Private Rocket Goes to Space

Posted by Miss Cellania in Science & Tech, Video Clips on September 29, 2008 at 8:52 am



(YouTube link)

SpaceX has succeeded in their attempt to launch the Falcon 1 rocket into space. The company, headed by eBay co-founder Elon Musk, had made three unsuccessful tries before yesterday’s launch.

The tensest moment came just before stage separation. At that critical juncture, the third launch attempt had failed. This time, it worked out perfectly.

Eight minutes after leaving the ground, Falcon 1 reached a speed of 5200 meters per second and passed above the International Space Station.

“I don’t know what to say… because my mind is just blown,” said Musk, during a brief address to his staff after the successful launch. “This is just the first step of many.”

The feat is a giant leap forward for privately-funded space ventures, and follows the spectacular 2004 suborbital flight of SpaceShipOne.

Link




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COMMENT

5 comments to "Private Rocket Goes to Space"

  1. rintrah
    September 29th, 2008 at 9:21 am

    That was awesome.

  2. TwoDragons
    September 29th, 2008 at 10:08 am

    That. Was. So. Freaking. COOL.

    I NEVER grow tired of watching stuff like this! :-D

    –TwoDragons

  3. Xinavera
    September 29th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    eBay–>PayPal

    I never tire of these rocket-cam videos. Congrats to Elon and the whole Space-X crew. While Spaceship1 and the whole Rutan team took the Ansari X-Prize, I consider private orbital flight to be a more impressive achievement. Good on ya, mates!

  4. Martin
    September 29th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Oh i love this kind of stuff!!

    It would have been so cool to be in the control room with all the cheering people!! im def going to space someday!

  5. Ali S.
    September 29th, 2008 at 11:53 pm

    Ah, the dream to fly to space for the masses has finally taken a step in the right direction! Bravo! 50 or so years from now I would love to think we’d be able to fly out into orbit at least once in our lifetimes.


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