Dreamchaser spacecraft to begin phase 2 of flight testing.

Dreamchaser test vehicle ready to ship to NASA's AFRC

Sierra Nevada Cooperation's Dreamchaser test vehicle is now ready for transportation to NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California for its second phase of flight testing. When Dreamchaser arrives it will be put through a series of ground tests to verify and validate the spacecraft's systems. After these pre-flight ground tests, the vehicle will enter its phase 2 free-flight test which is when the spacecraft is carried to high altitude and dropped to glide back and land on a runway. “Dream Chaser continues to make strong progress toward orbital flight,” said Mark N. Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC’s Space Systems business area. The data from the free-flight tests will confirm Dreamchaser's subsonic aerodynamic properties, flight software, and control system requirements.

SpaceX fires landed booster

The landed Falcon 9 first stage from the May JCSAT mission was raised and tested at SpaceX's McGregor test facility in Texas on July 28th, 2016.

United Launch Alliance launches NROL-61 on Atlas V

NROL-61 lifted off on July 28th at 8:37am EDT this morning on United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket. NROL-61 is a satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office and its functions are classified. The Atlas V rocket in its 421 configuration with a 14ft wide fairing, 2 solid rocket boosters, and one centaur engine.

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 with Dragon to the ISS!

Early Monday morning at 12:45am EDT, SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 with Cargo Dragon enroute to the International Space Station. The Falcon 9 launched beautifully lighting up the night sky and successfully delivered Dragon into the desired orbit to catch up to the space station. After the first stage separation, it immediately entered it's flip and started the boostback burn toward Cape Canaveral. The second stage then continued to push Dragon into orbit as the first stage fell back to Earth. Three of the first stage's engines ignited again to start the reentry burn to help slow down the rocket while entering the atmosphere to prevent serious damage. Shortly after the engines shutdown, one re-lit for the landing burn allowing the first stage to softly touchdown at Landing Complex 1. Dragon then separated from the second stage and deployed it's solar panels and is now on its way to the space station.
(Photo credit: SpaceX, www.flickr.com/spacex )