Posted on 09/24/2009 1:11:42 PM PDT by jmcenanly
SpaceX has announced the payload for the first Falcon 9 launch later this year will be a stripped-down version of the company's own Dragon capsule, a vehicle being developed to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. 
In an update on the company's Web site, SpaceX said the demonstration launch would provide "valuable aerodynamic and performance data" for future Dragon test flights under the umbrella of NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services and Commercial Resupply Services programs.
The payload is called the Dragon spacecraft qualification unit, a vehicle originally built only for ground testing to verify the spacecraft's myriad of systems are ready for flight.
"This is the actual article used to qualify Dragon for flight loads, so it is identical to the flight article as far as the core structure and mold line, but will not carry engines or avionics, therefore it is lighter," said Elon Musk, SpaceX's billionaire founder.
(Excerpt) Read more at spaceflightnow.com ...
Ping.
What isn’t clear from this article is that Dragon is going to be man-rated. SpaceX may be the first private company with a manned orbital capability, very soon.
Who knows, when they have the Falcon 9 Heavy in production, they might also have a manned lunar capability (if they decide to).
Exctiting stuff.. They took awhile to work out the Falcon 1 bugs, I hope that situation doesn’t repeat on the 9.
Finally an inaugural worth watching.
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