Digital Sprocket

SpaceX finally made it to orbit with their fourth attempted launch. This is the first privately funded spacecraft design and launch to reach orbit. The Falcon 1 Launcher was topped with a dummy payload to demonstrate functional capabilities to their paying customers.

The orbital launch today clears the way for commercial satellite launch for Malaysia later this year, and the first flight of the much larger Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral this winter. SpaceX joins Scaled Composites as the second X-Prize team to successfully put vehicles into space.