SpaceX Falcon I rocket fails to orbit test satellite
{{date|March 21, 2007}}

[[Image:SpaceX falcon Washington DC.jpg|Right|thumb|200px|A Falcon 1 rocket]]

The [[w:SpaceX|SpaceX]] [[w:Falcon 1|Falcon 1]] rocket has failed to place a [[w:DARPA|DARPA]] demonstration payload into orbit, on its first flight into space. The rocket launched from [[w:Omelek Island|Omelek Island]], at 01:10 [[w:GMT|GMT]] on [[w:21 March|21 March]], just less than a year after its maiden flight which failed just seconds after launch.

The rocket, which is the first privately-funded liquid-fueled [[w:Launch vehicle|launch vehicle]], was intended to place the payload into a [[w:Low Earth orbit|low-Earth orbit]], but all contact with the rocket was lost just over five minutes into the flight.

The first stage burn proceeded nominally, and separation occurred on schedule. As the first stage fell away from the second, it was observed to have impacted on the engine bell of the second stage. About five minutes into the flight, the second stage began to roll out of control. All data was lost at T+5 minutes, 5 seconds.

==Related news==

*{{wikinews|title=SpaceX Successfuly Launches from Kwajalein Atoll|date=March 21, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=SpaceX delays Falcon 1 launch again|date=February 21, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Spacex cancels Falcon 1 launch until 2006|date=December 19, 2005}}
*{{wikinews|title=SpaceX scrubs Falcon I rocket launch|date=November 28, 2005}}

==Sources==

*[http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon/f2/status.html SpaceFlightNow Mission Status Centre]
*[http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/ NASA SpaceFlight.com]

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[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:SpaceX]]
[[Category:Falcon 1]]
A Falcon 1 rocket

The SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket has failed to place a DARPA demonstration payload into orbit, on its first flight into space. The rocket launched from Omelek Island, at 01:10 GMT on 21 March, just less than a year after its maiden flight which failed just seconds after launch.

The rocket, which is the first privately-funded liquid-fueled launch vehicle, was intended to place the payload into a low-Earth orbit, but all contact with the rocket was lost just over five minutes into the flight.

The first stage burn proceeded nominally, and separation occurred on schedule. As the first stage fell away from the second, it was observed to have impacted on the engine bell of the second stage. About five minutes into the flight, the second stage began to roll out of control. All data was lost at T+5 minutes, 5 seconds.
Space Science and technology SpaceX Falcon 1