Falcon 9
Encyclopedia
Falcon 9 is a rocket-powered
spaceflight
launch system
designed and manufactured by SpaceX
. Both stages of its two-stage-to-orbit
vehicle use liquid oxygen
(LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene
(RP-1) propellants. SpaceX plans to build several variants to lift payloads of 10450–26610 kg (23,038.3–58,665 ) to low Earth orbit
, and 4450–15010 kg (9,810.6–33,091.4 ) to geostationary transfer orbit
, which will place the Falcon 9 design in the medium-lift range of launch systems.
The first Falcon 9 flight was launched, after several delays, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
on June 4, 2010, at 2:45 p.m. EDT (19:45 UTC) with a successful orbital insertion.
The second launch of the Falcon 9, and the first of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop it, occurred at 10:43 EST (15:43 UTC) on December 8, 2010, from Cape Canaveral. The Dragon spacecraft completed two orbits, then splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
The Falcon 9 and Dragon combination won a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract from NASA
to resupply the International Space Station
under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
(COTS) program.
/RP-1
powered launch vehicle. Its first stage is powered by nine SpaceX Merlin 1C
rocket engines with 556 kN (125,000 lbf
) sea-level thrust per engine for a total thrust on liftoff of about 5.0 MN (1.1 million lbf).
The Falcon 9 first stage uses a pyrophoric
mixture of triethylaluminum-triethylborane
(TEA-TEB) as a first-stage ignitor.
of 117:1 and a nominal burn time of 345 seconds. For added reliability of restart, the engine has dual redundant pyrophoric igniters (TEA-TEB).
SpaceX has expressed hopes that both stages will eventually be reusable
.
The interstage, which connects the upper and lower stage for Falcon 9, is a carbon fiber aluminum core composite structure. Stage separation occurs via reusable separation collet
s and a pneumatic pusher system. The Falcon 9 tank walls and domes are made from aluminum lithium alloy
. SpaceX uses an all-friction stir welded
tank, the highest strength and most reliable welding technique available. The second stage tank of Falcon 9 is simply a shorter version of the first stage tank and uses most of the same tooling, material and manufacturing techniques. This saves money during vehicle production.
vehicle, Falcon 9's launch sequence includes a hold-down feature that allows full engine ignition and systems check before liftoff. After first stage engine start, the launcher is held down and not released for flight until all propulsion and vehicle systems are confirmed to be operating normally. Similar hold-down systems have been used on other launch vehicles such as the Saturn V
and Space Shuttle
. An automatic safe shut-down and unloading of propellant occurs if any abnormal conditions are detected.
Like the Saturn V
and the unrealized Falcon 5
design, the presence of multiple first stage engines allows for mission completion even if one of the first-stage engines fails mid-flight. This is known as "engine-out capability".
Falcon 9 is the first rocket "since the Saturn
series from the Apollo program to incorporate engine-out capability"
Falcon 9 has triple redundant flight computers and inertial navigation, with a GPS overlay for additional orbit insertion accuracy.
Although reusability of the second stage is more difficult, SpaceX has intended both stages of the Falcon 9 to be reusable. Musk stated:
Both stages are covered with a layer of ablative
cork, have parachutes to land them gently in the sea and have been marinized by using materials that resist salt-water corrosion, anodizing and paying attention to galvanic corrosion.
While many commentators are skeptical about reusability, Musk has said that if the vehicle does not become reusable, "I will consider us to have failed.”
SpaceX announced on 29th September 2011 at the National Press Club they would attempt to develop powered descent and recovery of both Falcon 9 stages – a fully vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL
) rocket.
Included was a video said to be an approximation depicting the first stage returning tail-first for a powered descent and the second stage, with heat shield, rentering head first before rotating for a powered descent.
Historical data based on circa 2007 specifications may be found in these three sources.
testified, "Long term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. [...] Ultimately, I believe $500 per pound [of payload delivered to orbit] or less is very achievable."
SpaceX formally announced the Falcon 9 on 2005-09-08, describing it as being a "fully reusable heavy lift launch vehicle." A Falcon 9 medium was described as being capable of launching approximately 21000 lb (9,525.4 kg) to low Earth orbit, priced at $27 million per flight ($1286/lb).
The original NASA COTS contract called for the first demonstration flight of Falcon in September 2008, and completion of all three demonstration missions by September 2009. February 2008, the plan for the first Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo flight was delayed by six months to late in the first quarter of 2009. According to Elon Musk, the complexity of the development work and the regulatory requirements for launching from Cape Canaveral have contributed to the delay. The first COTS demo flight was delayed several additional times, and was eventually scheduled for December 2010.
In October 2009, the first flight-ready first stage had a successful all-engine test fire at the company's test stand in McGregor, TX. In November 2009 Space X conducted the initial second stage test firing lasting forty seconds. This test involved a new test stand and a new flight stage, and succeeded without aborts or recycles. On January 2, 2010, a full-duration (329 seconds) orbit-insertion firing of the Falcon 9 second stage was conducted at the McGregor test site The full stack arrived at the launch site for integration at the beginning of February 2010, and SpaceX initially scheduled a launch date of March 22, 2010, though they estimated anywhere between one and three months for integration and testing.
