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SpaceX supply ship begins journey to space station
SpaceX's commercial Dragon supply ship thundered into orbit Friday to begin a two-day pursuit of the International Space Station, setting up the delivery of 2.4 tons of fresh supplies and experimental cargo to the 450-ton research complex Sunday.
MISSION STATUS CENTER LAUNCH STORY COUNTDOWN TIMELINE LAUNCH TIMELINE OUR FALCON ARCHIVE
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SpaceX achieves controlled landing of Falcon first stage
SpaceX says it made two key strides toward the eventual reusability of the Falcon 9 rocket this week with the controlled splashdown of the rocket's first stage in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday and the successful first flight of a booster prototype from the company's Central Texas test facility.
FULL STORY EARLIER STORY ON REUSABILITY
SpaceX spaceship unloaded by robots and astronauts
The International Space Station's Dextre robot plucked a high-tech laser communications terminal from the trunk of a Dragon commercial cargo craft Monday, completing two weeks of unpacking the SpaceX supply ship's 4,600 pounds of experiments and provisions.
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Dragon mission ends with splashdown in Pacific Ocean
Packed with refrigerated science samples, spacesuit hardware and other gear from the International Space Station, a commercial Dragon cargo craft owned and operated by SpaceX concluded a 30-day mission Sunday with a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live coverage! DRAGON RETURN TIMELINE CARGO MANIFEST - (.pdf download) DRAGON FACT SHEET
SpaceX brings home Dragon with 2,700 pounds of cargo
A suite of refrigerated biomedical research samples and other equipment traveled from the International Space Station back to Earth on Tuesday, nestled inside a commercial Dragon spaceship completing a 25-day resupply flight to the orbiting scientific laboratory.
FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER DEPARTURE AND ENTRY TIMELINE RETURN CARGO MANIFEST
Dragon's cargo trunk unpacked by robot arm
Engineers guided the International Space Station's robotic arm through a remote-control procedure Wednesday to extract two grapple bars from the Dragon spacecraft's external cargo hold.
FULL STORY VIDEO:ANIMATION OF ROBOT ARM OPERATIONS LAUNCH CARGO MANIFEST
Dragon cargo ship reaches destination after shaky start
Running one day late after a propulsion problem thwarted plans for a fast-track rendezvous Saturday, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft and its 2,300 pounds of supplies arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday.
FULL STORY IMAGES:DRAGON ARRIVES AT SPACE STATION
Dragon propulsion problem arises after flawless launch
SpaceX's robotic Dragon resupply freighter appeared to overcome a "frightening" propulsion glitch shortly after successfully launching from Cape Canaveral on Friday, giving managers hope the $133 million mission can keep its charge of delivering more than a ton of cargo to the International Space Station.
FULL STORY IMAGES:FALCON 9 BLASTS OFF IMAGES:ROLLOUT AND GOING VERTICAL COUNTDOWN TIMELINE LAUNCH TIMELINE LISTING OF LAUNCH OPPORTUNITIES
SpaceX, NASA confident in Falcon 9 rocket engines
Exquisite analysis and extensive testing by SpaceX engineers, with support and advice from NASA experts, showed a dramatic engine failure on the company's last launch was caused by a material flaw in the engine's protective jacket, a SpaceX official said Thursday.
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Falcon 9 rocket fires engines in preflight test
SpaceX engineers hoisted a Falcon 9 rocket on the launch pad, filled the launcher with liquid propellant, and fired the booster's nine main engines Monday, crossing off a big item on the rocket's preflight checklist ahead of its planned launch Friday.
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SpaceX launches cargo service on CRS 1
Return of the Dragon
A commercial capsule built by SpaceX descended from orbit Oct. 28, 2012, with a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, bringing back nearly one ton of precious experiment samples and other gear from the International Space Station. The mission was the first commercial resupply flight to the space station.
FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER DEPARTURE AND RE-ENTRY TIMELINE DRAGON RETURN CARGO LIST CRS 1 MISSION PRESS KIT(.pdf download)
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Blood, urine among 'priceless' cargo in Dragon
Space station managers on Wednesday approved plans for Sunday's scheduled departure of SpaceX's Dragon commercial cargo spacecraft filled with nearly one ton of failed parts, experiments, and precious blood and urine samples for return to Earth.
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Orbcomm craft re-enters, company claims total loss
The prototype Orbcomm data communications satellite launched into an incorrect orbit by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket Sunday has re-entered and burned up in Earth's atmosphere, and although its owners say the mission achieved several objectives, Orbcomm is claiming the mission a total loss.
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Falcon 9 rocket reached orbit despite engine mishap
One of the Falcon 9 rocket's nine Merlin first stage engines suddenly lost pressure and shut down during Sunday's launch of a commercial resupply craft to the International Space Station, but the engine did not explode and the launcher successfully placed its Dragon payload in the correct orbit, SpaceX said in a statement Monday.
FULL STORY FALCON ARCHIVE
Orbcomm satellite in wrong orbit after Falcon 9 launch
Orbcomm Inc., owner of a data communications satellite launched by SpaceX on Sunday, is evaluating whether it can recover the spacecraft after it was deployed in a lower-than-planned orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket.
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SpaceX poised for first operational flight
On its first operational resupply flight to the International Space Station, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will launch Sunday with 882 pounds of crew supplies, experiments and spare parts. The capsule will return to Earth in late October with approximately 1,673 pounds of equipment from the space station.
DRAGON LAUNCH CARGO LIST DRAGON RETURN CARGO LIST IMAGES:DRAGON ATTACHED TO FALCON 9 IMAGES:LAUNCH DAY DRESS REHEARSAL
Falcon 9 static fire completed ahead of launch
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket fired nine main engines on a Florida launch pad Saturday, completing a major test before lifting off on an International Space Station resupply flight Oct. 7.
FULL STORY
Dragon achieves success on COTS 2+
SpaceX capsule sails through space station demo flight
A commercial spaceship built by SpaceX concluded a successful nine-day test flight to the International Space Station on May 31, 2012. The spacecraft lifted off from Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket, flew to the International Space Station and delivered supplies, and returned to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! COTS 2+ PRESS KIT (.pdf download)
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Dragon returns to Earth following historic flight
Placing an exclamation point on a flawless nine-day flight to the International Space Station, SpaceX's commercial Dragon spaceship made an automated pinpoint splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, completing a feat never before achieved by private industry.
FULL STORY DEPARTURE AND RE-ENTRY TIMELINE MAP:SPLASHDOWN POINT
Astronauts say crews would be comfortable in Dragon
Two astronauts who helped capture and berth the Dragon supply ship said Saturday they would be comfortable flying a human-rated version of the craft on commercial flights to the International Space Station.
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Space station crew opens door on Dragon spaceship
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station opened the door on the lab's first commercial resupply craft Saturday, accessing more than 1,000 pounds of food, clothing and experiments stowed inside. But one of the most vital functions of the privately-owned cargo ship - its ability to safely return space station equipment to Earth - is yet to be demonstrated.
FULL STORY IMAGES:ASTRONAUT VIEWS OF DRAGON ARRIVAL
First commercial cargo ship arrives at space station
The International Space Station's robotic arm on Friday reached out and snared a cargo carrier built by SpaceX, making history after the privately-built Dragon spacecraft made a cautious laser-guided approach to the complex, becoming the first commercial spaceship to reach the massive scientific research facility.
FULL STORY IMAGES:RENDEZVOUS PROFILE IMAGES:DRAGON GLIDES UNDER ISS FLYBY PREVIEW STORY RENDEZVOUS TIMELINE
Dragon circling Earth after flawless predawn blastoff
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket radiantly rose into a serene predawn sky over Florida on Tuesday, successfully launching a privately-owned capsule named Dragon into orbit on a seminal test flight to the International Space Station.
