[to what extent is the private space industry simply resting in a subsidized way on the shoulders of the NASA giant? how much credit will these space "entrepreneurs" give to NASA?]
from SLATE: >>SpaceX Makes History With Rocket Launch The private company became the first in history to send a vessel to the International Space Station. By Rachael Levy | Posted Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at 10:31 AM ET We have (privately-funded) lift-off! California-based SpaceX made history early Tuesday morning when its Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral, carrying an unmanned vessel named Dragon into orbit and marking a new commercial era for space exploration in the process. [If further tests are successful,] The unmanned commercial supply capsule will deliver its 1,000 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station later this week. It is the first time that a private company has sent a vessel to the station, a mission previously reserved for only nations with major space programs, the Associated Press explains. "Falcon flew perfectly!!" billionaire SpaceX CEO and PayPal co-creator Elon Musk tweeted from his firm's home in California. "Dragon in orbit... Feels like a giant weight just came off my back." [is he an objective observer on the issue of Falcon's perfection?] The launch comes three days after a faulty engine valve forced the company to abort the launch at the (literal) last second. But all seemed on track for the mission in the hours that followed Tuesday's pre-dawn launch. The vessel is expected to be within range of the ISS by Thursday, when it will begin performing practice docking maneuvers about a mile out from the station in preparation for a planned Friday arrival. Now that U.S. space shuttles are no longer flying—NASA retired Discovery, the last of its ISS shuttle fleet in April—NASA is banking on the switch from government to firm-backed carriers to compete with the likes of Russia and Japan and prevent further outsourcing. The AP reports that U.S. companies are vying to fill those spots, and that American astronauts could carry out commercial rides to the station in three to five years' time.<< -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
