Mishap destroys SpaceX Falcon 1 after maiden launch
{{date|March 24, 2006}}
The [[w: Falcon 1|Falcon 1]] rocket, launched by [[w:SpaceX|SpaceX]], was destroyed shortly after its maiden launch today. Despite an earlier highly successful static test firing off the main engines, this fourth attempt at launch failed during the first stage burn. After clearing the tower, an onboard webcam revealed a swirl of flame around the base of the rocket before contact was lost.
Both the Falcon 1 launcher and its [[w:Falconsat|Falconsat]] payload were lost.

It was later revealed that a fire had cut a helium pneumatic line causing the safety valves in the fuel system to automatically close, shutting down the main engine. The cause of the fire and the fuel leak that fed it has yet to be determined.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.spacex.com/updates.php
|title=SpaceX Updates
|author=Dianne Molina
|pub=SpaceX
|date=24th Mar 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11997932|title=SpaceX launches — and loses — first rocket|author=Alan Boyle|pub=MSNBC|date=24th Mar 2006}}.
*{{source|url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051219/BREAKINGNEWS/51219009|title=Falcon 1 launch off until 2006|author=|pub=Florida Today|date=20th Dec 2005}}.
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4848782.stm|title=Fire caused SpaceX rocket failure|author=|pub=BBC News|date=27 March 2006}}.


[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:SpaceX]]
[[Category:Fires]]
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Falcon 1]]
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{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[de:Erster Raketenstart des privaten Weltraum-Unternehmens „SpaceX“ gescheitert]]
[[de:Nach dem Absturz der Trägerrakete „Falcon 1“: Elon Musk will Ursachenforschung betreiben]]
The Falcon 1 rocket, launched by SpaceX, was destroyed shortly after its maiden launch today. Despite an earlier highly successful static test firing off the main engines, this fourth attempt at launch failed during the first stage burn. After clearing the tower, an onboard webcam revealed a swirl of flame around the base of the rocket before contact was lost.
Both the Falcon 1 launcher and its Falconsat payload were lost.

It was later revealed that a fire had cut a helium pneumatic line causing the safety valves in the fuel system to automatically close, shutting down the main engine. The cause of the fire and the fuel leak that fed it has yet to be determined.


de:Erster Raketenstart des privaten Weltraum-Unternehmens „SpaceX“ gescheitert
de:Nach dem Absturz der Trägerrakete „Falcon 1“: Elon Musk will Ursachenforschung betreiben
Science and technology Space United States North America SpaceX Fires Disasters and accidents Falcon 1