Falcon 9

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Falcon 9
family of two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicles designed and manufactured by SpaceX
Logo of the Falcon 9
Ground-level view of a Falcon 9 lifting off from its launch pad
A Falcon 9 lifting off from LC-39A carrying Demo-2.
Has useOrbital launch vehicle
ManufacturerSpaceX
Country of originUnited States
Cost per launch
  • New: US$62 million (2020),[1]
  • Reused: US$50 million (2019)[2]
Size
Height
  • FT: 70 m (230 ft)[3]
  • v1.1: 68.4 m (224 ft)[4]
  • v1.0: 54.9 m (180 ft)[5]
Diameter3.7 m (12 ft)[3]
Mass
  • FT: 549 t (1,210,000 lb)[3]
  • v1.1: 506 t (1,116,000 lb)[4]
  • v1.0: 333 t (734,000 lb)[5]
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to Low Earth orbit (LEO)
Orbital inclination28.5°
Mass
  • FT: 22.8 t (50,000 lb)[1] Expended
    15.6 t (34,000 lb) when landing on ASDS
  • v1.1: 13.1 t (29,000 lb)[4]
  • v1.0: 10.4 t (23,000 lb)[5]
Payload to Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO)
Orbital inclination27.0°
Mass
  • FT: 8.3 t (18,000 lb) Expended
    5.5 t (12,000 lb) when landing on ASDS[1]
    3.5 t (7,700 lb) when RTLS[6]
  • v1.1: 4.8 t (11,000 lb)[4]
  • v1.0: 4.5 t (9,900 lb)[5]
Payload to Mars transfer orbit
MassFT: 4 t (8,800 lb)[1]
Associated rockets
Derivative workFalcon Heavy
Launch history
Status
  • FT Block 5: Active[7]
  • FT Block 4: Retired
  • FT Block 3: Retired
  • v1.1: Retired
  • v1.0: Retired
Launch sites
Total launches
Success(es)
Failure(s)1
(v1.1: CRS-7 in-flight)
Partial failure(s)1 (v1.0: CRS-1)[8]
Notable outcome(s)1 (FT: Amos-6 pre-flight destruction)
LandingsTemplate:Falcon rocket statistics / Template:Falcon rocket statistics attempts
First flight
Last flight
First stage
Powered by
Maximum thrust
  • FT (late 2016): 7.6 MN (770 tf; 1,700,000 lbf)[12]
  • FT: 6.8 MN (690 tf; 1,500,000 lbf)[3]
  • v1.1: 5.9 MN (600 tf; 1,300,000 lbf)[4]
  • v1.0: 4.9 MN (500 tf; 1,100,000 lbf)[5]
Specific impulse
  • v1.1
    • Sea level: 282 s (2.77 km/s)[13]
    • Vacuum: 311 s (3.05 km/s)[13]
  • v1.0
    • Sea level: 275 s (2.70 km/s)[5]
    • Vacuum: 304 s (2.98 km/s)[5]
Burn time
  • FT: 162 seconds[3]
  • v1.1: 180 seconds[4]
  • v1.0: 170 seconds
PropellantLOX / RP-1
Second stage
Powered by
Maximum thrust
  • FT: 934 kN (95.2 tf; 210,000 lbf)[3]
  • v1.1: 801 kN (81.7 tf; 180,000 lbf)[4]
  • v1.0: 617 kN (62.9 tf; 139,000 lbf)[5]
Specific impulse
  • FT: 348 s (3.41 km/s)[3]
  • v1.1: 340 s (3.3 km/s)[4]
  • v1.0: 342 s (3.35 km/s)[14]
Burn time
  • FT: 397 seconds[3]
  • v1.1: 375 seconds[4]
  • v1.0: 345 seconds[5]
PropellantLOX / RP-1
[edit on Wikidata]

Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket. It was designed and manufactured by SpaceX in the United States. Parts of the rocket can be used more than one time. The latest version of the first stage can return to Earth and be flown again many times. Both the first and second stages are powered by SpaceX Merlin engines. They use cryogenic liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) as fuel. Its name comes from the fictional Star Wars spacecraft, the Millennium Falcon. The 9 is for the nine engines of the rocket's first stage.[15][16] There have been many versions of the rocket. These include v1.0 (2010–2013), v1.1 (2013–2016) and v1.2 Full Thrust (2015–present). It also includes the Falcon 9 Block 5 version.

