The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has been given the okay by NASA to be used in their Category 2 missions. The spacecraft, however, will not be used for manned missions; rather, it will be utilized for space missions that are deemed a medium risk – generally for satellite launches or cargo missions. It has taken the company three years to receive approval for the Category 2 space missions.
SpaceX is an independent, American aerospace company space agency led by Elon Musk. The first big Falcon 9 contract was back in 2012, when it was awarded the opportunity to launch Jason 3 satellites for France and the United States. Jason 3 measures the height of waves, as well as sea level, and obtains other data used for weather studies. The Falcon 9 rocket has also flown six resupply missions to the International Space Station.
The Goal of the Falcon 9 Rocket Goal To Save Money in Space
SpaceX’s goal is to make space travel less expensive by producing reliable rockets. NASA’s certification will now allow the Falcon 9 rocket to earn other kinds of contracts. In fact, another space mission in lined up for 2017, which is the Florida launching of TESS, a satellite that looks for new planets.
Other Certifications for Falcon 9 Rocket
The Falcon 9 rocket expects other types of certification in the near future, as the U.S. Air Force is predicted to give it the okay by early June to launch its national security satellites. This is a government certification so it will help SpaceX achieve its future space-related goals.
Both SpaceX and NASA, for example, have their eyes set on the exploration and possible colonization of Mars. The company’s CEO, Elon Musk, has high hopes for a manned space mission to Mars by 2026. While it isn’t likely man will go to Mars onboard the Falcon 9 rocket, this rocket still marks a great achievement for SpaceX.
