Elon Musk’s Rocket Fails to Get to Outer Space Again

The third time is not the charm for Space X.

Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, held a flopped rocket launch over the weekend. The Falcon 1, a rocket designed with significant input from serial entrepreneur Elon Musk, had a problem with stage separation, according to the company’s blog. The rocket was carrying three satellites.

The Falcon 1 had a fuel line problem in its first launch in 2006. In 2007, the rocket traveled for about five minutes before spinning out. The Falcon 1 launched from the Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific.

Musk, though, has vowed to plow onto flight number four. SpaceX also has two other rockets under development: The Falcon 9 and the Dragon (named after Puff the Magic Dragon).

The Tesla chairman started the company and has sunk millions into. SpaceX, however, isn’t just a vanity project. NASA is paying the company tens of millions in for trying to ferry satellites into space.

“There should be absolutely zero question that SpaceX will prevail in reaching orbit and demonstrating reliable space transport.  For my part, I will never give up and I mean never,” Musk wrote in his blog.

SpaceX isn’t the only private rocket ship in town. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wants to get into the space game. And SeaLaunch—a Norwegian, Ukranian, Russian, U.S. joint venture—is already putting up satillites for a fee. Hmmm. Maybe the fact that they have lots of Russians with rocket experience has been a help.