Falcon 9 Prepares For High Stakes Launch

happylunarnewyear writes "The first new rocket to be launched from the Cape since 2002 is assembled and upright on Launch Complex 40. Falcon 9 will undergo fueling testing and live firing tests before the launch occurs as soon as next month. The stakes couldn't be higher, either. The much politicized proposal for a change in direction for NASA, which includes scrapping the Constellation program in toto in favor of privatization and a new heavy lift vehicle, veritably rides on this rocket. If the launch goes well, the plan for increased reliance on privatized cargo missions and eventually privatized manned missions will soar with it. However if something goes wrong, those plans will come crashing to Earth along with Falcon 9. Given the stakes, this launch is one of the most important in recent history. From the article, 'President Obama's proposal to shift transport of US astronauts to the space station from government launchers to privatized ones could suffer politically if there's a high-profile problem with the first mission of the Falcon 9, by far the most talked-about newcomer vying for the opportunity.'" Reader FleaPlus contributes related news about NASA's proposed funding for scientific payloads on commercial space flights, which would be a huge boon to researchers.

Comments

Re:How is this more private than before?

[vlm]

How is Space X launching a Falcon 9 under a government contract (that previously included helping with development costs) any different than a Delta or Atlas rocket launch under a government contract?

Here's my interpretation. In the old days, private/public referred to whom owned the company. Now a days its reversed, and public means they own a part of the govt, and private means they're going it alone without owning a part of the govt.

Delta/Atlas is owned by Boeing/Lockheed which are big enough businesses to own a senator or two, maybe a couple reps, so its sort of public.

SpaceX is small enough that I doubt even the local alderman returns their calls, so they're private. In fact its surprising the govt is allowing them to succeed, at least so far, since they aren't getting their "cut".