It also includes the Block 5 Full Thrust version. This version has been used since May 2018. Most rockets can only be used one time. SpaceX has landed Falcon 9 boosters over a hundred times. [17] The first stages have been used as many as eleven times.[18]

Falcon 9 can carry of up to 22,800 kilograms (50,300 lb) to low Earth orbit (LEO). If fully used, it can carry 8,300 kg (18,300 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The rocket can carry 5,500 kg (12,100 lb) to GTO when the first stage is recovered. It has a cargo size of ]145 cubic meters of volume[19] The heaviest GTO loads carried have been Intelsat 35e (6,761 kg (14,905 lb)) and Telstar 19V (7,075 kg (15,598 lb)).

In 2008, SpaceX won a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. They would take cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) using the Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule. The first mission under this contract launched on 8 October 2012.[20] Falcon 9 can take NASA astronauts to the ISS. It is also certified for the National Security Space Launch[21] program and NASA Launch Services Program as "Category 3". This means it can be used with the most expensive, important and complex NASA missions.[22] Falcon 9 is said to be the world's most advanced space launch vehicle by many sources.[23][24][25] As of January 2021, Falcon 9 has the most launches among all U.S. rockets that are currently being used. It is the only U.S. rocket fully certified for transporting humans to the International Space Station.[26][27][28] It is also the only commercial rocket to take humans to orbit.[29] On 24 January 2021, Falcon 9 set a new record for the most satellites launched by a single rocket. It carried 143 satellites into orbit.[30]

Five rockets of the version 1.0 design were launched from June 2010 to March 2013. Version 1.1 had fifteen launches from September 2013 to January 2016. The "Full Thrust" version has been used since December 2015. There are many upgrades to this version. The latest Full Thrust variant, Block 5, was introduced in May 2018.[31] It has more thrust, improved landing legs and other minor improvements to help recovery and reuse. The Falcon Heavy version was first flown in February 2018. It has a stronger Falcon 9 first stage as its center core. It also has two added Falcon 9 first stages used as boosters. SpaceX plans to replace Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy with the much larger Starship launch system.[32]

Development history[change | change source]

Falcon 9 rocket family; from left to right: Falcon 9 v1.0, v1.1, Full Thrust, Block 5, and Falcon Heavy.

Conception and funding[change | change source]

In October 2005, SpaceX said it was going to launch Falcon 9 in the first half of 2007.[33] The first launch took place in 2010.

SpaceX spent its own money to create the Falcon 1. Creating the Falcon 9 was faster because NASA helped with the cost. They also said they would buy several commercial flights. This started with money from the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program in 2006.[34][35] The contract was a Space Act Agreement (SAA) "to develop and demonstrate commercial orbital transportation service".[35] It included NASA paying for of three demonstration flights.[36] The contract was US$278 million to provide development funding for Dragon, Falcon 9, and demonstration launches of Falcon 9 with Dragon. In 2011 other milestones were added, This made the total contract value US$396 million.[37]

NASA became the main user for the vehicle in 2008.[38][39] They agreed to buy 12 Commercial Resupply Services launches to the International Space Station. The money would be paid after the demonstration missions were completed successfully. The space logistics delivery contract was worth US$1.6 billion for a minimum of 12 missions to carry supplies to and from the International Space Station.[40]

Elon Musk has said that it would have taken longer without the NASA money.

