The first SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Flight

On June 4th, 2010 at 14:30 UTC the first ever Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40, Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Carrying the Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit this flight was designed to test not only the vehicle itself but also begin tests of the Dragon capsule. Oh yeah, and AWESOME names for the vehicles!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Dragon
• Falcon 9
• COTS
• SpaceX
• NASA
• SLC40
• Spacevidcast

[1sorryham]

@cliffsplace Let's see. It was the first launch. The vehicle didn't blow up but got off the pad successfully. The 2nd stage separated and fired without the first stage running into it. The 2nd stage put the test article into the designed orbit despite a minor spin problem. It fulfilled most if not all of the test flight objectives, so it has to be deemed successful. The 2nd flight was even more successful.

[bubblinbrownsugar616]

@1sorryham Can't explain things to idiots. Especially one that's just trying to find fault in any and everything.

[aei05h1]

Bug at 2:02 is saying "WTF IS GOING ON AAAARGH!!!!!"

[bestamerica]

'

how come this rocket do not have FINS on the end bottom near engine

[jamcrane3]

@cliffsplace

He used $100 million of his own money to get this ball rolling. He is still investing vast amounts of his own money and cred to keep it going. Yes, he received a $1.6 billion contract to provide 12 flights to the ISP. That amounts to about $133 million per flight. That is a lot cheaper than it is being done now. He is being provided launch facilities by the U.S. Air Force, but that sounds like a pretty square deal to me. The $ of space access must go down to continue.

[anna803232]

Slight spin problem there......

[cliffsplace]

Well....where is all this money going that Elon Musk is taking from the taxpayers ? Certainly not into space, he has a VERY hard time getting there, and nothing to show for it.

[bibbler227]

@cliffsplace  You're an asshole

[sweetdwhite]

@Planetar17 I think they already have done that.

[letitride420]

2:02 stupid bee

[Planetar17]

Shouldn't Congress pass a law prohibiting U.S. civilian space companies from selling to foreign powers? I'd like to keep these ships under U.S. control. We have a law that prohibits the sale of capital ships. We should do the same for our best rocket tech.