Successful
Falcon
9
Launch
Significant
Milestone
in
Expanding
Role
of
Private,
Commercial
Sector
in
Human
Space
Flight
Next
Step
in
Space,
a
growing
coalition
of
businesses
and
organizations
dedicated
to
scientific
advancement
and
increasing
our
understanding
of
the
Earth
and
our
solar
system
through
the
expansion
of
human
space
flight,
today
heralded
SpaceX’s
successful
test
flight
of
Falcon
9 as
an
important
milestone
and
proof
point
toward
NASA’s
vision
for
an
expanded
private
sector
role
in
commercial
crew
transportation
to
low-earth
orbit
(LEO).
The
180-foot
Falcon
9
rocket
carried
the
man-rated
Dragon
capsule
160
miles
above
the
earth
on
Friday,
June
4
completing
its
maiden
voyage
successfully
and
clearing
the
way
for
future
trips
to
the
international
space
station
later
this
year
and
in
2011.
“The
successful
launch
of
the
Falcon
9
was
a
perfect
way
of
inaugurating
NASA’s
new
vision
and
direction
for
space,”
said
former
FAA
Associate
Administrator
for
Commercial
Space
Transportation
Patti
Grace
Smith.
“As
we
work
together
to
build
a
new
space
economy
based
on a
commitment
to
exploration
and
innovation
in
space,
we
will
create
jobs
that
will
help
fuel
our
leadership
position
in
science
and
engineering.
Space
is
not
only
a
destination,
but
a
platform
for
launching
new
and
innovative
applications
and
services
-
applications
in
advanced
communications,
environmental
monitoring,
biotechnology
research,
renewable
energy
and
national
defense.
The
new
space
economy
promises
to
be a
catalyst
for
job
creation
and
economic
development
that
will
help
solidify
U.S.
leadership
in
the
world.
Last
week's
successful
Falcon
9
launch
is
just
the
beginning.”
Said
General
Lance
W.
Lord,
retired
four-star
U.S.
Air
Force
general
and
former
commander
of
Air
Force
Space
Command,
“The
innovative
spirit
of
Space-X
escaped
the
gravitational
pull
of
the
earth
last
week
as
the
Falcon
9
lifted
off.
More
importantly
though,
the
Falcon
9
proved
it
is
indeed
possible
to
escape
the
forces
of
inertia
that
exist
in
the
space
launch
business.”
In
April
of
this
year,
NASA
outlined
an
ambitious
effort
to
foster
the
development
of
path-breaking
technologies;
increase
the
number,
scope,
and
pace
of
manned
and
unmanned
space
missions;
make
human
spaceflight
safer
and
more
efficient;
and
help
create
thousands
of
jobs.
Frank
DiBello,
President
of
Space
Florida,
remarked,
“SpaceX
is
an
innovator
and
a
prime
example
of
the
type
of
company
that
will
make
the
next-generation
U.S.
Space
Program
globally
competitive
and
sustainable.
We
are
proud
that
the
SpaceX
launch
was
a
success
and
recognize
that
the
Space
Economy
is
diverse.
We
are
committed
to
expanding
our
role
with
companies
like
SpaceX
to
create
jobs
and
economic
prosperity
both
in
Florida
and
beyond.”
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