CSF Congratulates SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace on Launch of BEAM and Droneship Landing
On Friday, April 8, 2016, SpaceX successfully launched its eighth Commercial Resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) via its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. The Dragon is carrying 7,000 pounds of supplies, hardware, scientific research, and technology payloads to the ISS and its crew, including the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM). BEAM will be attached to the ISS to test the use of human-rated expandable space habitats in microgravity.
“CSF congratulates SpaceX, Bigelow Aerospace, and all of our commercial partners that are expanding the burgeoning economic activities in LEO,” said CSF President Eric Stallmer. “BEAM represents an important milestone for public-private partnerships that will further expand NASA’s exploration capabilities and commercial opportunities in low-Earth orbit (LEO).”
This mission is part of SpaceX’s CRS contract with NASA, in which the company flies uncrewed Dragon spacecraft to and from the ISS for resupply and return of research to Earth. Scheduled to return to Earth in May, the Dragon spacecraft from CRS-8 will bring back biological samples from astronauts, including those collected during NASA’s one-year mission. Each flight carries important crew supplies, as well as payloads that allow universities and private companies to study the effects of microgravity in an effort to improve our understanding of space.
Additionally, we’d like to congratulate SpaceX for sticking the landing of the first stage of their Falcon 9 rocket on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship. Rapidly reusable orbital rockets are key to a more cost-effective space future, and today’s landing was a giant leap forward in this domain.
About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation
The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation’s member companies, which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers, and service providers, are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering.
For more information please visit www.commercialspaceflight.org or contact Jane Kinney at jane@commercialspaceflight.org or at (469) 879 – 9503.
