Monday, April 30, 2012

SpaceX Test Fires Rocket

Hawthorne-based SpaceX, the commercial rocket firm headed by technology mogul Elon Musk, test fired its Falcon rocket at slightly after 1 PST Monday, after an unspecified delay. SpaceX, which had not yet released any details of the testing results, had set its test firing for noon Monday, to prepare for an upcoming mission to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). The static firing test was webcast on SpaceX's site. The initial testing was paused at 47 seconds to firing for unspecified reasons, and then restarted to later successfully fire at around 1:17 P.M.. SpaceX said the tests are a "full launch dress rehearsal" for its second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) launch set for May 7th.