SpaceX Delays Falcon-9 Test Until May

The SpaceX maiden launch of the Falcon 9 booster has been delayed until at least May 8, 2010 as the Hawthorne, Calif.-based space launch firm tests the Flight Termination System with the Air Force launch range safety controllers and subsequent clearance for use of the dedicated Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

The approximate May 8, 2010 launch window and latest plan will result in the Falcon 9 boosting the Dragon cargo capsule too. SpaceX executives aspire to have the Dragon capsule approved to ferry astronauts to space no later than 2015 as the civil space agency developes NASA crew safety regulations on commercial space launch vehicles.

SpaceX and Dulles, Va.-based Orbital Sciences Corporation have NASA contracts to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. Both firms continue to work to achieve technology development milestones and reach a positive state of readiness of the commercial space launch hardware. A commercial space race is on between the two firms as to which will be the first to actually deliever cargo to the orbiting space station.

The Russian, European, Japanese have successfull demonstrated unmanned cargo flight capability to the ISS. The United States has delivered significant structures, modules, and cargo to the ISS but with the scheduled retirement of the fleet, the federal civil space agency is advancing a commercial solution by the somewaht more traditional Orbital Sciences Corporation and the new SpaceX commercial space launch firms.