# Ratsat

> mass simulator on 2008 Falcon 1 flight

**Wikidata**: [Q7295927](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7295927)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RatSat)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ratsat

## Summary
Ratsat is a spacecraft that served as a mass simulator on a 2008 Falcon 1 flight. Launched on September 28, 2008, it was deployed to test the SpaceX Falcon 1 orbital launch vehicle. The mission launched from the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Ratsat is defined as a spacecraft and mass simulator.
- **Launch Date:** Launched on September 28, 2008.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Deployed aboard the Falcon 1, an orbital launch vehicle manufactured by SpaceX and the predecessor to the Falcon 9.
- **Launch Site:** Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.
- **COSPAR ID:** 2008-048A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 33393.
- **Operator Origin:** The launch vehicle, Falcon 1, is associated with the United States.
- **Significant Event:** The mission constituted a rocket launch event located at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Ratsat?
A: Ratsat functioned as a mass simulator. It was launched aboard the fourth flight of the Falcon 1 to simulate the mass and aerodynamic properties of a real payload during the launch vehicle's test flight.

### Q: When and where was Ratsat launched?
A: Ratsat was launched on September 28, 2008, from the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Ratsat?
A: Ratsat was launched using the Falcon 1, an orbital launch vehicle made by SpaceX and the predecessor to the Falcon 9.

## Why It Matters
Ratsat plays a specific, functional role in the history of commercial spaceflight as the payload for a critical test flight of the Falcon 1. As a mass simulator, it provided necessary data on vehicle performance without the risk of destroying an active, operational satellite. The mission is historically significant because the Falcon 1 was the predecessor to the Falcon 9, a rocket that would go on to dominate the commercial launch market. By successfully carrying Ratsat to orbit, this 2008 mission validated the technology that serves as the foundation for SpaceX's later orbital launch vehicles.

## Notable For
- **Mass Simulation:** Served as a mass simulator rather than an operational satellite with scientific instruments.
- **Historical Vehicle:** Was the payload for the Falcon 1, the direct predecessor to the widely used Falcon 9.
- **Specific Mission Identifiers:** Uniquely identified by COSPAR ID 2008-048A and SCN 33393.
- **Distinctive Designation:** Known by the specific codename "Ratsat" (Wikipedia title: RatSat).

## Body

### Mission Profile
Ratsat was launched as a spacecraft on September 28, 2008. The primary objective of the mission was to demonstrate the capabilities of the launch vehicle. The launch took place at the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.

### Vehicle Context
The launch vehicle utilized for Ratsat was the **Falcon 1**.
- **Manufacturer:** SpaceX (United States).
- **Classification:** Orbital launch vehicle.
- **Successor:** Falcon 9.

### Technical Identifiers
The Ratsat entity is tracked through several formal identification systems:
- **COSPAR ID:** 2008-048A
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 33393
- **Freebase ID:** /m/04n0m96

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report