FULL STORY IMAGES:LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY COUNTDOWN TIMELINE LAUNCH EVENTS TIMELINE FLIGHT DAY ONE TIMELINE
Dragon flight testing to begin soon after launch
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will almost immediately begin testing new components following its deployment in orbit, extending solar arrays, demonstrating sensors for precise navigation, and proving its safety procedures during the capsule's first day in space.
FULL STORY
Falcon 9 countdown aborted in last second before launch
Computers automatically aborted the countdown Saturday for SpaceX's first commercial flight to the International Space Station, scrubbing the launch a half-second before liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket.
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Q&A with SpaceX founder and designer Elon Musk
Spaceflight Now spoke with Elon Musk, the father of SpaceX and chief designer of the Falcon and Dragon vehicles, on the eve of his company's biggest test yet - the historic first commercial flight to the International Space Station.
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SpaceX's commercial mission is 'just a test flight'
Observers from Cape Canaveral to Capitol Hill will be keenly watching SpaceX's commercial voyage to the International Space Station launching Saturday, and although officials bill the mission as a test flight, its outcome could buoy or blunt support for a private space race in human spaceflight.
FULL STORY
Falcon 9 launches on COTS 1
Dragon capsule back on Earth after whirlwind flight
SpaceX launched the Dragon spacecraft from Florida for a two-orbit test flight on Dec. 8, 2010, and the company brought the automated capsule back to Earth less than three-and-a-half hours later. Liftoff occurred at 10:43 a.m. EST (1543 GMT) and splashdown was at 2:02 p.m. EST (1902 GMT).
MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! VIDEO:FALCON 9 BLASTOFF COUNTDOWN TIMELINE FALCON 9 LAUNCH EVENTS DRAGON ENTRY SCHEDULE COTS 1 PRESS KIT (.pdf download)
Musk 'optimistic' next Dragon will visit station
SpaceX did its best Wednesday to quiet critics and convince NASA the company is ready to deliver supplies to the International Space Station some time next year. FULL STORY
SpaceX ready to unleash Dragon capsule in the sky
SpaceX plans to launch a robotic space capsule, fly it around the world two times, then order the craft back home Wednesday in a whirlwind test flight to demonstrate the ship's readiness to NASA. FULL STORY IMAGES:FALCON 9 ON THE EVE OF LAUNCH
Setting the odds: SpaceX boss weighs in on risks
Wednesday's twice-around-the-world test flight of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is fraught with risk, and the company's wealthy founder and chief executive predicts about a 60 percent chance the mission meets all of its objectives. FULL STORY IMAGES:ROCKET REPAIRS UNDERWAY
Falcon 9 launch video in standard and high definition
Spaceflight Now captured the Falcon 9 rocket's maiden blastoff from three locations: Kennedy Space Center's press site, the NASA Causeway and atop the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building. The video is presented here for Spaceflight Now+Plus subscribers.
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In this special edition of "This Week in Space," SpaceX boss Elon Musk speaks to Miles O'Brien about the successful flight of his Falcon 9 rocket and hits back at critics of the rocket's role in the Obama space plan. Subscribe on iTunes to This Week in Space. Support This Week in Space by making a contribution to keep the show online. If you're interested in supporting This Week in Space through advertising, contact our team to find out how we can connect your organization with our viewers.
Falcon 1 launches RazakSAT
Commercial launch of Falcon 1 rocket successful
A Malaysian satellite rode a Falcon 1 rocket into orbit Monday night, marking the first time the privately-developed booster has successfully launched an operational spacecraft. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER
Falcon flies to space but misses orbital goal
The Falcon 1 rocket, a gleaming symbol of hopes to revolutionize space exploration through private industry, took its second shot at orbit Tuesday night but fell back to Earth after experiencing a problem mid-way through the ascent. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER POST-MISSION UPDATE PHOTOS:LAUNCH GALLERY
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DRAGON IS CAPTURED BY SPACE STATION'S ARM 
