Space Exploration Technologies announces the successful launch of Falcon 1 (Flight 5) launch vehicle and the precision placement of Malaysia's RazakSAT into Earth orbit.

Falcon 1, a two-stage, liquid oxygen/rocket-grade kerosene vehicle designed and manufactured by SpaceX, lifted off Monday, July 13, at 8:35 pm PDT (on July 14, 2009 at 03.36 UTC).

Lift off occurred from the Reagan Test Site (RTS) on Omelek Island at the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii.

For the first time a satellite was delivered to orbit by the rocket-carrier made by a private company.

RazakSAT was designed and built by Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB), a pioneer and leader in the design and manufacture of satellites in Malaysia.

The payload is expected to provide high resolution images of Malaysia that can be applied to land management, resource development and conservation, forestry and fish migration.