Falcon 1 - First 3 Launch Failures (2006-2008) - HD, On-Board Sound, NET Coms

[catdlr]

CATDLR NOTE:  I have issues with the editing of this video.  The flights are out of order for #2 and #3  The first flight is correct.  The third flight appears twice after the first flight, and the second flight appears at the end where the third flight should be. I asked the publisher to correct it. If they do. I'll re-post, if they don't I'll do it myself and post my version.

Jan 25, 2024
The first three Falcon 1 flight failures from Omelek Island in the Marshall Islands, upscaled from low bitrate webstreams, presented with multiple camera views and onboard sound.

Sequences from multiple cameras as shown side by side and isolated in real time. The sound was restored based on onboard audio from multiple launches. AI upscale (Topaz AI) was used to upscale the video sequences. While it works in most cases, some artifacts are present in some sequences. Original videos are sourced from SpaceX's YouTube channel.

Sound and image cleanup,  conversion to original frame rate, AI upscale and color restoration by RetroSpace HD.

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Falcon 1 was a small-lift launch vehicle that was operated from 2006 to 2009 by SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer. On 28 September 2008, Falcon 1 became the first privately developed fully liquid-fueled launch vehicle to go into orbit around the Earth.

The first launch took place on 24 March 2006. It ended in failure less than a minute into the flight because of a fuel line leak and subsequent fire. The vehicle had a noticeable rolling motion after liftoff, as shown on the launch video, rocking back and forth a bit, and then at T+26 seconds rapidly pitched over. Impact occurred at T+41 seconds onto a dead reef about 250 feet from the launch site.

The second launch was on 21 March 2007 with a DemoSat payload for DARPA and NASA. During staging, the interstage fairing on the top of the first stage bumped the second-stage engine bell. At around T+4:20, a circular coning oscillation began, which increased in amplitude until video was lost. At T+5:01, the vehicle started to roll, and telemetry ended.

The third launch was on 3 August 2008. During the launch, small vehicle roll oscillations were visible. Stage separation occurred as planned, but because residual fuel in the new Merlin 1C engine evaporated and provided transient thrust, the first stage recontacted the second stage, preventing the successful completion of the mission.
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