Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announces delivery of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Communication Unit to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in preparation for launch on Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-129 in November 12, 2009.Developed by SpaceX, in collaboration with NASA, the unit allows forcommunication between the ISS, SpaceX`s Dragon spacecraft, and ground-basedmission control. The system also allows the ISS crew to monitor an approachingor departing capsule. As part of NASA's COTS competition, SpaceX will conductflights of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft, culminating in Dragon berthing with the ISS and then returning to Earth.
California-based SpaceX and Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corporation will begin to fulfill the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract in 2011. The contracts were awarded by NASA in late December 2008. SpaceX will launch from Florida while Orbital Sciences will launch from Virginia.
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