First Private Spaceship Flight to Space Station Announced

[ Yahoo News ] 9 Dec

NASA announced the launch date for the first test flight of a commercial spacecraft to the International Space Station Friday (Dec. 9). The mission, which will test a vehicle intended to carry cargo, and eventually crew, to orbit, represents an important step for the burgeoning private space industry, experts say.

NASA gave Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) the formal go-ahead to launch its robotic Dragon spacecraft atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the space station on Feb. 7, 2012, so long as a series of final safety reviews, testing and verification is successfully completed.

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Posted in: Flight, NASA, Private Spaceship, Space, Space Station