Trailblazer - PreSat - Nanosail-D
Celestis 7

Launch data: Designation  08F01 Launch date  03 Aug 2008 - 03:34 UT Launch site  Omelek Island, Marshall Islands Launch vehicle  Falcon-1 (First flight) Mission  Technique Decay  03 Aug 2008

PreSat in launch configuration

PreSat satellite

Spacecraft data: Prime contractor   Operator   Platform   Mass at launch  83 kg (Trailblazer) 3 kg (PreSat & Nanosail) Dry Mass   kg Basic shape   Dimension (m)   Solar array   Stabilization

Nanosail-D in launch configation

Nanosail-D satellite

Trailblazer satellite

Celestis 7 (Explorer Flight)

Mission details:

• Falcon 1 flight 003 was launched from Omelek Island at 0334 UTC on Aug 3, but two minutes after launch the mission failed. According to information released by SpaceX, the problem occurred when stage 1 failed to separate from stage 2. The improved Merlin 1C first stage engine completed its burn successfully, but a longer than expected first stage shutdown meant that the stage was still thrusting when stage 2 tried to separate, and the two stages briefly recontacted. The stages fell in the Pacific; SpaceX boss Elon Musk reports that the first stage reached 217 km altitude, the second stage ignited correctly, and the fairing separated - which was due to happen at 3min 13s after launch, implying that the stage remained intact at that point. Presumably the recontact caused the second stage to tumble during the burn.
• The rocket carried the 83 kg Trailblazer satellite, a test of a new SpaceDev bus as part of the DoD's Operationally Responsive Space program. Two 3 kg nanosatellites from NASA Ames Research Center were also aboard, and two Celestis burial capsules containing cremated remains were attached to the second stage.