The first flight window for the nine-engine Falcon 9 rocket is this morning.

The rocket is fully loaded with liquid oxygen and RP kerosene and is in topping mode. The weather is favorable, and the strongback clamp is in the launch position. FTS (Flight Termination System) issues have delayed the launch so far.

Currently holding about a concern about the downrange clear zone. I recall on an earlier Falcon1 launch, they had to wait for a boat to leave the area. =)

Will post updates below, and hopefully some good photos…..

UPDATE: launch webcast video if you missed it. And part 2 (orbital insertion).

57 responses to “SpaceX Falcon 9 Inaugural Flight…. SUCCESS!!!”

  1. conformation_change Avatar
    conformation_change

    I thought the same thing about the "metalstorm-iness." Is that from an ablative nozzle? Awesome effects?

    Reply
  2. Astrocatou Avatar
    Astrocatou

    I think the shuttle is super bulky…and so air pressure/turbulence is huge..
    SpaceX is much more aerodynamic…
    Just like the S turns on landing…(Shuttle)
    It flattens out the curves…
    (Shuttle) air pressure on ascent,and heat build up on decent/reentry..

    So its (Shuttle)launched ("pitched and rolled" ) into a shallower ascent…
    At 1 minute the air is thinner…and you hear them telling the crew to "go with throttle up"…

    IMHO…

    Reply
  3. jurvetson Avatar
    jurvetson

    confirmation_change: ice falling away I presume, lit by the plume.

    In case you missed the webcast, I taped it:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhgtFTJchB8

    Reply
  4. aeroculus Avatar
    aeroculus

    great video – this was my son’s bedtime story this evening ; )

    Reply
  5. jurvetson Avatar
    jurvetson

    me too!

    P.S. Just got a SpaceX announcement, with the comparison:
    "For less than the cost of the Ares I mobile service tower, SpaceX has developed all the flight hardware for the Falcon 9 orbital rocket, Dragon spacecraft, as well as three launch sites."

    and a link to a short HD video of the takeoff…

    Reply
  6. jgury Avatar
    jgury

    As a Joe Sixpack citizen I am not so sure how comfortable I am with private companies being responsible and not greedy or evil when it comes to blasting stuff into space or making potentially mega deadly bugs. Even basic old school bug research like that of Prof. Warwick Kerr has a way of falling into the hands of the lab Murphy.
    Much less into the hands of the lab Wo Fat.
    http://www.google.com/buzz/ThomasMorffew/G8W2Pks7G5p/Technology-...

    Reply
  7. photon~wave Avatar
    photon~wave

    New Scientist article (25 August 2010 by Greg Klerkx):
    Start-up enterprise: Launching the new space race.

    Reply

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