The Space X Falcon 9 rocket successfully made it into orbit without exploding Friday. The Falcon 9 is the beginning of a new phase in commercial spaceflight as the space shuttle program ends its low-orbit cargo missions. Friday’s launch was the first flight test of the Falcon 9, a two-stage, 180-foot-high rocket carrying a mock-up of the Space X Dragon capsule. Commercial spaceflight to the International Space Station for NASA took a major step with the successful launch.
Commercial spaceflight worth billions
The Space X Falcon 9 is in line to replace NASA's space shuttles, which can be retired at the end of the year. Universe Today reports that SpaceX plans to fly up to 3 Falcon 9/Dragon test missions for NASA. The Falcon 9's fourth flight early next year could possibly be its first cargo delivery to the space station. Space X has a $ 1.6 billion contract to take on some of the resupply duties that will no longer be handled by the space shuttle fleet.
NASA saves millions with Falcon 9
The first new U.S.-built rocket engines in a decade power the Space X Falcon 9 rocket. Since it was founded in 2002, the Orlando Sentinel reports that Space X has hired hundreds of former NASA employees and contractors. Space X was founded by Elon Musk, who invested $ 100 million of the fortune he made selling PayPal to achieve the goal of a lot more affordable spaceflight. Investors who believe in Musk threw down one more $ 300 million. NASA will continue to spend $ 300 million a month on the Constellation moon rocket program until the end of the year, although it's been cancelled.
Falcon 9 bet pays off
The odds were against a successful Falcon 9 rocket test. A typical launch test has a 50-50 chance, most experts believe. Musk said the Falcon 9 had about a 70 or 80 percent chance of success at a press conference earlier in the week. In contrast the gun just clicks in Russian roulette 83 percent of the time . "So if anybody remembers that scene from 'The Deer Hunter,' Musk said, "That's tomorrow". The Space X Falcon 9 beat the odds and then some achieving orbit on its first test flight.
Space X – more Falcon 9 tests planned
An earlier Space X rocket, the Falcon 1, took four tries before it achieved orbit. MSNBC reports that some in Congress and also the space community have severe doubts about the ability of Space X and other commercial companies to meet NASA’s requirements for future spaceflight. But besides the successful Falcon 9 launch, Musk said the survival of his company, or the future of private spaceflight, didn't rest on the outcome.
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