Disaster strikes first SpaceX rocket launch

SpaceFlightNow.com ^ | 24 March 2006 | Justin Ray

[Rockitz]

Countdown underway for first SpaceX rocket launch The inaugural launch of the privately-made Falcon 1 rocket is targeted for 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT) today from a seven-acre isle in the Central Pacific Ocean. SpaceX delayed the launch from 4:05 p.m. so that the first stage recovery ship could be moved out of the restricted impact zone.

[Rockitz]

Looks like they lost it.

2240 GMT (5:40 p.m. EST)

"We did lose the vehicle," says Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX vice president of business development. "I don't have any information right now. We did have successful liftoff and a minute or so of powered flight...We do know the vehicle did not succeed after that."

"Clearly this is a setback. But we are in this for the long haul. We will proceed with follow-up information as we learn it.

Nice try guys! Back to the drawing board.

[cripplecreek]

"impact zone."

Well those are two words you don't want to hear in connection with a rocket launch.

[cabojoe]

Well at least it looked cool. Wilbur and Orville didn't succeed at first either.

[Rockitz]

Ping!

[BurbankKarl]

They should have used a "B" engine instead of a "C" engine.

[Rockitz]

Can you change the title to "Disaster strikes first SpaceX rocket launch?" Just changed at site.

[gaijin]

Colonel Sanders was living in his truck, 58 years old, and had given over 300 failed biz pitches when he finally got his break.

[Hank Rearden]

Colonel Sanders was living in his truck, 58 years old, and had given over 300 failed biz pitches when he finally got his break.

Yet, years after his death, his dream of Chickens In Space remains unfulfilled.

[manwiththehands]

Good one, Hank. :-)

[manwiththehands]

How many failures did our space program have? Keep going, guys. You have little government bureaucracy to interfere with your progress. I expect the very next launch to go perfectly.

[al baby]

Sounds like a movie falure to launch But Keep going guys

[Bob]

"impact zone."

Well those are two words you don't want to hear in connection with a rocket launch.

I'm presuming that this is (or should that be was?) a multi-stage rocket. That first stage has got to come down somewhere.

[Fatuncle]

Yet, years after his death, his dream of Chickens In Space remains unfulfilled.

Yeah, the government handed the idea over to NASA, and now it's Pigs In Space.

So sue me, Kermit.

[newzjunkey]

Unmanned. This is their first test flight! No one is that crazy. Except maybe the old Soviets.

[tet68]

Yet, years after his death, his dream of Chickens In Space remains unfulfilled.


At least his reach for the stars gave us the "Pressure Deep
Fryer".

"Go on and climb in Gertrude, it's really a space capsule,
you'll be famous....."

[Hank Rearden]

Yeah, the government handed the idea over to NASA, and now it's Pigs In Space.

You noticed the Flying Hamhock too, huh?

My buddy and I called it that 15 years ago, when he was working on the early development.

[Moonman62]

SpaceX delayed the launch from 4:05 p.m. so that the first stage recovery ship could be moved out of the restricted impact zone.

This company gives the impression of being incompetent, but the good news is they are in the private sector. They will either get their act together, or they'll go out of business . Government agencies after a big failure get a doubled budget.

[KevinDavis]

I hope they try again.. It will be a shame that they quit..