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.