[Satellite Today 01-13-09] Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s (SpaceX) Falcon 9 launch vehicle was raised to vertical at its launch complex at Cape Canaveral, Fla., SpaceX announced. The vehicle was raised on Jan. 10 — two days ahead of schedule.
    The operation was a critical step in validating a variety of system interfaces and launch processes in preparation for the maiden flight of Falcon 9 later this year, SpaceX said.
    “Any engineered system has requirements that can only be recognized through actual assembly of real hardware,” Brian Mosdell, director of Florida launch operations for SpaceX, said in a statement. “This rapid integration and stand-up provided our engineers and technicians with invaluable insights that will greatly streamline our efforts towards the first Falcon 9 launch in 2009.”