Updated: Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 8:59 PM ET (0159 GMT)
Originally Posted: Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 6:47 PM ET (2347 GMT)
The inaugural launch of SpaceX's Falcon 1 rocket failed shortly after liftoff Friday afternoon. The rocket lifted off from Omelek Island, part of Kwajalein Atoll, at 5:30 pm EST (2230 GMT). A webcast of a video feed from the rocket itself was cut off moments after liftoff, and company officials confirmed several minutes later that the vehicle was lost after about a minute of powered flight. No further details about the launch failure have been released. The rocket was carrying Falconsat 2, a small satellite built by Air Force Academy cadets.

Related Links:

•  MSNBC article
•  BBC article
•  AP article
•  NasaSpaceFlight.com article
•  Spaceflight Now launch status center