Credit: SpaceX
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Explorers Flight
Mission Timeline
August 2, 2008 Update
The Explorers
Flight mission appears not to have reached orbit
tonight. We will post more information as it becomes
available.
Statement
from Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and CTO
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Credit: SpaceX |
February 27, 2008
SpaceX announces that it has completed the qualification
testing program of its Merlin 1C next generation liquid
fueled rocket booster engine (pictured at left) for use
in the Falcon 1 rocket. “This was the final development
milestone required for the next Falcon 1 flight,”
said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. Read
the full story. |
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September 28, 2007
Two Celestis flight canisters are integrated onto the
Falcon 1 avionics platform. The avionics platform is
attached the second stage of the Falcon 1 and will orbit
the Earth with the Celestis canisters attached to it.
The procedure took place at the SpaceX facility in El
Segundo, California. Click
here for additional photos.
Please note that while reservations
for the Explorers Flight are closed, we are
taking reservations for future Earth Orbit, Earth Return,
Lunar and Voyager Flights. Click here
for more information. |
Credit: SpaceX |
March 21, 2007
SpaceX successfully launches
its Falcon 1 launch vehicle into space from Kwajalein
atoll. Click here
for SpaceX's low-resolution video of the spaceflight (Windows
Media Video File - 6.24mb), or click here
for SpaceX's high-resolution video (Windows Media Video
File - 39.5 mb). |
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January 19, 2007
SpaceX has updated their projected
launch schedule for the Falcon 1 Demonstration 2 flight.
It is now scheduled for no earlier than February 15,
2007. An anomaly in the second stage guidance system
and the schedule for the launch range combined together
to push the Falcon 1 attempt scheduled for January 22nd
beyond the approved launch window.
January 12, 2007
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation
(SpaceX) has announced that the second demonstration
launch for Falcon 1 will take place on January 22, 2007
from Kwajalein atoll. As we have reported previously,
the Celestis Explorers Flight is aboard the next SpaceX
Falcon 1 flight after this demonstration mission. The
date for our flight will be announced after the successful
completion of the upcoming demonstration mission.
January 22, 2007 is still a tentative
date representing the earliest possible launch. As always,
launches can be delayed due to a variety of reasons,
even during the final countdown.
We congratulate SpaceX on clearing
all of the return to flight hurdles and look forward
to a successful mission. We will post news of the launch
and an updated Explorers Flight schedule on our site
as soon as possible after the flight of Falcon 1 demonstration
mission. |
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October 22,
2006
SpaceX plans to conduct the demonstration flight of a
Falcon 1 launch vehicle from the Marshall Islands in the
first quarter of 2007. Assuming the launch of that Falcon
1 is successful, our flight would likely be scheduled
for liftoff in the second quarter of 2007. |
Credit: SpaceX |
March 22, 2006
SpaceX conducted a successful test of the Falcon 1 "Merlin"
engine. Click here
to see SpaceX video of the static fire test in the Marshall
Islands. |
Credit: SpaceX |
May 27, 2005
Engine final qualification test with a successful,
on the pad “hot fire” engine test.
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Credit: SpaceX
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January 24, 2005
SpaceX performed a successful engine test, a milestone
toward our launch. You can read an article about this
test here.
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Credit: SpaceX |
November 2004
Click to
view images of the Falcon I launch vehicle in preparation
for an engine test. After the completion of the tests
the Space Services memorial spacecraft is integrated.
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