The company Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), has set a remarkable goal to become the first commercial company that offers its services for the delivery of cargo to orbit the Earth, has already taken the first step - 28 September 2008 in the cosmos emerged Falcon 1 rocket. As you know, the first pancake always komom - was only the fourth successful launch missiles in the previous three were lost and several satellites. However, SpaceX officials have acquired invaluable experience, which certainly is very useful for the preparation of the first flights of more heavy lifting and the Falcon 9 rocket. The construction of Falcon 1 allows the output to only 700 kg, and then only on low Earth orbit, while the load capacity of Falcon 9 is nearly 10 tons, if necessary, to deliver cargo into low Earth orbit, and up to 5 tons in the case of the geostationary orbit. But the most interesting that with the help of SpaceX Dragon capsule into space would be to commit and manned expedition, but if we recall that NASA plans to soon phase out the use of Chelnokov Shuttle, a SpaceX Falcon 9 could become an excellent alternative and, most importantly, affordable option for delivery and goods and people into Earth orbit, as well as the International Space Station (ISS). Prospects for Falcon 9, admittedly, are cloudless, but to achieve this goal needs to be done a tremendous amount of work - to design, construct Falcon 9 rocket, and then conduct a preliminary testing of all systems, and most responsible - the ultimate test of the missile. However, testing individual components of staff SpaceX has already begun - tested performance of nine major engines of the launcher. During this procedure was carried out simulation of launch rockets and to achieve its Earth orbit. However, construction of all this is not separated from the surface of the Earth - over 178 seconds worked only engine Falcon 9. This time, chosen not by accident - it was during the nearly three minutes of launch vehicle must rise to Earth orbit. Of the interim period of 160 seconds operate all nine power plants (simulation recovery rockets into space), after which the two of them were disconnected, and the remaining seven worked another 18 seconds (recovery rockets rigged with less acceleration to reach Falcon 9 to orbit the Earth) . The tests showed that the engines are fully prepared to launch a more responsible - actually concluded the launch vehicle into space. This means that the next stage of testing Falcon 9 should become a full-fledged flight to assess the feasibility of the missile and the search for possible problems/errors in the design. Over the next few months, SpaceX expects to deliver a missile to the launching pad at Cape Canaveral (Canaveral), and begin preparations immediately to start. The final will take place as early as next year.
