Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has transferred the Falcon I flight vehicle to its launch complex at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The vehicle will now undergo a series of pre-launch tests.
When it launches, Falcon I will carry the TacSat-1 satellite to a 500km orbit (100km above the International Space Station) with a southeast departure track along the California coast. TacSat-1 is built and integrated by the US Naval Research Laboratory for the Defense Department’s Office of Force Transformation.
In addition to TacSat-1, SpaceX has two other launches of Falcon I and one launch of Falcon V under contract for 2005.
About SpaceX
SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles intended to increase the reliability and reduce the cost of access to space by a factor of ten. Located in El Segundo, California, the company was founded by Elon Musk in June 2002. SpaceX is the third company founded by Mr. Musk. Previously he co-founded and was the largest shareholder of PayPal (formerly X.com), the world’s leading electronic payment system, which sold to online auction giant eBay.
