On this day in 2008, SpaceX had a successful launch of its Falcon 1 rocket after three earlier failures. Launched from Omelek Island in the Marshall Islands, the rocket would fly only one more mission before being retired. It was replaced by the Falcon 9, which is still in service today.
After the third failure of the Falcon 1 in August 2008, Elon Musk stated:
The most important message I’d like to send right now is that SpaceX will not skip a beat in execution going forward. We have flight four of Falcon 1 almost ready for flight and flight five right behind that. I have also given the go ahead to begin fabrication of flight six. Falcon 9 development will also continue unabated, taking into account the lessons learned with Falcon 1. We have made great progress this past week with the successful nine engine firing.
He did not give up, and today’s successful test of a Starship rocket is testimony to Mr. Musk’s determination to continue unabated.
