SFI Launch Highlights: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches CRS-8 Dragon to ISS
Photo Credit: Michael Howard / SpaceFlight Insider
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Recording history. It seems to be nothing more than a matter of timing. Being at the right place, at the right time is only part of it, however. With rocket launches, it seems even easier – the precise time and location of history are laid out in advance. April 8, 2016, at 4:43 p.m. EDT at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida. However, to truly capture an event takes more – as we found out when SpaceX made history.
For the launch of SpaceX’s CRS-8 mission, the turbulent Florida weather, numerous technical aspects, skilled professionals, and history aligned. In the end, the successful launch was only one small part of a larger story. In the end, the NewSpace firm returned their Dragon spacecraft to service – and landed the first stage of their Falcon 9 rocket on an Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship positioned out in the Atlantic Ocean. What occurred is touched on in the highlights reel below.
Video courtesy of SpaceFlight Insider with portions produced by SpaceX
Jason Rhian
Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.
