CASPER
THE FRIENDLY GHOST
Space Exploration Technologies, the California company called SpaceX for short, has received the first-ever commercial license to re-enter spaceships from Earth orbit.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees commercial space transportation, granted SpaceX the one-year license today (Nov. 22). Though the FAA has issued licenses for more than 200 commercial launches, this was the first time it sanctioned a re-entry operation.
The license will allow SpaceX to proceed with an important test of its Dragon space capsule and Falcon 9 rocket next month. A Falcon 9 is to carry a Dragon to low-Earth orbit, from where the capsule will re-enter the atmosphere. [Illustration of Dragon re-entering Earth's atmosphere.]
This will be the first attempt by a commercial company to recover a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, SpaceX officials said. To date, only six nations or government agencies have done it: the United States, Russia, China, Japan, India and the European Space Agency.
The demonstration, which could take place as early as Dec. 7, is a key trial run for SpaceX. The company holds a contract under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program to help resupply the International Space Station after the U.S. space shuttle fleet retires next year.
After the final shuttle mission, SpaceX will make at least 12 flights to carry cargo to and from the station, according to company officials.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees commercial space transportation, granted SpaceX the one-year license today (Nov. 22). Though the FAA has issued licenses for more than 200 commercial launches, this was the first time it sanctioned a re-entry operation.
The license will allow SpaceX to proceed with an important test of its Dragon space capsule and Falcon 9 rocket next month. A Falcon 9 is to carry a Dragon to low-Earth orbit, from where the capsule will re-enter the atmosphere. [Illustration of Dragon re-entering Earth's atmosphere.]
This will be the first attempt by a commercial company to recover a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, SpaceX officials said. To date, only six nations or government agencies have done it: the United States, Russia, China, Japan, India and the European Space Agency.
The demonstration, which could take place as early as Dec. 7, is a key trial run for SpaceX. The company holds a contract under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program to help resupply the International Space Station after the U.S. space shuttle fleet retires next year.
After the final shuttle mission, SpaceX will make at least 12 flights to carry cargo to and from the station, according to company officials.