SpaceX Activates New Communication System aboard International Space Station for Control of Upcoming Dragon Spacecraft Visits

Defense News: HAWTHORNE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announces the successful activation of its new Dragon spacecraft communication hardware aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during a series of operations conducted in January and March.

Dubbed the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Communication Unit, the new system will allow ISS crew members to monitor and command approaching or departing Dragon spacecraft during cargo delivery missions to the orbiting laboratory.

Astronaut Jeff Williams, Expedition 22 Commander (top), aboard the International Space Station, and engineers at SpaceX Mission Control in Hawthorne, California, perform activation and testing of SpaceX's new communications system for operations with upcoming Dragon spacecraft resupply missions to the ISS. Photo: Roger Gilbertson/SpaceX)

Space Shuttle Atlantis delivered the system hardware to the ISS during mission STS-129 in November 2009. The on-orbit checkout began January 25, 2010, when astronaut Jeff Williams, ISS Expedition 22 Commander, worked with ground-based team members at SpaceX headquarters and ISS mission control in Houston to power-up and check out the new system.

On March 11, SpaceX and NASA Houston performed an additional series of tests, using the new system to send communications between the ISS and the NASA Dryden ground station. This provided a baseline of the radio frequency performance and confirmed the first set of antennas performed as expected and is ready for mission operations. Additional testing is expected for a second set of antennas as well as ongoing verification of the overall system.

The tests employed live video and telemetry links from the ISS to verify the hardware's functionality, broadcast and reception signal strengths, and the system's stability over long-duration operations.

“The success of this series of tests speaks to our close collaboration with NASA as well as the SpaceX process that allowed the rapid development of this new hardware,” said Marco Villa, SpaceX Mission Operations Manager. “Furthermore, the January tests marked the first official joint operations between SpaceX Mission Control in California, and NASA Mission Control in Houston. Everything went smoothly, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming Dragon visits to the ISS.”

Developed by SpaceX under a NASA Space Act Agreement, the new system allows for communication between the ISS and SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft while in the vicinity of the ISS. Its design leverages the abilities of the ISS communication systems, providing data exchange with ground-based mission control.

Designed from the beginning to transport crew, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft were selected by NASA to transport cargo to and from the ISS starting in 2011. The $1.6B contract represents 12 flights for a minimum of 20 tons to and from the ISS. The first demonstration flights under the COTS program are scheduled for 2010, following the inaugural launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

About SpaceX

SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles and spacecraft intended to increase the reliability and reduce the cost of both manned and unmanned space transportation, ultimately by a factor of ten. With theFalcon 1 and Falcon 9 vehicles, SpaceX offers highly reliable/cost-efficient launch capabilities for spacecraft insertion into any orbital altitude and inclination. Starting in 2010, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will provide Earth-to-LEO transport of pressurized and unpressurized cargo, including resupply to the International Space Station.

Founded in 2002, SpaceX is a private company owned by management and employees, with minority investments from Founders Fund and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. The SpaceX team now numbers more than 900, with corporate headquarters in Hawthorne, California. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.spacex.com.

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SpaceX says Falcon 9 rocket test fire is a success

* Debut flight of private rocket could be this spring

* SpaceX, Orbital to resupply space station for NASA

* Passenger space flight services also among plans (Adds time frame for next launch, paras 11-12)

By Irene Klotz

Defense News ~ CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 14 (Reuters) - Space Exploration Technologies successfully test fired its Falcon 9 rocket this weekend, clearing a milestone toward the inaugural flight of a privately developed spaceship to fly cargo, and possibly astronauts, into orbit, the company said.

Saturday's 3.5-second 'static' firing of the Falcon's nine kerosene and liquid oxygen-burning motors took place on a refurbished oceanside launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It followed an earlier firing test aborted last week due to an improperly configured valve.

The successful test by California-based SpaceX clears the way for Falcon 9's debut mission -- a demonstration flight which could take place as early as April 12 from the same launch site, just south of the space shuttle launch pads at the Kennedy Space Center.

President Barack Obama has proposed adding $6 billion to space agency NASA's budget over the next five years to help private firms like SpaceX develop spaceships that can ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station, which he wants to continue until at least 2020.

With the NASA shuttle fleet retiring due to safety and cost concerns, the U.S. agency has turned over space station crew transport to the Russian government at a cost of about $51 million per seat.

Obama plans to hold a summit in Florida next month to discuss the U.S. space plans and industry.

SpaceX, owned and operated by Internet entrepreneur Elon Musk, already holds NASA contracts worth nearly $1.9 billion to develop and fly Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon capsules for space station cargo resupply missions.

Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corp (ORB.N) has NASA contracts of similar value for its Taurus II-Cygnus system, which is scheduled to debut next year.

