On this day in space! Sept. 9, 1982: The 1st private rocket, called Conestoga 1, launches from a Texas cattle ranch
On Sept. 9, 1982, the first private rocket, Conestoga 1, launched into space from a Texas cattle ranch. Here's why it mattered.
On September 9, 1982, the first private rocket ever to launch from a Texas cattle ranch took to the skies. Designed by Space Services Inc. of America (SSIA), the Conestoga 1 rocket was built from spare parts of other rockets and named after a covered wagon that helped American settlers move westward in the 19th century. The 36-foot rocket soared from a private launch facility on Matagorda Island, Texas, reaching an altitude of 195 miles before returning to Earth.
The only payload aboard was 40 gallons of water, which was ejected into space as a visual marker for ground crews. Despite the relatively modest science payload, SSIA's historic launch marked a pivotal moment in space exploration, as it was the first privately funded rocket to reach space.
Written by urgent.news from Space.com's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
