kkeenan 13 #1 December 8, 2010 SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launched from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 10:43 a.m. EST. This is first demonstration flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, which will provide cargo flights to the International Space Station. The Dragon capsule has separated from the second stage and is in orbit at a 34 degree inclination, 187 miles above Earth.. It’s expected to perform two orbits while controllers will put the spacecraft through several maneuvers before it re-enters the atmosphere and splashes down in the Pacific Ocean about 500 miles west of the coast of Mexico. SpaceX is providing updates of the demo flight on its website, www.spacex.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 13 #2 December 8, 2010 Launch photos here: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/press/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meux 0 #3 December 9, 2010 Kevin, Do you know what the four towers are surrounding the launch pad? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 13 #4 December 9, 2010 It is a lightning protection system. There are wires between the poles that will attract lightning bolts before they strike the launch pad or vehicle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 135 #5 December 9, 2010 Quote Launch photos here: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/press/ looks like a commercial airliner flying to HAwai scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
