Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is preparing to conduct static fire testing of the first and second stages of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, following the completion of acceptance testing of the stages themselves.

The milestone, completed at the company's McGregor, Texas, test site, moves SpaceX a step closer to launching the Falcon 9 demonstrator at Cape Canaveral, Fla. This has always been ambitiously targeted for sometime before the end of the year, though with the expected delivery of the stages to the Cape in November the company now appears to be hinting at a potential slip into January or February 2010.

In a statement, SpaceX says the demonstration flight "is expected to occur one to three months after Falcon 9 arrival at Cape Canaveral next month. The final launch date will depend on range scheduling, weather conditions and time required to make adjustments for any vehicle-to-ground equipment interactions."

At the recent Space 2009 conference in Pasadena, Calif., SpaceX also announced the Dragon qualification spacecraft would ride atop the Falcon 9 on the first demonstration flight, which will provide "valuable aerodynamic and performance information," the company adds.

Static testing will involve firing nine Merlin engines powering the Falcon 9 first stage with 125,000-pounds sea level thrust per engine for a total thrust on liftoff of just more than 1.1 million pounds, as well as a single Merlin engine powering the upper stage. The recently completed acceptance work on the stages included structural load and proof pressure tests, and concluded last week with completion of acceptance testing for the second stage.

Falcon 9 photo: SpaceX