First Ever Commercial Launch For The Space Start-Up

A Malaysian RazakSAT satellite was successfully placed in orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket Monday, the first time the company has boosted a satellite into space.

Photo Credit: SpaceX

It was the fifth launch for the Falcon 1 Rocket, and the first to carry a commercial payload. The company launches from Omelek Island, part of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, about 2500 miles southwest of Hawaii.

The launch was delayed last month after SpaceX identified the potential for an unfavorable interaction between the satellite and the launch vehicle. After further analysis, SpaceX determined the implementation of a simple vibration isolation system would address this concern. SpaceX selected the SoftRide isolation system from CSA Engineering for this purpose, citing the system's strong flight heritage and established success in addressing vibration concerns.

Falcon 1 is a two-stage, liquid oxygen/rocket-grade kerosene vehicle designed from the ground up by SpaceX. The RazakSAT satellite, equipped with a high resolution Medium-Sized Aperture Camera (MAC), was boosted into a near equatorial orbit.

FMI: www.spacex.com