SpaceX has only come this far by building upon the incredible achievements of NASA, having NASA as an anchor tenant for launch, and receiving expert advice and mentorship throughout the development process. SpaceX would like to extend a special thanks to the NASA COTS office for their continued support and guidance throughout this process. The COTS program has demonstrated the power of a true private/public partnership, and we look forward to the exciting endeavors our team will accomplish in the future.[38]

In 2011, SpaceX saidthat Falcon 9 v1.0 costs were about US$300 million.[41] NASA said that costs would have been US$3.6 billion if a traditional cost-plus contract approach had been used.[42] In 2014, SpaceX released total costs for both the Falcon 9 and the Dragon capsule. NASA provided US$396 million. SpaceX provided over US$450 million.[43]

A 2011 NASA report said that it would have cost them about US$4 billion to develop a rocket like the Falcon 9 booster. "A more commercial development" approach might have let the agency to pay only US$1.7 billion".[44]

Congressional testimony by SpaceX in 2017 said that the normal NASA process of setting only a requirement and leaving the details to SpaceX let them make the Falcon 9 rocket at a muchlower cost.

Development[change | change source]

At first, SpaceX wanted to follow the Falcon 1 with a larger capacity vehicle, the Falcon 5.[45] In 2005, SpaceX said it was working on the Falcon 9 instead. They said that they already had a government customer. The Falcon 9 was said to be able of carrying approximately 9,500 kilograms (20,900 lb) to low Earth orbit. They said it would cost US$27 million per flight with a 3.7 metres (12 ft) payload. It would cost US$35 million with a 5.2 metres (17 ft) payload. SpaceX also said a heavy version of the Falcon 9 would have a payload capacity of about 25,000 kilograms (55,000 lb).[46] The Falcon 9 was intended to enable launches to Low-Earth orbit (LEO), Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), as well as both crew and cargo vehicles to the International Space Station (ISS).[45] The rocket was not full reusable at this time. This caused the price estimates to be higher than expected.

Testing[change | change source]

The original NASA contract called for a demonstration flight of Falcon in September 2008. It also called for all three demonstration missions to be done by September 2009.[47] In February 2008, the plan for the first demo flight was delayed until early 2009. According to Elon Musk, the delay was caused by how cpmplex the work was the rules for launching from Cape Canaveral.[48]

The first test with two engines connected to the first stage was done in January 2008.[49] Other tests led to the Falcon 9 being tested with nine engines. The engine were tested for a full mission length (178 seconds for stage one) in November 2008.[50] In October 2009, the first stage had a successful all-engine test fire for the first time. This was done in McGregor, Texas. In November 2009, SpaceX held the first test of the second stage. This test lasted forty seconds. In January 2010, a full-duration (329 seconds) firing of the Falcon 9 second stage was held.[51] SpaceX scheduled launch date of March 2010.

In February 2010, SpaceX's first flight stack was set up at Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral.[52] On 9 March 2010, SpaceX was to test-fire the first stage. The test was stopped 2 seconds before firing. This was because of a failure in the system designed to pump high-pressure helium from the launch pad into the first stage. The problem was with the pad and not with the rocket itself. All of Falcon 9's systems leading up to the abort worked as expected. Another test on 13 March 2010 was successful.[53]

Production[change | change source]

In December 2010, SpaceX was making one Falcon 9 (and Dragon spacecraft) every three months. They wanted to double the rate to one every six weeks.[54] By September 2013, SpaceX's manufacturing space had increased to nearly 93,000 square metres (1,000,000 sq ft). The factory had set up to make 40 rocket cores per year.[55] The factory was making one Falcon 9 vehicle per month as of November 2013. The company wanted to increase that to 18 vehicles per year in mid-2014 and 24 per year by the end of 2014.[56][57] They wanted to be making 40 rocket cores per year by the end of 2015.[58]

These production rates were not achieved by February 2016. The company said that production rate for Falcon 9 cores had only increased to 18 per year. They also said that the number of first stage cores that can be made at one time had doubled from three to six. The rate was expected to grow to 30 cores per year by the end of 2016.[59] Still, By August 2016, SpaceX was working towards a production capacity of 40 cores per year.[60]

Since 2018, SpaceX has usually reused first stages. This has reduced the need for new cores. In 2021, SpaceX had 31 F9 launches. Only two of those used new boosters. They recovered the booster on all but one flight.

