Falcon 9

Falcon 9
Falcon 9
family of two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicles designed and manufactured by SpaceX
	SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Air Force SLC-4E with the eighth and final set of Iridium NEXT satellites (January 2019).
Has use	Orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	SpaceX
Country of origin	United States
Cost per launch	New: $62M (2016),; Flight Proven: $50M (2018),;
Size
Height	FT: 70 m (230 ft); v1.1: 68.4 m (224 ft); v1.0: 54.9 m (180 ft);
Diameter	3.7 m (12 ft)
Mass	FT: 549,054 kg (1,210,457 lb); v1.1: 505,846 kg (1,115,200 lb); v1.0: 333,400 kg (735,000 lb);
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to LEO (28.5°)
Mass	FT: 22,800 kg (50,300 lb) expended; v1.1: 13,150 kg (28,990 lb); v1.0: 10,450 kg (23,040 lb);
Payload to GTO (27°)
Mass	FT: 8,300 kg (18,300 lb) expended, ; 5,500 kg (12,100 lb) when landing; 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) when RTLS; v1.1: 4,850 kg (10,690 lb); v1.0: 4,540 kg (10,010 lb);
Payload to Mars
Mass	FT: 4,020 kg (8,860 lb)
Associated rockets
Derivative work	Falcon Heavy
Launch history
Status	FT Block 5: Active; FT Block 4: Retired; FT Block 3: Retired; v1.1: Retired; v1.0: Retired;
Launch sites	Cape Canaveral SLC-40; Kennedy Space Center LC-39A; Vandenberg SLC-4E;
Total launches	72 FT: 52; v1.1: 15; v1.0: 5; ;
Success(es)	70 FT: 52; v1.1: 14; v1.0: 4; ;
Failure(s)	1 (v1.1: CRS-7)
Partial failure(s)	1 (v1.0: CRS-1)
Notable outcome(s)	1 (FT: Amos-6)
Landings	34 / 40 attempts
First flight	FT Block 5: 11 May 2018 (Bangabandhu-1); FT: 22 December 2015 (OG2 Flight 2); v1.1: 29 September 2013 (CASSIOPE); v1.0: 4 June 2010 (Dragon COTS Demo 1);
Last flight	FT Block 5: 12 June 2019 (Radarsat); FT Block 4: 29 June 2018 (CRS-15); v1.1: 17 January 2016 (Jason-3); v1.0: 1 March 2013 (CRS-2);
First stage
Powered by	FT Block 5: 9 Merlin 1D+ (max thrust); FT: 9 Merlin 1D+; v1.1: 9 Merlin 1D; v1.0: 9 Merlin 1C;
Maximum thrust	FT (late 2016): 7,607 kN (1,710,000 lbf); FT: 6,806 kN (1,530,000 lbf); v1.1: 5,885 kN (1,323,000 lbf); v1.0: 4,940 kN (1,110,000 lbf);
Specific impulse	v1.1 Sea level: 282 seconds; Vacuum: 311 seconds; ; v1.0 Sea level: 275 seconds; Vacuum: 304 seconds; ;
Burn time	FT: 162 seconds; v1.1: 180 seconds; v1.0: 170 seconds;
Propellant	LOX / RP-1
Second stage
Powered by	FT: 1 Merlin 1D Vacuum+; v1.1: 1 Merlin 1D Vacuum; v1.0: 1 Merlin 1C Vacuum;
Maximum thrust	FT: 934 kN (210,000 lbf); v1.1: 801 kN (180,000 lbf); v1.0: 617 kN (139,000 lbf);
Specific impulse	FT: 348 seconds; v1.1: 340 seconds; v1.0: 342 seconds;
Burn time	FT: 397 seconds; v1.1: 375 seconds; v1.0: 345 seconds;
Propellant	LOX / RP-1
	[edit on Wikidata]

Falcon 9 is a family of launch vehicles that are built by SpaceX. It is named for its use of nine rocket engines. It is powered by liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket grade kerosene (RP-1). The current version can launch payloads of up to 22,800 kilograms (50,300 pounds) to Low Earth orbit. It can launch up to 8,300 kilograms (18,300 pounds) to Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). In theory, it can also launch 4,020 kilograms (8,860 pounds) to Mars.^[7]

NASA gave SpaceX a Commercial Resupply Services contract to launch Falcon 9s with Dragon capsules to the ISS.^[8] Now SpaceX is trying to human-rate the Falcon 9 so that SpaceX can launch crews to the ISS in this year. The first version of the Falcon 9 flew in 4 June 2010. The latest version, Block 5, was introduced in 15 May 2018 with increased engine power and other changes to help recovery and reuse.

