Portal:Spaceflight/Selected article/Week 40 2008

The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system, designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space-transportation startup company founded by entrepreneur and PayPal founder Elon Musk to provide commercial launch-to-space services. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses Lox/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine.

Two test launches of the Falcon 1 have been conducted in 2006, and 2007, neither of which achieved orbit. According to SpaceX however, the second test launch was, in their view, largely successful and Falcon 1 moved into the operational stage. The first operational launch took place on August 3, 2008, but the rocket failed to reach orbit. The fourth flight was launched, without a payload, on 28 September 2008, and successfully reached orbit, becoming the first privately funded, liquid propelled rocket to do so.

According to SpaceX the Falcon 1 is designed to minimise price per launch for low-Earth-orbit satellites, increase reliability, optimise flight environment and time to launch. It is also intended to verify components and structural design concepts that will be reused in the Falcon 9. (more...)