Design[change | change source]

Interactive 3D model of the Falcon 9
Interactive 3D model of the Falcon 9, fully integrated on the left and in exploded view on the right.

The Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket. it is powered by LOX and RP-1. Both stages have Merlin 1D rocket engines. The first stage has nine that are adapted for use at sea-level. The second stage has one that is adapted for use in a vacuum. The engines uses a pyrophoric mixture of triethylaluminum-triethylborane (TEA-TEB) to ignite the engine.[61] The first stage engines are set in a form SpaceX calls "Octaweb."[62] Many cores have four landing legs at the base of the Octaweb.[63] To control the core while it falls through the atmosphere, SpaceX uses grid fins. They deploy from the vehicle after separation.[64] The legs deploy moments before landing.[65]


The propellant tank walls and domes are made from aluminum–lithium alloy. The second stage tank of a Falcon 9 is a shorter version of the first stage tank. This decreases the cost to make them.[5] The connection between the two stages is a carbon-fiber and aluminum-core structure. The original stage separation system had twelve attachment points. This was which was reduced to three in the v1.1 launcher.[66]

The Falcon 9 uses a payload fairing to protect satellites during launch. The fairing is 13 m (43 ft) long, 5.2 m (17 ft) in diameter, weighs approximately 1,900 kg (4,200 lb). It is made of a carbon fiber skin on an aluminum honeycomb core.[67] Testing of the design was done at NASA's Plum Brook Station facility in spring 2013.[68]

SpaceX uses multiple flight computers. This makes the system less affected by faults. Each Merlin rocket engine is controlled by three computers. Each of these computers has two processors that check each other. The software runs on Linux. It is written in C++.[69] Each stage has its own flight computers. This is in addition to the controllers on each engine. Each engine microcontroller CPU runs on a PowerPC architecture.[70]

The Falcon 9 rocket can lose up to two of the engines and still complete the mission. Each engine creates 854 kN (192,000 lbf) of thrust.[71]

Launcher versions[change | change source]

The Falcon 9 v1.0 flew five times in 2010–2013. The Falcon 9 v1.1 made its first flight in September 2013. The mission carried a very small 500 kg (1,100 lb) payload, the CASSIOPE satellite.[66] It later launched larger things. This included the SES-8 GEO communications satellite.[72] Both Falcon 9 v1.0 and Falcon 9 v1.1 were expendable launch vehicles (ELVs). The Falcon 9 Full Thrust made its first flight in December 2015. The first stage of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust version can be used many times. The current version, known as Falcon 9 Block 5, made its first flight in May 2018.

Pricing[change | change source]

In 2010, the price of a Falcon 9 v1.0 launch was US$49.9 to US$56 million.[5] By 2012, the listed price range had increased to US$54–US$59.5 million.[73] In August 2013, the price for a Falcon 9 v1.1 was US$56.5 million;[74] it was raised to US$61.2 million by June 2014.[75] Since May 2016, the price for a Falcon 9 Full Thrust mission (allowing booster recovery) is US$62 million.[1] Dragon cargo missions to the ISS have an average cost of US$133 million [76] The DSCOVR mission, for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), cost US$97 million.[77]

In 2004, Elon Musk said "long term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. [...] Ultimately, I believe US$500 per pound (US$1100/kg) [of payload delivered to orbit] or less is very achievable".[78] At its 2016 price, a Falcon 9 FT launch costs just over US$2,700/kg ($1,200/lb).

