The FAA today has announced that they have granted SpaceX a license for spacecraft reentry. The license will allow Space X to continue testing of it's Dragon capsule and perform reentry back into the Earth's atmosphere.
Per the SpaceX website, the Dragon is a free-flying, reusable spacecraft that can be utilized to transport cargo and possibly crew-members into low earth orbit. The capsule was developed under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, beginning in 2005.
NASA issued the following statement on SpaceX on being the first commercial venture to obtain an FAA license for spacecraft reentry.
"Congratulations to the SpaceX team for receiving the Federal Aviation Administration's first-ever commercial license to reenter a spacecraft from Earth orbit," NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden said. "With this license in hand, SpaceX can proceed with its launch of the Dragon capsule. The flight of Dragon will be an important step toward commercial cargo delivery to the International Space Station. NASA wishes SpaceX every success with the launch."
"Milestones are an important part of space exploration and SpaceX achieved a very important one today," said Doug Cooke, associate administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. "I congratulate SpaceX on this landmark achievement and wish them the best with their launch of the Dragon capsule."
In 2008, NASA had named the Dragon capsule and the Falcon 9 rocket as the primary vehicles to resupply the International Space Station upon the retirement of the space shuttle program.
Comments