Falcon 1
Falcon 1 was a small-lift launch vehicle that was operated from 2006 to 2009 by SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer. On 28 September 2008, Falcon 1 became the first privately developed fully liquid-fueled launch vehicle to go into orbit around the Earth.: 203
Falcon 1 rocket | |
| Function | Orbital launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Project cost | US$90 million |
| Cost per launch | US$7 million |
| Size | |
| Height | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Diameter | 1.7 m (5.6 ft) |
| Mass | 28 t (62,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Orbital inclination | 9.0 - 9.35° |
| Mass |
|
| Payload to SSO | |
| Mass | 200 kg (440 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | Omelek Island |
| Total launches | 5 |
| Success(es) | 2 |
| Failure(s) | 3 |
| Partial failure(s) | 0 |
| First flight | 24 March 2006 22:30 GMT |
| Last flight | 14 July 2009 03:35 GMT |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | 1 Merlin 1A (first 2 flights) 1 Merlin 1C (final 3 flights) |
| Maximum thrust | 450 kN (100,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 255 s (2.50 km/s) (sea level) |
| Burn time | 169 s |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 1 Kestrel |
| Maximum thrust | 31 kN (7,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 327 s (3.21 km/s) |
| Burn time | 378 s |
| Propellant | RP-1/LOX |
| Part of a series on |
| Private spaceflight |
|---|
| Active companies |
| Active vehicles |
| Contracts and programs |
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. It was designed by SpaceX from the ground up.
The vehicle was launched a total of five times. After three failed launch attempts, Falcon 1 achieved orbit on its fourth attempt in September 2008 with a mass simulator as a payload. 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). Following this flight, the Falcon 1 was retired and succeeded by Falcon 9.
SpaceX had announced an enhanced variant, the Falcon 1e, but development was stopped in favor of Falcon 9.