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RE: SpaceX

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SpaceX Unveils Plans For Falcon Heavy Rocket

SpaceX intends to build and launch a heavy-lift version of the Falcon 9 rocket that could carry double the amount of cargo as competitor's launchers for a fraction of the cost, officials said today.
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Blobrana · L

SpaceX will hold a press conference at 11:20am EST on Tuesday, 5th April, 2011, to discuss their latest venture.

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Something Big Is Coming

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British satellites to ride Falcon 9

Britain's leading satellite builder plans to launch small satellites from Cape Canaveral aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets within the next two years.
That could create jobs in Brevard County while boosting the area's visibility overseas.
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Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and the City of McGregor today signed a lease agreement allowing SpaceX to expand the size of its rocket development facility in McGregor.
Under the deal, SpaceX will lease 631 acres -- the equivalent of almost 500 football fields -- for its test facility. The new lease will more than double the size of the current 256 acre site on the Western edge of the City of McGregor, and will last roughly 10 years, from February 2011 to January 31, 2021.

Source SpaceX

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Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (known as SpaceX) has been named one of the 50 most innovative companies in the world by MIT's Technology Review.

SpaceX has developed a low-cost production method for everything from rocket engines to astronaut capsules. The company currently has two rockets in production. One can cheaply carry small satellites into orbit; the other is designed to carry larger satellites and, eventually, humans and supplies to the International Space Station and beyond.
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SpaceX OK'd for spacecraft re-entry

The Federal Aviation Administration today issued SpaceX the first-ever license for a commercial spacecraft to re-enter Earth's atmosphere from orbit.
The license was needed for the company to complete its first operational flight of the Dragon spacecraft during a NASA demonstration mission targeted to launch Dec. 7.
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Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has announced that Colonel Scott Henderson has joined the company. He will serve as the director of Mission Assurance and Integration and will also handle Florida external relations, assisting with state and local governmental, customer and media relations. Henderson will primarily support former astronaut Ken Bowersox, vice president of SpaceX's Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance office, working out of the company's Florida office.
Henderson joins SpaceX after 25 years in the United States Air Force (USAF), an experience that began by earning a degree in Astronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy. His prestigious career in the USAF included assignments in a wide variety of high level space operations and acquisition positions. A certified acquisition professional, Henderson has also earned a masters degree in Engineering Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and was a US National Defence Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Source SpaceX

Blobrana · L

SPACEX AND ASTRIUM ANNOUNCE GROUNDBREAKING DEAL
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Astrium announce a contract for a SpaceX Falcon 1e to launch an Earth observation satellite designed by Astrium or its recently acquired subsidiary Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL).
The Falcon 1e is an 'enhanced' version of SpaceX's successful Falcon 1 launch vehicle. Designed from the ground up by SpaceX, the Falcon 1e has upgraded propulsion, structures and avionics systems in order to further improve reliability and bring to market increased mass-to-orbit capability to better serve the needs of the small satellite community.
Astrium and SSTL provide a range of innovative, cutting edge Earth Observation satellite products and through this agreement will be able to offer customers a turnkey solution, with in-orbit delivery of a low Earth orbit satellite system.
The partnership between SpaceX and Astrium paves the way for potential future cooperation.

"SpaceX's Falcon 1e launch vehicle was designed to provide the highest level of reliability as well as the lowest dedicated mission price of any orbital launch system. SpaceX is pleased to be the launch services provider for this mission" - Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX.

"This Falcon 1e contract allows Astrium to provide a competitive solution for in-orbit delivery of an Earth observation satellite in low Earth orbit. This deal will ultimately benefit customers seeking innovative and low-cost solutions for valuable Earth observation programs" - Evert Dudok CEO of Astrium Satellites.

Source SpaceX