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SpaceX’s Merlin 1D engine gets flight qualified, Musk expects launch this year (update)

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SpaceX's Merlin 1D engine gets flight qualified, Musk says it will fly this year

It's been quite the eventful year for the team at SpaceX. A few weeks after sending a Dragon capsule to the International Space Station, Elon Musk's company announced that its Merlin 1D engine managed to snag flight qualification, thanks to 1,970 seconds of testing time at its McGregor, Texas facility. That adds up to more than 10 full mission durations. The engine scored a ratio of 4:1 for critical engine life parameters, well above the industry's 2:1 standard. SpaceX will waste little time in getting it off the ground -- Musk said the engine will be taking off this year, as part of a Falcon 9 flight.

Update: Now with more video.

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Space X successfully test-fires Merlin 1D engine, forgets to buy marshmallows

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SpaceX has added another string to its now weighty bow by successfully test firing the Merlin 1D engine, which will propel future craft into the thermosphere. The 1D is the sequel to the Merlin engines used to convey the DragonX to the International Space Station, with an improved thrust-to-weight ratio that reportedly makes it the most efficient booster engine ever built. It's hoped that the gear will be ready to make the jump to full use in time for the sixth flight of the Falcon 9, currently pencilled in for 2013. If you're the sort who enjoys watching a big pile of fire being pushed into a concrete chamber, you're really gonna love the video after the break.

Continue reading Space X successfully test-fires Merlin 1D engine, forgets to buy marshmallows

Space X successfully test-fires Merlin 1D engine, forgets to buy marshmallows originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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