Falcon 9 Demo Launch Expected in Months

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has announced that all flight hardware for the debut launch of the Falcon 9 vehicle has arrived at the Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), in Cape Canaveral, Florida with the commercial space launch firm having now initiated full vehicle integration of the 154 feet tall, 12 feet diameter rocket, which will include a Dragon spacecraft qualification unit.

"We expect to launch in one to three months after completing full vehicle integration," said Brian Mosdell, Director of Florida Launch Operations for SpaceX. "Our primary objective is a successful first launch and we are taking whatever time necessary to work through the data to our satisfaction before moving forward."

Though designed from the beginning to transport crew, SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft will initially be used to transport cargo. Falcon 9 and Dragon were selected by NASA to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) once Shuttle retires. The $1.6B contract represents 12 flights for a minimum of 20 tons to and from the ISS with the first demonstration flights beginning in 2010.