Second stage test firings were successfully conducted by SpaceX, bringing Falcon 9 closer to its inaugural flight. Space.com:
SpaceX announced this week that the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage successfully completed a full-duration test firing at the company's proving grounds in Texas. The test was the last hurdle for the upcoming demonstration launch, which is targeted to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...
'This was the final stage firing required for launch, so the second stage will soon be packaged for shipment and should arrive at Cape Canaveral by the end of the month,' said SpaceX founder Elon Musk in a Jan. 4 update. 'Depending on how well our full vehicle integration goes, launch should occur one to three months later.'
Falcon 9 is the vehicle designed by SpaceX to ferry cargo to the International Space Station. A complete update is available from SpaceX. Video of the test can be found here.
Wayne
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