SpaceX Falcon 1 launch

The launch of the Falcon 1 rocket on Omelek Island, Kwajalein Atoll.

Liftoff was 3/20/2007 at approx. 01:10 GMT (9:10 EST). This video runs T -1:19 to T +5:00; the video feed was lost at approx T +5:05.

Thank you to Farker FrankTheTank for the file!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• SpaceX
• Falcon
• space
• rocket
• spaceflight

[Dullcheveeda]

VEry nice... how'd the test end?

[Southpaw018]

Unknown as of this time. Mission Control reported loss of telemetry and severe oscillation. Translation is possible loss of control of the rocket. They're still celebrating it as a success, though - second time off teh pad, first time into space.

[PauLauM]

they should use HD cameras 

[7j8i9m]

First, yes it's supposed to be red, that's one style of cooling. The conditions for the test as I understand them were achieve orbit and send back data to confirm, so the test was successful. Any other objectives were icing on the cake. It's like landing a gymnastics move at the olympics, nailed it, then falling on your face walking off the mat. Embarrasing but doesn't diminish the success itself.

[jasong19711]

@hellomate639

you know it!

[hellomate639]

@jasong19711

Government funded exploration is too bloated with goals and too thin with cash. It's really annoying. We need to just say to Hell with all the other crap and just do science and work on a manned mission to Mars.

[peepeevagi]

Falcon launch?

Falcon kick :D

[Cronites]

The contact and rotation at separation was largely due to the vehicle being at a lower altitude and a slower speed than intended, putting heavier air pressure onto the 2nd stage & fairing than what they were designed for at stage separation.

The vehicle was lower and slower at separation because of a computer error.

It reached 289km.

[am0767]

get ready for flight 5!!

[jasong19711]

they will fail but they will succeed and going PRIVATE will be the way that our race will make it to the stars.

Government funded space exploration is too bloated.

[AblePumper]

Thanks ugowar.

What I said was what I was taught back in Engineer School. It is a technique that is still in use today, but is starting to be come rare as LOX circulating through the nozzle walls has been shown since the 1960's to be a better thermal control method.

[ugowar]

What's actually getting red hot here is the nozzle extension. It's designed to be radiatively cooled.

First stage engines are typically ablatively cooled or regeneratively cooled and neither of those glows hot on the outside.

Here, the throat of the engine is also ablatively cooled, but is invisible to the left.