A4H Congratulates SpaceX

Astronauts4Hire wishes Elon Musk and all of the hard-working people at Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) congratulations on the successful inaugural test launch of the Falcon 9 rocket. The vehicle's nine Merlin engines pushed it and a mockup of the Dragon spacecraft into orbit at 2:45pm today.  Telemetry showed the rocket's second stage and Dragon capsule hit "essentially a bullseye," according to Musk.  If you missed the live webcast, you can watch the launch video here:


Some A4H members viewed the Falcon 9 at Launch Complex 40 during tours associated with the STS-132 launch last month, and A4H's own Todd Romberger and Ben Corbin viewed the spectacle in person from KSC today.  We are excited about today's successful maiden launch because it signifies a major advance in commercial spaceflight.  Launch providers like SpaceX will provide routine access into low-Earth orbit, freeing NASA to explore elsewhere in the solar system.  Today's launch demonstrated that the private spaceflight industry may soon be ready to carry cargo and eventually astronauts into space.  In the process, access to destinations like the International Space Station and private space stations should become more affordable and routine.


Location: Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA

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