Falcon 1

Quick Facts About the Falcon 1.

- Type: Orbital launch vehicle.

- Origin : United states.

- Manufacturer: SpaceX.

- In service : 24 March 2006 - 14 July 2009.

- Mass : 28,000 kg (61,000 lb).

- Length/Height : 21 m (68 ft).

- Diameter : 1.7 m (5.5 ft).

- Payload to LEO : 670 kg (1,480 lb).

- Payload to SSO : 450 kg (990 lb).

- Propellant: RP-1/LOX.

- Engines: First stage: 1 Merlin 1A (first 2 flights) and 1 Merlin 1C (final 3 flights) with thrust of 450 kN (102,000 lbf). Second stage : 1 Kestrel with thrust of 31 kN (7,000 lbf).

On 28 September 2008, Falcon 1 became the first privately-developed fully liquid-fueled launch vehicle to go into orbit around the Earth.

The two-stage-to-orbit rocket used LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine. It was designed by SpaceX from the ground up.

The vehicle was launched a total of five times. Falcon 1 achieved orbit on its fourth attempt in September 2008 with a mass simulator as a payload. On 14 July 2009, Falcon 1 made its final flight and successfully delivered the Malaysian RazakSAT satellite to orbit on SpaceX's first commercial launch (fifth launch overall). Following its fifth launch, the Falcon 1 was retired and succeeded by Falcon 9.

SpaceX had announced an enhanced variant, the Falcon 1e, but development was stopped in favor of Falcon 9.