Preparations For First Falcon 9 Test Launch

SpaceX is now targeting Friday, June 4th for its first test launch attempt of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

The primary schedule driver for the first Falcon 9 test launch has been certification of the flight termination system (FTS). The FTS ensures that Air Force Range safety officials can command the destruction of the vehicle should it stray from its designated flight path.



The successful liftoff of the recent GPS satellite launch last Thursday freed up the necessary range resources t [...]

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