SpaceX says it needs about three years to develop a launch escape system for Dragon and other upgrades to have Falcon 9 ready for passenger service.

"What we are going through right now is the equivalent of 'beta testing'," Musk, SpaceX's founder and chief executive, wrote in an email after last week's aborted test. "The beta phase only ends when a rocket has done at least one, but arguably two or three consecutive flights to orbit," he said.

With its FAA license to launch granted last week, SpaceX is just awaiting clearance from the Air Force for Falcon 9's emergency abort system, which would be used to terminate the launch if the rocket strayed from its projected fight path and threatened populated areas.

"As soon as the tests are complete and (Air Force) has signed off, we will launch," said Musk. (Editing by Pascal Fletcher and Todd Eastham)

SpaceX and Spacecom Sign Contract for Falcon 9 Geosynchronous Transfer Mission

Defense News ~ HAWTHORNE, Calif.--January 27, 2010, (BUSINESS WIRE)--Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Space Communication Ltd. (Spacecom) of Ramat-Gan Israel, operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, have signed an agreement for launch of a communication satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 as early as December 2012. Falcon 9 will insert the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), adding to Spacecom’s existing satellite fleet. Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) is also involved in the transaction.
Spacecom provides broadcasting and communications services to DBS and DTH operators, as well as a wide range of broadcasters, ISPs, telecommunications operators, government organizations and network integrators with Internet, voice, data and digital TV services. This latest deal supports company plans to launch at least four additional satellites in the coming years to multiple orbital positions.
“As a highly competitive solution for in-orbit delivery, Falcon 9 supports us as we transition into a leading global satellite services provider,” said David Pollack, president and CEO of Spacecom. “With a larger fleet providing more service options and capacity, we can continue to provide the highest quality satellite communications services and exceed customer expectations.”
“SpaceX is proud to be Spacecom’s launch services provider and we look forward to helping ensure the successful delivery of their satellite,” said Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX. “In closing this deal, SpaceX now has twenty three Falcon 9 flights on contract representing a variety of commercial and government customers, for both LEO and GTO missions."
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is a medium-to-heavy lift, two-stage launch vehicle capable of lifting approximately 11 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) and in excess of 4.5 tons to GTO. Designed to the highest levels of reliability and performance, Falcon 9, along with SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, was selected by NASA to resupply the International Space Station starting in 2010.
About SpaceX
SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles and spacecraft intended to increase the reliability and reduce the cost of both manned and unmanned space transportation, ultimately by a factor of ten. With the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 vehicles, SpaceX offers highly reliable/cost-efficient launch capabilities for spacecraft insertion into any orbital altitude and inclination. Starting in 2010, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will provide Earth-to-LEO transport of pressurized and unpressurized cargo, including resupply to the International Space Station.
Founded in 2002, SpaceX is a private company owned by management and employees, with minority investments from Founders Fund and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. The SpaceX team now numbers nearly 900, with corporate headquarters in Hawthorne, California. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.spacex.com.
About Spacecom
Space-Communication Ltd. (Spacecom) is the operator of the AMOS satellites, which provide high-quality broadcast and communication services to Europe, the Middle East, and the Atlantic bridge to the United States. The AMOS satellite constellation, consisting of AMOS-2 and AMOS-3, co-located at the prime orbital position of 4°W, serves Direct-To-Home and other Television platforms in Europe and the Middle East, as well as provides a secure and stable transmission to government agencies. The extensive signal strength and prime location makes the AMOS platform particularly suitable for DBS and DTH operators, as well as a wide range of broadcasters, ISPs, telecommunications operators, and network integrators with Internet, voice, data and digital TV services.
The AMOS-5i satellite, the latest addition to the AMOS fleet, started service January 2010. With a position at 17°E, a new orbital position, Spacecom’s coverage is expanding to Africa. AMOS-5i provides powerful C-Band and Ku-Band coverage over Africa and is serving as an interim satellite until the AMOS-5 satellite’s scheduled launch in mid-2011. Once operational, the AMOS-5 satellite will replace the AMOS-5i in its orbital position, expanding both coverage areas and capacity, to deliver high-power C-Band and Ku-Band capacity to the entire African continent. AMOS-5 and AMOS-5i complement Spacecom’s existing satellite fleet consisting of AMOS-2 and AMOS-3, and together with AMOS-4, slated for launch in 2012 to serve Asia, establish Spacecom as a true global satellite operator.
Spacecom is traded on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (SCC). Its major shareholders are Eurocom, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), General Satellite Services Co. (GSSC) and Mer Services Group.
For more information please see http://www.amos-spacecom.com.
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Contact:
SpaceXEmily Shanklin
Director, Marketing and Communications
310-363-6733
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