LIVE: Falcon 9 Flight 1 Maiden Flight - June 4, 2010

[Xentry]

I started timing the roll motion at about t+7min. It looked initially like 1rpm, but at around 8min became more like 2rpm. This is the kind of roll that ballistic entry vehicles are given to stabilize before entry. Nothing special, and SpaceX will likely solve it without any problem for Flight 2.
Congratulations to SpaceX, and may it be the first of many successful flights! In particular, congratulations for finally putting your little money machine working.
Now it's on to multiplying today's feat by several tens  , and putting an operational Dragon capsule in space and safely back to Earth!

[SpacexULA]

Falcon 9 is no longer a paper rocket

NASA just got a Delta II replacement.

That's high praze from you Jim, considering how much you loved Delta II

[smith5se]

Congrats to SpaceX on the launch, there were a few of us here surrounding a computer. Looked good, delay in audio was a bit fun but none the less, good launch; seems as if more than anything their PR/PAO needs some work.

Thanks for the coverage NSFers.

[Orbiter]

Yea!!! Go SpaceX and Dragon! Amazing! Great job to all the teams! Maiden flight of Falcon 9 went down with absolutely no problems!

Orbiter

[simonth]

I wonder whether now that the first launch was successful, the long pole for the second flight actually becomes a full-up operational Dragon for COTS Demo 1.

[Norm Hartnett]

I actually have a version of it already that spits out a little Dragon on its own chute... not sure I can market it, Elon has REALLY good lawyers;)

Don't call a Falcon and Dragon.   It is the Hawk and Griffon.

Humor? From Jim? This really is a red letter day!

(National Doughnut Day too!)

[PahTo]

I don't think so--at least not with the (apparent) nutation.

Any chance the roll was intended, for stability?

Jeff

[zerm]

I actually have a version of it already that spits out a little Dragon on its own chute... not sure I can market it, Elon has REALLY good lawyers;)

Don't call a Falcon and Dragon.   It is the Hawk and Griffon.

HEY! I'm gonna use that! No foolin'.

[ugordan]

I started timing the roll motion at about t+7min. It looked initially like 1rpm, but at around 8min became more like 2rpm.

2nd Ariane V flight came to my mind while watching this live. The puzzling thing is the roll control nozzle did compensate a couple of times and then it just kind of stopped.

[Arb]

Amateur iPhone video of launch with excellent sound. Those engines are throaty.

http://www.twitvid.com/E2JKU

[corrodedNut]

Did anyone else notice the upper stage umbilical whipping around like a fire hose?

[clongton]

Falcon 9 is no longer a paper rocket

NASA just got a Delta II replacement.

High praise coming from Jim.

[savuporo]

Congrats again on reaching halfway to anywhere.

[yg1968]

Another launch video on YouTube:

[kraisee]

Chris -- How hard did your servers get hit today?   How did today compare to a Shuttle launch?

Ross.

[Lars_J]

Whoa.... Cool Max Q picture:

http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/launch/falcon9sfn10.jpg

[Jim]

The roll at liftoff has me the most concerned.  The engine bells could have hit the launch mount.   

I wonder if it was the roll to the launch azimuth and they forgot to put in a delay before it is performed.  Most vehicles just try to fly straight for a few hundred feet before started any maneuvers, such as the pitch and roll program.

[TheFallen]

Beautiful launch.  Good work, SpaceX!

[Liss]

In one hour from launch, still no elsets for the orbiting vehicle.
Technically, it hasn't finished first orbit yet but I wonder if we are at orbit in fact. Hope so.

[vt_hokie]

Whoa.... Cool Max Q picture:

http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/launch/falcon9sfn10.jpg

Hope it's not heresy to mention Ares here but that reminds me of the Ares I-X shockwave condensation photo!