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General discussion

SpaceX says Falcon 9 rocket test fire is a success

by EdHannigan Mar 14, 2010 9:37PM PDT

Baby steps...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100314/sc_nm/us_space_business

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) ? Space Exploration Technologies successfully test fired its Falcon 9 rocket this weekend, clearing a milestone toward the inaugural flight of a privately developed spaceship to fly cargo, and possibly astronauts, into orbit, the company said.

Saturday's 3.5-second 'static' firing of the Falcon's nine kerosene and liquid oxygen-burning motors took place on a refurbished oceanside launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It followed an earlier firing test aborted last week due to an improperly configured valve.

The successful test by California-based SpaceX clears the way for Falcon 9's debut mission -- a demonstration flight which could take place as early as April 12 from the same launch site, just south of the space shuttle launch pads at the Kennedy Space Center.

Can't wait to see how they do with an actual launch.

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