New Photos of SpaceX's Falcon 9 Assembly

RobGoldsmith writes "New images are now available of SpaceX's Falcon 9 being assembled. The images are accompanied with a small update from SpaceX. If there are no unexpected delays, it's possible Falcon 9 will be completely integrated by the end of the year. This update shows real flight hardware and really brings the rocket alive. View images of the Falcon 9 nearing completion now!"

Re:by the end of the year?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, that's an odd turn of phrase to use when the end of the year is tomorrow. The article says "before December 31st", and it was posted on Dec 30. Um.

here's a spec. sheet

[operator_error]

http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php [spacex.com] (Please make source articles more complete)

Re:by the end of the year?

[bornyesterday]

according to previous releases and a note in the NYT either today or yesterday, falcon 9 is supposed to be fully assembled by dec 31, 2008

Better Link

[tibman]

The offical site and news: http://www.spacex.com/updates.php [spacex.com] It says exactly what the article links to, just a bit more offical ;)

I know a lot of people never thought SpaceX would get this far. I watched the first three Falcon1's explode like everyone else before this last successful launch in Sept (even though it had no real payload). I'm hopeful their Falcon9 starts out successful.

Re:NASA isn't that bad.

[Karrde45]

SpaceX has developed their own engines. 4 at last count: Merlin, Merlin Vac, Kestrel, and Draco. They are using common dome tanks, which NASA (as far as I know) is not using in their current programs. SpaceX started as little more than an assembler of outsourced and off the shelf parts, but these days they pretty much design and build as much in house as they can. They may be relying on a lot of NASA's theoretical research of years past, but they are definitely designing their own rocket rather than just slapping NASA parts together.

Re:Let's see these guys launch something first

[jcnnghm]

They've already put the Falcon 1 into orbit. I'd say that's an accomplishment.

Re:Let's see these guys launch something first

[mephistophyles]

Don't wanna piss away my karma, but don't forget the canceled Falcon 5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_5 [wikipedia.org]

just thought I'd add that fyi, in case you didn't count it

Re:by the end of the year?

[QuantumG]

Actually, it was posted in the SpaceX website on Dec 29.. It took a day to get to the spacefellowship, then another day to get to Slashdot.. so I'm surprised it isn't 2009 already.