SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket is being prepared for launch at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station - pics

[Kadie]

The SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket is being prepared for launch from Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida May 18, 2012. An Obama administration plan to cut the cost of spaceflight services faces a key test on Saturday when a privately owned rocket lifts off for a practice run to the International Space Station. If successful, Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, would become the first private company to reach the $100 billion outpost, which flies about 240 miles (390 km) above Earth. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule are scheduled for launch on Saturday.






Mark Patterson (L) and Matthew Rece, both with CTNewsJunkie. Com, prepare a remote camera for the launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket from Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida May 18, 2012. An Obama administration plan to cut the cost of spaceflight services faces a key test on Saturday when a privately owned rocket lifts off for a practice run to the International Space Station. If successful, Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, would become the first private company to reach the $100 billion outpost, which flies about 240 miles (390 km) above Earth. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule are scheduled for launch on Saturday.



pics from news.daylife.com

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The Dawn of the Commercial Space Age is (Probably) Happening This Weekend

SpaceX's Dragon heads for the ISS in a historic first flight for the commercial space industry
By Clay DillowPosted 05.18.2012 at 12:25 pm

Tomorrow morning, whether they realize it or not, Americans will likely wake up to a new era. Though nothing will be outwardly different, a fundamental shift in the nature spaceflight will commence during the wee morning hours. Call it a defining moment, or a milestone, or simply call it what it is: the dawn of the private spaceflight industry’s real presence in outer space.

more...
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-05/dawn-commercial-space-age-probably-happening-weekend

[phantom power]

1. I remember touring their factory when they were building the F9 engine prototypes.

They get to build spaceships! Best job ever!