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Falcon launch12/11/2023 ![]() SpaceX started with the idea that the smallest useful orbital rocket was the minimum viable product (Falcon 1 with about 450 kg or 990 lb to orbit), instead of building something larger and more complicated, and then running out of money and going bankrupt. It also was used to verify components and structural design concepts that would be reused in the Falcon 9. Design Īccording to SpaceX, the Falcon 1 was designed to minimize price per launch for low-Earth-orbit satellites, increase reliability, and optimize flight environment and time to launch. In August 2007, the Department of Defense canceled the planned launch of TacSat-1 because all of the TacSat objectives had been met.Īn August 2005 update on SpaceX's website showed 6 launches planned for Falcon 1, with customers including MDA Corp ( CASSIOPE, which eventually launched in 2013 on Falcon 9), Swedish Space Corp and US Air Force. After TacSat-2 was launched on an Orbital Sciences Minotaur I on 16 December 2006, the Department of Defense re-evaluated the need for launching TacSat-1. Subsequent and repeated delays due to Falcon 1 launch failures delayed TacSat-1's launch. But the Air Force did not want the launch of an untested rocket to occur until the final Titan IV flew from nearby SLC 4E. By late May 2005, SpaceX stated that Falcon 1 was ready to launch TacSat-1 from Vandenberg. Cancelled launches Īs part of a US$15 million contract, Falcon 1 was to carry the TacSat-1 in 2005. While the development of Falcon 1 was privately funded, the first two Falcon 1 launches were purchased by the United States Department of Defense under a program that evaluates new US launch vehicles suitable for use by DARPA. The total development cost of Falcon 1 was approximately US$90 million to US$100 million. The only other orbital launch vehicles to be privately funded and developed were the Conestoga in 1982 and Pegasus, first launched in 1990, which uses a large aircraft as its launch platform. The Falcon 1 rocket was developed with private funding. SpaceX had announced an enhanced variant, the Falcon 1e, but development was stopped in favor of Falcon 9. Following this flight, the Falcon 1 was retired and succeeded by Falcon 9. ![]() ![]() On 14 July 2009, Falcon 1 made its second successful flight, delivering the Malaysian RazakSAT satellite to orbit on SpaceX's first commercial launch (fifth and final launch overall). After three failed launch attempts, Falcon 1 achieved orbit on its fourth attempt in September 2008 with a mass simulator as a payload. The vehicle was launched a total of five times. It was designed by SpaceX from the ground up. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket used LOX/ RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine. On 28 September 2008, Falcon 1 became the first privately-developed fully liquid-fueled launch vehicle to go into orbit around the Earth. Falcon 1 was a small-lift launch vehicle that was operated from 2006 to 2009 by SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer. ![]()
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