

Atlas 5

         More and more you hear about spaceflight taking off year after year. Someone always has some mission planned to go into space with civilians and not astronauts and scientist. There are entrepreneurs out there with the sole intention of taking the space market by storm. Businessmen always want the next big thing and I don’t know of a more interesting vacation then spending a little while in space. Just the fact that its soon becoming a reality that we can begin to capitalize spaceflight.

           The big names such as Boeing have been relentlessly trying to cut the cost of their Atlas 5 rockets to prevent being overrun by start up companies with newer more efficient ideas. One such man by the name of Elon Musk claims he is developing new ideas to take the industry by storm with cheaper and far more efficient means. It seems like having some new minds on the subject besides just the normal would be beneficial to our research in space.

          The whole idea behind this is NASA. They feel like if they can get the ball rolling, they can lower the cost of getting their stuff and crew to the International Space Station or ISS. In fact they have spent an awful lot of US taxpayer money on it. There is a strong possibility that this will work if you think about it. If companies start competing for the cheaper prices, it could allow NASA to use their equipment for things that are new to science. If taxpayers had the ability to rent a shuttle rather than buy one, they could spend much more of their money on newer research. Why spend so much when there already going there and you just have to buy the space.

International Space Station

          It all seems like an excellent idea, but there is a strong possibility it wont work out. Unfortunately I would hate to see all of that money go to a dead end. There are so many more things out there that can be learned with that cash. Although the risk is great, the reward would save so much more money for years to come. We all know eventually were going into space on a more frequent basis so we might as well give our country a kick start on an international industry!