Topic
6 facts from 2 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
2006
SpaceX's first Falcon 1 launch, from Omelek Island in the Kwajalein Atoll in March 2006, failed about 25 seconds after liftoff.
“They ignite the Falcon one. It takes off. It starts climbing. Everybody's going nuts. And about 25 seconds in, it blows up.”
2007
The second Falcon 1 launch in March 2007 failed when fuel sloshing in the nearly empty second stage caused wobbling and an air bubble in the engine.
“It was that everything functioned perfectly as it was going up because the fuel tank was mostly full, but then when it got to the second stage”
2008
SpaceX achieved its first successful Falcon 1 launch in September 2008, the same month Lehman Brothers collapsed.
“the very next month in September, 2008. Uh, the same month that Lehman Brothers went under, they finally succeed in a launch”
Undated
SpaceX named its first rocket Falcon 1 after the Millennium Falcon, and its engine Merlin after a type of falcon.
“They decide they're going to name this first, um, rocket, the Falcon one after the millennium Falcon, of course.”
Undated
SpaceX flew the Falcon 1 only five times.
“they only ever did five launches of the Falcon one.”
Undated
Clemente says SpaceX failed three times to reach orbit with Falcon 1 before succeeding on the fourth attempt.
“SpaceX failed three times to get the Falcon one rocket into orbit. The fourth time it was successful.”
Episodes