In 2011, Musk estimated that materials needed for the Falcon 9 v1.0 launch cost about US$200,000.[79] The first stage uses 245,620 L (54,030 imp gal; 64,890 US gal) of liquid oxygen and 146,020 L (32,120 imp gal; 38,570 US gal) of RP-1 fuel,[80] while the second stage uses 28,000 L (6,200 imp gal; 7,400 US gal) of liquid oxygen and 17,000 L (3,700 imp gal; 4,500 US gal) of RP-1.[1]

In October 2019, data from NASA showed that the Falcon 9's "base price" of US$62 million per launch would be lowered to US$52 million for flights scheduled in 2021 and beyond.[81]

CNBC reported in April 2020 that the United States Air Force's launches were costing US$95 million This was because of the extra security used. SpaceX executive Christopher Couluris stated that reusing rockets can bring prices even lower, that it "costs US$28 million to launch it, that's with everything".[82]

Gallery[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Falcon 9 (2015)". SpaceX. 16 November 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
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  57. ↑ Amos, Jonathan (3 December 2013). "SpaceX launches SES commercial TV satellite for Asia". BBC. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2013. The commercial market for launching telecoms spacecraft is tightly contested, but has become dominated by just a few companies – notably, Europe's Arianespace, which flies the Ariane 5, and International Launch Services (ILS), which markets Russia's Proton vehicle. SpaceX is promising to substantially undercut the existing players on price, and SES, the world's second-largest telecoms satellite operator, believes the incumbents had better take note of the California company's capability.
  58. ↑ Svitak, Amy (10 March 2014). "SpaceX Says Falcon 9 To Compete For EELV This Year". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014. Within a year, we need to get it from where it is right now, which is about a rocket core every four weeks, to a rocket core every two weeks... By the end of 2015, says SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell, the company plans to ratchet up production to 40 cores per year.
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  60. ↑ Martinez, Domingo (August 2016). "Countdown to Liftoff". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  61. ↑ Mission Status Center, June 2, 2010, 19:05 UTC Archived 30 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine, SpaceflightNow, accessed 2010-06-02, Quotation: "The flanges will link the rocket with ground storage tanks containing liquid oxygen, kerosene fuel, helium, gaserous nitrogen and the first stage ignitor source called triethylaluminum-triethylborane, better known as TEA-TAB".
  62. ↑ "Octaweb". SpaceX News. 12 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  63. ↑ "Landing Legs". SpaceX News. 12 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2013. The Falcon Heavy first stage center core and boosters each carry landing legs, which will land each core safely on Earth after takeoff.
  64. ↑ Kremer, Ken (27 January 2015). "Falcon Heavy Rocket Launch and Booster Recovery Featured in Cool New SpaceX Animation". Universe Today. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  65. ↑ Simberg, Rand (8 February 2012). "Elon Musk on SpaceX's Reusable Rocket Plans". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 Klotz, Irene (6 September 2013). "Musk Says SpaceX Being "Extremely Paranoid" as It Readies for Falcon 9's California Debut". Space News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  67. ↑ "Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle Information". Spaceflight101. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  68. ↑ Mangels, John (25 May 2013). "NASA's Plum Brook Station tests rocket fairing for SpaceX". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  69. ↑ Svitak, Amy (18 November 2012). "Dragon's "Radiation-Tolerant" Design". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  70. ↑ "Schedule". Archived from the original on 25 February 2015.
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  74. ↑ "Capabilities & Services (2013)". SpaceX. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013.
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  76. ↑ "Why the US can beat China: the facts about SpaceX costs". 4 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2013.
  77. ↑ "SpaceX books first two launches with U.S. military". 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
  78. ↑ Testimony of Elon Musk (5 May 2004). "Space Shuttle and the Future of Space Launch Vehicles". U.S. Senate. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2010. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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  80. ↑ "Environmental Assessment, Boost-Back and Landing of the Falcon 9 First Stage at SLC-4 West" (PDF). SpaceX. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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  82. ↑ "Elon MUSK Breaks Doen The Cost Of Rwusabke Rockets". Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.

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