SpaceX Falcon 9 Inaugural Launch
1,458 views · Published 12 June 2010 · 1:50 · Indexed 29 September 2026
Channel: ugowar · 2010 · Science & Technology
After several delays, the first SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle launched on June 4th, 2010. Powered by nine Merlin 1c engines, the vehicle roared off the Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40 pad at 02:45 PM EDT. 3 minutes later, the first stage burned out and separated and the 2nd stage, powered by a single Merlin Vacuum engine, took over. Less than 9 minutes after launch, the stage accurately inserted its Dragon qualification unit payload into the planned 250 km, 34.5 deg inclination orbit. Although not a flawless flight, the launch successfully accomplished all of the primary mission objectives. Retiring several technical risks concerning the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, it paves the way for the first NASA-sponsored COTS mission to check out the first functional Dragon spacecraft in orbit prior to future cargo flights to the International Space Station.
