SpaceX Successfully Tested Draco Thruster 88
dj writes "The propulsion division of SpaceX has performed another important test. After the test of the Falcon 9's first stage Merlin engines, the smallest engine of the SpaceX family, Draco, has been put to test. During the test, the thruster fired for ten minutes, paused for ten minutes, and then was restarted for an additional minute.
The test was performed on a new vacuum test stand built by SpaceX, and put into operation in March 2008 at the SpaceX Test Facility outside McGregor, Texas."
Interesting SpaceX article (Score:4, Informative)
http://www.thefabricator.com/FabStories/FabStories_Article.cfm?ID=2045 [thefabricator.com]
Goes into significant detail of why SpaceX is really revolutionizing the launch business.
Re:Why? (Score:4, Informative)
To compare SpaceX and NASA is silly. NASA does not built rockets. Boing and McDonald Douglas built rockets. NASA buys those rockets from contractors. What SpaceX is hoping to do is become a contractor and sell rockets to NASA.
This is not unique to NASA. The US Air Force does not build airplanes either and the Army does not build rifles.