Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the EFT-1 spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic, rather than in the Pacific. The Fool regrets the error. <\/p>\n
Two days ago, America sent a spaceship soaring to the stars -- and we didn't need a Russian rocket to do it. <\/p>\n
At 7:05 a.m. ET,Friday, Dec. 5, United Launch Alliance (working on contract to NASA), began the EFT-1 mission, sending anOrion spacecraft built byLockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) into space atop a Delta IV Heavy rocket built byBoeing (NYSE: BA) . (Together, Lockheed and Boeing make up two halves of the NASA contractor United Launch Alliance, aka ULA.) <\/p>\n
NASA promo shot of EFT-1 launch; YouTube still <\/p>\n
The EFT-1 mission was scheduled to last just under four and a half hours, and aimed to test the workings of America's first spaceship, capable of manned interplanetary flight. It also marked NASA's first step in a 20-year plan to put American astronauts on Mars sometime after 2030. <\/p>\n
I won't keep you in suspense: The test was a success. After an initial one-day postponement from the Thursday target window, the rockets worked flawlessly in Friday's exercise. EFT-1 went up, orbited the Earth, then blasted higher, turned around, reentered Earth's atmosphere, and splashed down in the Pacific right on schedule. <\/p>\n
NASA promo shot of EFT-1 splashdown; YouTube still <\/p>\n
So ... does this mean that America's reliance upon Russian rockets to put astronauts into orbit (and beyond) is finally at an end? <\/p>\n
Not yet, but soon As you may recall, earlier this year a series of unfortunate events in Europe culminated in America imposing economic sanctions on Russia -- and Russia retaliating with a mortal threat to the U.S. space program. Unless America lifted its sanctions, Russia would cut off the supply of RD-180 rocket engines essential to ULA's ability to lift satellites into space. Simultaneously, Russia vowed to deny U.S. astronauts access to its Soyuz spacecraft -- currently the only craft capable of sending U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station. <\/p>\n
Responding to these threats, Lockheed Martin promised to team up with an American rocket-tech company to develop a \"next-generation liquid oxygen\/hydrocarbon first stage\" rocket engine capable of replacing the RD-180 on its Atlas V rockets. \"Multiple\" design contracts were signed in June, with the aim of getting a design approved this year -- and launching a prototype in 2019. <\/p>\n
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Read this article: Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the EFT-1 spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic, rather than in the Pacific. The Fool regrets the error Continue reading
\nTo Reach the International Space Station, Lockheed Martin Orders a Rocket From Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"