Why Do DoD National Security Space Launch Programs Costs Keep Rising?

On March 5, 2014, the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee held a hearing about National Security Space Launch Programs. The hearing was a session with SpaceX’s Elon Musk, and the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Michael Gass concerning the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program and contract with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the program’s rising […]

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Gets Its Legs

“All four landing legs now mounted on Falcon 9…” Wait! What??! That was SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s tweet on 25 February, 2013. And there was a linked picture of it all, too. SpaceX is doing something NASA and the United States Air Force can’t do: adding legs to its Falcon 9 rocket. That’s right, the […]

SpaceX and SES: A Launch Story

SpaceX is accomplishing some very important work in the world of space launch, and meeting some very critical milestones. But for SpaceX to be successful, it’s helpful to have a willing and patient partner during their activities. That’s where SES comes in to play. This very good article on Via Satellite’s site tells the tale […]

SpaceX Merlin Rocket Engine LiveScribe Love

I decided give you all a little hint about the next post I’m working on. This old LiveScribe, um, video(??) is narrated by Tom Mueller, SpaceX’s Vice President of Propulsion Development. What that position typically means is he’s in charge of a lot people who know how to build rocket engines and motors, how to […]

SpaceX’s Grasshopper “leaps” higher

Yesterday, The Verge posted a neat video of SpaceX’s Grasshopper flying higher than ever. According to the article, Grasshopper flew 744 meters high, hovered, then returned safely to the launch pad. If you look closely at the video, it looks like SpaceX is using a quadcopter UAV or some such thing to film the rocket […]