Story Continues BelowThe 154 foot tall rocket's nine Merlin 1C engines roared to life precisely on time at 12:30 p.m. EST, belching forth a plume of fire and sending grey smoke rolling across the landscape at a newly refurbished Space Launch Complex 40, a former launch pad for the Titan IV rocket.


(Click the photo above for more pictures from today's test. Photo credit: SpaceX)

SpaceX leased the defunct launch complex in 2007, two years after the last Air Force Titan IV-B launch. The complex has since been refurbished from the ground up and the only remnants from the Titan era are the concrete launch stand and flame ducts along with the lightning towers.

"Just prior to engine ignition, the pad water deluge system was activated providing acoustic suppression to keep vibration levels within acceptable limits," said a statement issued by SpaceX shortly after the test. "The test validated the launch pad propellant and pneumatic systems as well as the ground and flight control software that controls pad and launch vehicle configurations. The completion of a successful static fire is the latest milestone on the path to first flight of the Falcon 9 which will carry a Dragon spacecraft qualification unit to orbit."

Generating over 800,000 pounds of thrust, the first stage engines burned for 3.5 seconds before being automatically shut down. Following the firing, the rocket and ground systems were safed and the fuel tanks drained to complete today's test.

"Today, SpaceX successfully completed a test firing of the inaugural Falcon 9 launch vehicle at Space Launch Complex 40 located at Cape Canaveral," said the statement. "Following a nominal terminal countdown, the launch sequencer commanded ignition of all 9 Merlin first stage engines for a period of 3.5 seconds."

The static test had been delayed four days by a glitch in the ground support system which failed to open a valve to release high-pressure helium gas which is used to start the rocket's turbopumps spinning so that they can pump fuel to the engines.

Bad weather then pushed back the test from Thursday and Friday. However, today, the weather was nearly ideal and the only concern was persistently gusty winds that moved into central Florida following the passage of the cold front that brought heavy rains and severe thunderstorms to the area the previous two days.

Today's test provided a real-life rehearsal for the three dozen members of launch team sitting in SpaceX facilities miles away just outside the south gate at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as they prepare for the first flight of SpaceX's flagship Falcon 9.

That first flight is currently being targeted for no earlier than April 12, a change from the previously announced March 22 date.

The inaugural mission for Falcon 9 will be to place into orbit a mockup of the SpaceX Dragon capsule which is being designed to carry cargo to the International Space Station.

As a demonstration flight only, the Dragon mockup, without any payload, will be placed into a 155 mile high orbit but will remain attached to the Falcon upper stage.

Under the terms of a contract with NASA, SpaceX will conduct a minimum of twelve operational Dragon flights to the space station. Dragon is slated to make fly the first of those missions in 2011.

SpaceX is aiming for a July test flight of a functional Dragon spacecraft, followed by a second test in November during which the spacecraft will rendezvous with the space station but will not be berthed to the complex.

(The Spacearium / SpaceflightNews.net)