On February 25, 2010 SpaceX's first flight stack was set vertical at Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, and on March 9, SpaceX performed a static fire test, where the first stage was to be fired without taking off. Some fire and smoke were seen at the base of the rocket, leading to speculation of an engine fire. However, all components checked out, but the test executed a nominal abort at T-2 seconds due to a failure in the spin-start system. This system is designed to pump high pressure helium from the launch pad into the first stage turbopumps to get them spinning in preparation for launch. Subsequent review showed that the failure was a valve that didn't receive a command to open. As the problem was with the pad and not with the rocket itself, it didn't occur at the McGregor test site, which didn't have the same valve setup. No damage was sustained by the vehicle or the test pad and the fire and smoke were the result of normal burnoff from the liquid oxygen and fuel mix present in the system prior to launch. All vehicle systems leading up to the abort performed as expected and no additional issues were noted that needed addressing. A subsequent test on March 13 was successful in firing the nine first-stage engines for 3.5 seconds.
The delay of the first flight from March 2010 to June was due to review of the Falcon 9 flight termination system by the Air Force. On June 1, SpaceX announced on their update page that they had completed testing of the FTS and all results were nominal.
The first actual launch attempt, at 1:30pm EDT on Friday, June 4, 2010 (1730 UTC), was aborted shortly after ignition, and the rocket successfully went through a failsafe abort. Ground crews were able to recycle the rocket, and successfully launched it at 2:45pm EDT (1845 UTC) the same day.
The rocket experienced, "a little bit of roll at liftoff" as Ken Bowersox
from SpaceX put it. This roll had stopped prior to the craft reaching the top of the tower. The second stage began to slowly roll near the end of its burn which was not expected.
The halo from the venting of propellant from the Falcon 9 rocket as it rolled in space could be seen from all of Eastern Australia and some believed it to be a UFO.
This flight tested the pressure vessel integrity, attitude control using the Draco engines, telemetry, guidance, navigation, control systems, the PICA-X heat shield, and parachutes at speed.
Rocket engine
A rocket engine, or simply "rocket", is a jet engineRocket Propulsion Elements; 7th edition- chapter 1 that uses only propellant mass for forming its high speed propulsive jet. Rocket engines are reaction engines and obtain thrust in accordance with Newton's third law...
spaceflight
Spaceflight
Spaceflight is the act of travelling into or through outer space. Spaceflight can occur with spacecraft which may, or may not, have humans on board. Examples of human spaceflight include the Russian Soyuz program, the U.S. Space shuttle program, as well as the ongoing International Space Station...
launch system
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
designed and manufactured by SpaceX
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California...
. Both stages of its two-stage-to-orbit
Two-stage-to-orbit
A two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle is a spacecraft in which two distinct stages provide propulsion consecutively in order to achieve orbital velocity...
vehicle use liquid oxygen
Liquid oxygen
Liquid oxygen — abbreviated LOx, LOX or Lox in the aerospace, submarine and gas industries — is one of the physical forms of elemental oxygen.-Physical properties:...
(LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene
RP-1
RP-1 is a highly refined form of kerosene outwardly similar to jet fuel, used as a rocket fuel. Although having a lower specific impulse than liquid hydrogen , RP-1 is cheaper, can be stored at room temperature, is far less of an explosive hazard and is far denser...
(RP-1) propellants. SpaceX plans to build several variants to lift payloads of 10450–26610 kg (23,038.3–58,665 ) to low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
, and 4450–15010 kg (9,810.6–33,091.4 ) to geostationary transfer orbit
Geostationary transfer orbit
A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit is a Hohmann transfer orbit used to reach geosynchronous or geostationary orbit....
, which will place the Falcon 9 design in the medium-lift range of launch systems.
The first Falcon 9 flight was launched, after several delays, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
on June 4, 2010, at 2:45 p.m. EDT (19:45 UTC) with a successful orbital insertion.
The second launch of the Falcon 9, and the first of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop it, occurred at 10:43 EST (15:43 UTC) on December 8, 2010, from Cape Canaveral. The Dragon spacecraft completed two orbits, then splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
The Falcon 9 and Dragon combination won a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract from NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
to resupply the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services is a NASA program to coordinate the delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station by private companies. The program was announced on January 18, 2006...
(COTS) program.
Design
The base Falcon 9 is a two stage, LOXLiquid oxygen
Liquid oxygen — abbreviated LOx, LOX or Lox in the aerospace, submarine and gas industries — is one of the physical forms of elemental oxygen.-Physical properties:...
/RP-1
RP-1
RP-1 is a highly refined form of kerosene outwardly similar to jet fuel, used as a rocket fuel. Although having a lower specific impulse than liquid hydrogen , RP-1 is cheaper, can be stored at room temperature, is far less of an explosive hazard and is far denser...
powered launch vehicle. Its first stage is powered by nine SpaceX Merlin 1C
Merlin (rocket engine)
Merlin is a rocket engine developed by SpaceX for use on its Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets. Merlin uses RP-1 and liquid oxygen as propellants in a gas-generator power cycle...
rocket engines with 556 kN (125,000 lbf
Pound-force
The pound force is a unit of force in some systems of measurement including English engineering units and British gravitational units.- Definitions :...