The Falcon 9 would be replaced by Starship.

Related pages[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

↑ "Air Force requirements will keep SpaceX from landing Falcon 9 booster after GPS launch – Spaceflight Now".
↑ Seemangal, Robin (May 4, 2018). "SpaceX Test-Fires New Falcon 9 Block 5 Rocket Ahead of Maiden Flight (Updated)". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
↑ de Selding, Peter B. (2012-10-15). "Orbcomm Craft Launched by Falcon 9 Falls out of Orbit". Space News. Retrieved 2012-10-15. Orbcomm requested that SpaceX carry one of their small satellites (weighing a few hundred pounds, vs. Dragon at over 12,000 pounds)... The higher the orbit, the more test data [Orbcomm] can gather, so they requested that we attempt to restart and raise altitude. NASA agreed to allow that, but only on condition that there be substantial propellant reserves, since the orbit would be close to the space station. It is important to appreciate that Orbcomm understood from the beginning that the orbit-raising maneuver was tentative. They accepted that there was a high risk of their satellite remaining at the Dragon insertion orbit. SpaceX would not have agreed to fly their satellite otherwise, since this was not part of the core mission and there was a known, material risk of no altitude raise.
↑ Graham, William (21 December 2015). "SpaceX returns to flight with OG2, nails historic core return". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 22 December 2015. The launch also marked the first flight of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, internally known only as the "Upgraded Falcon 9"
↑ Graham, Will. "SpaceX successfully launches debut Falcon 9 v1.1". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 "Falcon 9". SpaceX. 2012-11-16. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
↑ "Falcon 9 | SpaceX". Archived from the original on 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
↑ Amos, Jonathan (8 October 2012). "SpaceX lifts off with ISS cargo". BBC News. Retrieved 3 June 2018.

[1] "Air Force requirements will keep SpaceX from landing Falcon 9 booster after GPS launch – Spaceflight Now".

[2] Seemangal, Robin (May 4, 2018). "SpaceX Test-Fires New Falcon 9 Block 5 Rocket Ahead of Maiden Flight (Updated)". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved February 2, 2019.

[sn20121011-3] Selding, Peter B. (2012-10-15). "Orbcomm Craft Launched by Falcon 9 Falls out of Orbit". Space News. Retrieved 2012-10-15. Orbcomm requested that SpaceX carry one of their small satellites (weighing a few hundred pounds, vs. Dragon at over 12,000 pounds)... The higher the orbit, the more test data [Orbcomm] can gather, so they requested that we attempt to restart and raise altitude. NASA agreed to allow that, but only on condition that there be substantial propellant reserves, since the orbit would be close to the space station. It is important to appreciate that Orbcomm understood from the beginning that the orbit-raising maneuver was tentative. They accepted that there was a high risk of their satellite remaining at the Dragon insertion orbit. SpaceX would not have agreed to fly their satellite otherwise, since this was not part of the core mission and there was a known, material risk of no altitude raise.

[nasaspaceflight.com-4] Graham, William (21 December 2015). "SpaceX returns to flight with OG2, nails historic core return". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 22 December 2015. The launch also marked the first flight of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, internally known only as the "Upgraded Falcon 9"

[nsfdc20130929-5] Graham, Will. "SpaceX successfully launches debut Falcon 9 v1.1". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 29 September 2013.

[falcon9-v1.1-si-6] 6.0 ^6.1 "Falcon 9". SpaceX. 2012-11-16. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.

[7] "Falcon 9 | SpaceX". Archived from the original on 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2019-05-15.

[8] Amos, Jonathan (8 October 2012). "SpaceX lifts off with ISS cargo". BBC News. Retrieved 3 June 2018.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

Falcon 9

Related pages[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

Navigation menu

Search