Flight of The Dragon

[ReconRat]

Pay attention. Today history was made. I know, it didn't make much news. But the first launch of an independent rocket (The Dragon) and satellite payload from Cape Canaveral in Florida, is the start of the civilian marketplace in space. This literally puts independent American civilians ahead of the space programs of most other countries.

SpaceX launched this satellite. And they are, well, that's PayPal. The payload was an Army communications satellite for robots. Go figure. The US Army's first satellite in 50 years. And as rumour has it, a wheel of cheese - Le Brouere cheese, to be precise, a French cow's milk cheese rather like Gruyere. As a tribute to Monty Python's Cheese Shop.

Watch the launch here

4900+ MPH at first stage separation

20,000+ MPH at second stage separation

"Do you have any cheese at all?"

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/12/09/350808/secret-spacex-payload-revealed.html

Army Nanosatellite On First Flight

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Army_Nanosatellite_On_First_Flight_999.html

Stay tuned for further adventures of civilians in space.