SpaceX Conducts Successful Static Fire

On Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 1:30 PM ET, SpaceX conducted a successful static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket, in advance of a targeted October 7 mission to the International Space Station.

The nine-engine test took place at the company’s Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as part of a full launch dress rehearsal leading up to SpaceX CRS-1, the first official cargo resupply mission under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. This will be the first of at least 12 contracted flights to the space station.

During the static fire test today, SpaceX engineers ran through all countdown processes as though it were launch day. All nine engines fired at full power for two seconds, while the Falcon 9 was held down to the pad. Post static fire, SpaceX will conduct a thorough review of all data, and the Dragon spacecraft will be mated to Falcon 9 in preparation for next Sunday’s targeted launch.

The single instantaneous launch opportunity for CRS-1 is currently scheduled at 8:35PM ET on Sunday, October 7 with backup launch opportunities available on October 8 and 9.