http://spacetravel.tribe.net/thread/1eb7851e-ac01-4c4e-a402-01b1ffbc7867?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://spacetravel.tribe.net/thread/1eb7851e-ac01-4c4e-a402-01b1ffbc7867#f2436463-59ca-4974-9b9a-dae9ff342687 This is a pretty cool video of a Dragon mission taking crew to ISS: http://spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=37 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:26:38 GMT http://spacetravel.tribe.net/thread/1eb7851e-ac01-4c4e-a402-01b1ffbc7867#f2436463-59ca-4974-9b9a-dae9ff342687 eric 2009-03-12T08:26:38Z http://spacetravel.tribe.net/thread/1eb7851e-ac01-4c4e-a402-01b1ffbc7867#41baf580-24ed-4ea2-8386-b22e26899d6b SpaceX conducts tests on upper stage engine on Falcon 9. http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090310 "New Merlin Vacuum engine demonstrates highest efficiency for an American hydrocarbon rocket engine. McGregor, TX. – March 10, 2009 – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) successfully conducted a full mission duration firing of its new Merlin Vacuum engine on March 7, at SpaceX's Test Facility in McGregor, Texas. The engine fired for a full six minutes, consuming 100,000 pounds of liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene propellant." Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:14:27 GMT http://spacetravel.tribe.net/thread/1eb7851e-ac01-4c4e-a402-01b1ffbc7867#41baf580-24ed-4ea2-8386-b22e26899d6b eric 2009-03-12T08:14:27Z http://spacetravel.tribe.net/thread/1eb7851e-ac01-4c4e-a402-01b1ffbc7867#7d22fac1-72f6-4821-b6b0-1f9311bf74d0 Have you guys been tracking SpaceX? http://www.spacex.com They are setting to make progress this year, with the inauguration of Falcon 9, commercial launches of Falcon 1, and their marketing of Dragon capsule as an alternative to the retiring Space Shuttle program (STS). Along with Orbital Science they have recently secured contract with NASA to supply cargo to ISS, this is above and beyond the COTS requirement of demo flights to ISS. Its looking promising with them. Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:23:07 GMT http://spacetravel.tribe.net/thread/1eb7851e-ac01-4c4e-a402-01b1ffbc7867#7d22fac1-72f6-4821-b6b0-1f9311bf74d0 eric 2009-01-31T12:23:07Z