SpaceX Falcon 1 Soars to Earth Orbit

SpaceX on Monday announced the successful launch of the Falcon 1 rocket and launch vehicle. The SpaceX vehicle Falcon 1 successfully achieved an Earth orbit of 500km by 700km during its fourth flight test early Monday morning. The SpaceX vehicle was launched from a US Army atoll in the South Pacific. SpaceX was the winner of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services competition (COTS) from NASA and is slated to provide transportation to and from the International Space Station when the space shuttle system is retired in 2010.

SpaceX Celebrates Successful Falcon 1 Launch

According to SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, Monday's launch was flawless, "The data shows we achieved a super precise orbit insertion-middle of the bull's-eye." Video of launch highlights can be viewed at the SpaceX website here. The dramatic onboard cameras show the Pacific Island shrinking in the distance as the Falcon 1 races into the sky. Elon's post-launch message was brief and full of emotion because, he said, "right now I'm in a bit of a daze and need to go celebrate."

Future SpaceX Spacecraft

SpaceX is currently developing the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and the Dragon spacecraft that will eventually carry cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely to Earth. The Dragon spacecraft is designed to make a parachute assisted ocean splashdown much like NASA's older Apollo capsules. The smaller Falcon series of launch vehicles is designed to lift commercial satellites into Earth orbit at a lower cost than other alternatives.

SpaceX Joined by Virgin Galactica's SpaceShipOne

SpaceX and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactica are leading the way in the popular commercialization of space travel. Virgin Galactica's SpaceShipOne is designed for sub-orbital passenger flights allowing passengers to view the Earth from space. Tickets for a space voyage on Virgin Galactica can be purchased for $200,000 each and are on sale now. Branson's spacecraft will initially fly from New Mexico's Mojave Desert with future plans for a second spaceport in Sweden already underway. SpaceX is concentrated on delivery of commercial payloads and government contracts to profitize its development of space vehicles while Virgin Galactica, of course, is counting on the space tourist trade.

Sources: http://spacex.com/falcon1.php; http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php