However, the missile failed to reach the expected peak height due to a sudden shutdown of the engine
It was not a perfect launch but not a failure either. After all, SpaceX marked a major step forward with the first launch of its new Falcon-1 rocket.
After several delays, the rocket took off from the Kwajalein Islands in the South Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, 14/3/07, to an altitude of 320 km. Unfortunately, the rocket did not reach its maximum possible altitude due to an unexpected malfunction that caused the engine to suddenly shut down.
Falcon-1 is a two-stage rocket powered by liquid oxygen and kerosene. The advanced stage is planned to return to the ground via parachutes and be used again in subsequent flights. The company's goal is to cut the traditional launch costs and reduce the average launch cost by 7 million dollars. NASA and several satellite manufacturers ordered launches through the new company founded by PayPal founder Elon Musk.
