SpaceX F9 private space flight lifts off Florida; 2011 first ISS mission ?
Post date: Jun 5, 2010 5:48:13 AM
SpaceX Internet founder Elon Musk
The launch gives a major boost to the rocket's builder,SpaceX,
and its Internet-tycoon founder, Elon Musk. But the launch was
almost as important to the Obama administration, which has proposed
a far greater role for commercial space companies in the future of NASA.
ISS commercial transportation for U.S. says Obama Adm. Bolden
NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr. said in a statement that SpaceX's "accomplishment is an important milestone in the commercial transportation
effort, and puts the company a step closer to providing cargo services to the International Space Station."
160 mls up SpaceX F9
source: washingtonpost.com
SouthAfrican-born PayPal Founder Musk
SpaceX - or Space Exploration Technologies -
was founded eight years ago by Elon Musk,
a South African-born entrepreneur who
co-founded PayPal. It is one of several companies
eying for NASA's business. SpaceX has poured close
to $400 million into its two lines of Falcon rockets
President Barack Obama toured the SpaceX launch site
back in April in a strong show of support for commercial
space and his effort to get NASA out of the orbit-ferrying
business and into real outer space exploration, like
expeditions to asteroids and Mars.
SpaceX:http://www.spacex.com/
April 15, 2010 file photo shows President Barack Obama walking away from the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle with Elon Musk, of SpaceX, right, at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (Alex Brandon - AP)