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SpaceX Successfully Launches, Recovers Falcon 9 For CRS-12 (techcrunch.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the here-we-go-again dept.

Another SpaceX rocket has been successfully launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center today, carrying a Dragon capsule loaded with over 6,400 pounds of cargo destined for the International Space Station. This marks an even dozen for ISS resupply missions launched by SpaceX under contract to NASA. TechCrunch reports: The rocket successfully launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 12:31 PM EDT, and Dragon deployed from the second stage as planned. Dragon will rendezvous with the ISS on August 16 for capture by the station's Canadarm 2 robotic appendage, after which it'll be attached to the rocket. After roughly a month, it'll return to Earth after leaving the ISS with around 3,000 pounds of returned cargo on board, and splash down in the Pacific Ocean for recovery. There's another reason this launch was significant, aside from its experimental payload (which included a supercomputer designed to help humans travel to Mars): SpaceX will only use re-used Dragon capsules for all future CRS missions, the company has announced, meaning this is the last time a brand new Dragon will be used to resupply the ISS, if all goes to plan. Today's launch also included an attempt to recover the Falcon 9 first stage for re-use at SpaceX's land-based LZ-1 landing pad. The Falcon 9 first stage returned to Earth as planned, and touched down at Cape Canaveral roughly 9 minutes after launch.

3 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. Musk by 110010001000 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Is there anything that guy CAN'T do?

    1. Re:Musk by Baron_Yam · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually, Elon failed to convince him not to be a fossil-fuel boosting climate change denier.

      It's a completely different rich guy who failed to convince him to be a racist, bigoted asshole.

      On that last note, I find it really sad that only the black guy felt the need to cut ties; in my opinion, it shows you that none of them have any principles unless it hits close to home.

  2. I actually saw this rocket in person by theurge14 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I got to take a private tour of the SpaceX testing facility in Texas a few weeks back, I was a few feet away from the team installing the flight computers on top of the Stage 1 in the hanger in McGregor a few weeks back.

    Amazing stuff to see in person, and really emotional to see the same Stage 1 launch today and land.

    (On another note, the people in the hangar were listening to Katy Perry as they were working. Sorry guys, I had to.)