What was the name of SpaceX’s first orbital rocket?

SpaceX’s first orbital rocket was Falcon 1. It was a two-stage, liquid-fueled rocket designed to place small satellites into low Earth orbit at comparatively low cost.

Falcon 1 made four unsuccessful launch attempts before its fifth flight reached orbit on 28 September 2008. That success made SpaceX the first privately developed, liquid-fueled rocket company to successfully reach orbit with such a vehicle.

The rocket used a Merlin engine on its first stage and a Kestrel engine on its second stage. SpaceX retired Falcon 1 after five launches, shifting its attention to the larger Falcon 9 family.

Falcon 1 is often confused with Falcon 9 because both names refer to SpaceX launch vehicles. Falcon 9 became the company’s main orbital rocket, while Falcon 1 served as the smaller pathfinder that demonstrated SpaceX’s launch technology.