Sunday, February 19, 2017

SpaceX Brings Launchpad 39A at Cape Canaveral Back to Life


A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  This is the company's 10th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station.  Liftoff was at 9:39 a.m. EST from the historic launch site now operated by SpaceX under a property agreement with NASA.  The Dragon spacecraft will deliver about 5,500 pounds of supplies to the space station, including the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III instrument to further study ozone in the atmosphere.

Image Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

NASA:  Liftoff of SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon From Launch Complex 39A


Much was made of today's launch from Pad 39A because of the history of famous launches such as Apollo 11 and many others but that's not the reason the pad is desirable to SpaceX.  Instead, this launchpad permits launching the really big tuskers SpaceX has envisioned and is building for its future.

Ed:  Elon Musk has become the new Wernher von Braun of America's space program

That he has and let's not pass on the little dig that both of these men were immigrants.

Ed:  Elon Musk is the answer to what happens when America runs out of German rocket scientists

No disagreement as he's regarded as one of the temple gods of the new age.

The political world hardly ever looks at the future but the Rockhouse hardly ever looks anywhere else.  Enjoy the ride.


Here's coverage of the SpaceX launch which has a highly personal feel to it.

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