Space X makes it to space!

At last!!!

Enviado para voc por Dr. Omni atravs do Google Reader: Space X makes
it to space! via Bad Astronomy de Phil Plait em 28/09/08
Congratulations to the team at Space X! At 16:26 Pacific time today
(Sunday, September 28, 2008), their Falcon 1 rocket achieved orbit
around the Earth, the first time a privately funded company has done
such a feat with a liquid fuel rocket.

This was their fourth attempt to get to orbit with the Falcon 1 rocket.
The first three failed to make orbit for various reasons; each time the
company analyzed the problem and was able to move on. This last time,
they appeared to have gotten it right.

There was no scientific or commercial payload; instead, they launched
whats called a "mass simulator"; a hexagonal chunk of metal that
simulates an actual payload. It didnt deploy, but instead stayed
inside the rockets second stage as it orbits the Earth.

As I write this there is no word on the Space X website about the
orbital configuration (height above Earth and all that), but Ill keep
an eye open and report that when I find out.

Let me say, this is fantastic news! Once the Falcon 1 has a series of
launches under its belt, Space X will start launching the Falcon 9, and
then the fun really begins. It will be able to lift several tons to
orbit, giving customers an alternative to government-funded launch
agencies.

We still have a long way to go before there is cheap and easy access to
space and there are lots of other companies working on that, too
but its a step in the right direction.

Image of the Falcon 1 Flight 4 rocket preparing for launch courtesy
Space X.

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