Falcon 9

SpaceX officials said the final processing of Air Force range safety documentation has been held up as a result of delays in the launch of a Delta IV rocket with a military navigation satellite.

Originally slated to launch May 20, the Delta IV blasted off late Thursday.

SpaceX and subcontractor Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Co. of Simsbury, Conn., have been working with the Air Force to certify the Falcon 9's flight termination system for flight.

The system is made up of a series of small explosives that could be used to deliberately destroy the rocket if it careened out of control and threatened cities and towns surrounding Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Once the final approvals are given and related documentation is completed, the California-based company will be cleared to launch the Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 40 at the Air Force base.

SpaceX holds a $1.6 billion NASA contract to launch 15 Falcon 9 flights -- three test flights and 12 missions to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. Contract options could increase the value of the deal to $3.1 billion.

The company also holds contracts to launch commercial payloads for customers in Argentina, Canada, Europe, Israel and the U.S.

In addition, SpaceX will be a contender for future NASA contracts to launch U.S. astronauts on round trips to the space station.

President Barack Obama in his proposed 2011 budget is directing NASA to cancel its moon program, dubbed Project Constellation, and instead invest in the development of commercial space taxis to fly astronauts to and from the station.

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Spacex

Today, a private space firm, Spacex, will be conducting the first flight test of the Falcon 9 rocket.

With the Space Shuttle fleet retiring, the plan is to use the Falcon 9 as a cheaper way to move people and cargo to the International Space Station.

President Obama is want to see the commercial sector involved in the next step of space travel: "He wants the business of taxiing astronauts to and from the orbiting platform handed to the commercial sector; and many commentators believe the Falcon is in a prime position to win that business" reports the BBC.

William Harwood of CNET explains, "SpaceX, short for Space Exploration Technologies Corp., has not released any details about the countdown, ascent milestones, or performance objectives, other than to say the dummy Dragon simulator is bound for a 155.3-mile-high circular orbit tilted 34.5 degrees to the equator."

Test flights for new rockets are challenging and success is measured in increments. At this point, if both stages work correctly, it will be a consider a success.

The Bible tells us to test things and hold on to the good. Paul was speaking about doctrine, but the principle also applies to how things are made.

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