SpaceX scrubs Falcon I rocket launch
{{date|November 28, 2005}}

[[Image:TacSat-1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|TacSat-1 spacecraft, which was supposed to be the successor to the Falcon I]]
[[SpaceX]] called off the much-delayed inaugural launch of their new Falcon 1 rocket on Saturday from Kwajalein’s Omelek Island launch site. The intent was to launch the U.S. Air Force Academy's FalconSat 2 satellite, which will monitor plasma interactions with the Earth's upper atmosphere and magnetosphere.

The launch was delayed, then finally cancelled after an oxygen boil-off vent had accidentally been left open. The oxygen was unable to cool the helium pressurant, which then proceeded to evaporate faster than it could be replenished. A main computer issue, probably serious enough to cause a scrub on its own, was also discovered.

This long-anticipated flight was originally expected to be launched in January 2005, however a series of setbacks forced a series of delays, with the flight most recently scheduled to be in early 2006. It was intended to be launched from the [[w:Kwajalein|Kwajalein]] atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The maiden voyage was originally intended to launch from [[w:Vandenberg Air Force Base|Vandenberg Air Force Base]] in California with a [[w:US Naval Research Laboratory|Naval Research Laboratory]] satellite and a Space Services Incorporated [[w:space burial|space burial]] payload.

==SpaceX==
SpaceX is a startup company founded in 2002 by [[w:Elon Musk|Elon Musk]], who is also known for founding the [[PayPal]] online payment service. The launch price per pound for the Falcon I is substantially cheaper than that of other US launch vehicles. In the past Musk has stated, "Long term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. We expect that each size increase would result in a meaningful decrease in cost per pound to orbit. For example, dollar cost per pound to orbit dropped from $4,000 to $1,300 ($8,800/kg to $2,900/kg) between Falcon 1 and Falcon 5. Ultimately, I believe $500 per pound ($1,100/kg) or less is very achievable."

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.24x7updates.com/FullStory-News-SpaceX_Scrubs_Maiden_Flight_of_Falcon_1_Rocket-ID-200679.html
|title=SpaceX Scrubs Maiden Flight of Falcon 1 Rocket
|author=
|pub=24x7 Updates
|date=November 27, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.spacex.com/updates.php
|title=SpaceX Updates
|author=Dianne Molina
|pub=SpaceX
|date=August 03, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/051118_falcon1_spacex.html
|title=SpaceX Sets Launch Debut for Falcon 1 Rocket
|author=Tariq Malik
|pub=Space.com
|date=November 18, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.spacex.com/press16.php
|title=SpaceX completes final milestone before Falcon I Maiden Launch
|author=Dianne Molina
|pub=SpaceX
|date=May 27, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.af.mil/news/Mar2002/n20020320_0436.asp
|title=Space shuttle to launch cadet-developed satellite
|author=
|pub=AFPN
|date=March 20, 2002}}
*{{source|url=http://www.afrl.af.mil/news/june05/features/falcon_launch.pdf
|title=AFRL helps academy cadets with engineering
|author=Erin Caylor
|pub=Air Force Research Laboratory
|date=June, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.darpa.mil/body/news/2004/falcon_ph2_t1.pdf
|title=DARPA, Air Force kick off Phase II small launch vehicle effort
|author=Jan Walker
|pub=DARPA
|date=September 15, 2004}}

<!--  These sources are source material for the TacSat-1 program.  I'm keeping them here for now as background material, and they may be useful when the second SpaceX launch occurs, as this will be the satellite that is scheduled to fly on that mission.
*{{source|url=http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=04REVIEW207
|title=Tactical Microsatellite Experiment (TacSat-1)
|author=M. Hurley
|pub=Naval Research Laboratory
|date=September 2004}}
*{{source|url=http://www.oft.osd.mil/initiatives/ors/tacsat_fact_sheet.cfm
|title=Operationally Responsive Space Experiment
|author=
|pub=Office of Force Transformation, Department of Defense
|date=September, 2004}}  -->

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[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:SpaceX]]
[[Category:Elon Musk]]
[[Category:Falcon 1]]
TacSat-1 spacecraft, which was supposed to be the successor to the Falcon I
SpaceX called off the much-delayed inaugural launch of their new Falcon 1 rocket on Saturday from Kwajalein’s Omelek Island launch site. The intent was to launch the U.S. Air Force Academy's FalconSat 2 satellite, which will monitor plasma interactions with the Earth's upper atmosphere and magnetosphere.

The launch was delayed, then finally cancelled after an oxygen boil-off vent had accidentally been left open. The oxygen was unable to cool the helium pressurant, which then proceeded to evaporate faster than it could be replenished. A main computer issue, probably serious enough to cause a scrub on its own, was also discovered.

This long-anticipated flight was originally expected to be launched in January 2005, however a series of setbacks forced a series of delays, with the flight most recently scheduled to be in early 2006. It was intended to be launched from the Kwajalein atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The maiden voyage was originally intended to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California with a Naval Research Laboratory satellite and a Space Services Incorporated space burial payload.
Science and technology Space California United States North America SpaceX Elon Musk Falcon 1