Dragon in space!

[de Selby]

This sounds like a new GW release but it's actually SpaceX's successful flight of the Falcon 9/Dragon craft, now en route to the international space station with supplies. SpaceX doesn't have a man rated craft yet but it's starting to look like only a matter of time, at which point the US would once again have a domestic means of putting people in low earth orbit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQNJG8MPcIc

(watch to the end to see the solar panels pop out)

We've been following NASA's travails on this forum so it's nice to see something going so well. It appears that SpaceX is starting to deliver on its promise of more cost-efficient flight to orbit.

More pics here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/ga...aunch-pictures
(image 9 and on are computer renders not photos, as some of the bits of the mission pictured haven't happened yet).

[Dylius]

That's really quite amazing. Makes you wonder how long it will be before we're living on Mars... (though it's probably not going to be in any of our lifetimes!)

Congratulations to SpaceX!

[de Selby]

Since the OP the capsule has been successfully berthed against the station, and SpaceX have signed the first contract for their heavy lift rocket to push satellites way up into geostationary orbit. Virgin/Scaled composites are not to be outdone, planning more manned suborbital flights:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/20...p-test-flights

[canberraguy]

Just splashed down ok too.

[de Selby]

Indeed. Welcome home dragon!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/20...-journey-earth

[El_Machinae]

That's really quite amazing. Makes you wonder how long it will be before we're living on Mars... (though it's probably not going to be in any of our lifetimes!)

Congratulations to SpaceX!

I think it can be within our lifetimes, we just have to make the correct decisions (at the individual level, which by gestalt, becomes societal efforts)