SpaceX is ready for the first test flight of its cargo-carrying capsule, Dragon, atop the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The launch is planned for early November from Florida. The flight is scheduled to last perhaps four hours, during which all Dragon's systems will be tested, and the capsule is to splash down in the Pacific off southern California.
Dragon is supposed to take supplies to ISS after the space shuttle is retired, so demonstrating the company can in fact fly it in space is important to SpaceX, to NASA, and to President Obama's plan to use private spacecraft to serve low Earth orbit while NASA concentrates on deep space exploration. Dragon, indeed, is designed to eventually ferry humans to and from orbit.
The Falcon 9, so far, has only one successful launch to its credit, so a successful flight in November would allow SpaceX to build momentum and confidence. A failure, however, could increase the doubt some analysts have that private companies are ready for their expanded role in NASA's new marching orders.
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