) sea-level thrust per engine for a total thrust on liftoff of about 5.0 MN (1.1 million lbf).
The Falcon 9 first stage uses a pyrophoric
Pyrophoricity
A pyrophoric substance is a substance that will ignite spontaneously in air. Examples are iron sulfide and many reactive metals including uranium, when powdered or sliced thin. Pyrophoric materials are often water-reactive as well and will ignite when they contact water or humid air...
mixture of triethylaluminum-triethylborane
Triethylborane
Triethylborane , also called triethylborine and triethylboron, is an organoborane , a near-colorless to yellowish transparent liquid with pungent ether-like odor. Its chemical formula can be written as C6H15B, or 3B, or 3B, or Et3B.Triethylborane is strongly pyrophoric, igniting spontaneously in...
(TEA-TEB) as a first-stage ignitor.
Second stage
The upper stage is powered by a single Merlin engine modified for vacuum operation, with an expansion ratioExpansion ratio
The expansion ratio of a liquefied and cryogenic substance is the volume of a given amount of that substance in liquid form compared to the volume of the same amount of substance in gaseous form, at a given temperature and pressure....
of 117:1 and a nominal burn time of 345 seconds. For added reliability of restart, the engine has dual redundant pyrophoric igniters (TEA-TEB).
SpaceX has expressed hopes that both stages will eventually be reusable
Reusable launch system
A reusable launch system is a launch system which is capable of launching a launch vehicle into space more than once. This contrasts with expendable launch systems, where each launch vehicle is launched once and then discarded.No true orbital reusable launch system is currently in use. The...
.
The interstage, which connects the upper and lower stage for Falcon 9, is a carbon fiber aluminum core composite structure. Stage separation occurs via reusable separation collet
Collet
A collet is a holding device—specifically, a subtype of chuck—that forms a collar around the object to be held and exerts a strong clamping force on the object when it is tightened, usually via a tapered outer collar. It may be used to hold a workpiece or a tool.A collet is a sleeve with a ...
s and a pneumatic pusher system. The Falcon 9 tank walls and domes are made from aluminum lithium alloy
Al-Li
Al-Li alloys are a series of alloys of aluminium and lithium, often also including copper and zirconium. Since lithium is the least dense elemental metal these alloys are significantly less dense than aluminium...
. SpaceX uses an all-friction stir welded
Friction stir welding
Friction-stir welding is a solid-state joining process and is used for applications where the original metal characteristics must remain unchanged as far as possible...
tank, the highest strength and most reliable welding technique available. The second stage tank of Falcon 9 is simply a shorter version of the first stage tank and uses most of the same tooling, material and manufacturing techniques. This saves money during vehicle production.
Reliability
As with the company's smaller Falcon 1Falcon 1
The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine...
vehicle, Falcon 9's launch sequence includes a hold-down feature that allows full engine ignition and systems check before liftoff. After first stage engine start, the launcher is held down and not released for flight until all propulsion and vehicle systems are confirmed to be operating normally. Similar hold-down systems have been used on other launch vehicles such as the Saturn V
Saturn V
The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
and Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
. An automatic safe shut-down and unloading of propellant occurs if any abnormal conditions are detected.
Like the Saturn V
Saturn V
The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
and the unrealized Falcon 5
Falcon 5
The Falcon 5 was a proposed two-stage-to-orbit partially reusable launch vehicle designed by SpaceX, since canceledand replaced by the larger, more powerful Falcon 9.-Overview:...
design, the presence of multiple first stage engines allows for mission completion even if one of the first-stage engines fails mid-flight. This is known as "engine-out capability".
Falcon 9 is the first rocket "since the Saturn
Saturn (rocket family)
The Saturn family of American rocket boosters was developed by a team of mostly German rocket scientists led by Wernher von Braun to launch heavy payloads to Earth orbit and beyond. Originally proposed as a military satellite launcher, they were adopted as the launch vehicles for the Apollo moon...
series from the Apollo program to incorporate engine-out capability"
Falcon 9 has triple redundant flight computers and inertial navigation, with a GPS overlay for additional orbit insertion accuracy.
Reusability
Although the first stage has parachutes and was intended to be recovered to demonstrate (possible future) reuse, to date SpaceX has failed to recover the stages from their initial test launches. The stages are expendable for the initial launches. By flight six, the first stage is intended to be recovered.Although reusability of the second stage is more difficult, SpaceX has intended both stages of the Falcon 9 to be reusable. Musk stated:
Both stages are covered with a layer of ablative
Ablation
Ablation is removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes. This occurs in spaceflight during ascent and atmospheric reentry, glaciology, medicine, and passive fire protection.-Spaceflight:...
cork, have parachutes to land them gently in the sea and have been marinized by using materials that resist salt-water corrosion, anodizing and paying attention to galvanic corrosion.
While many commentators are skeptical about reusability, Musk has said that if the vehicle does not become reusable, "I will consider us to have failed.”
SpaceX announced on 29th September 2011 at the National Press Club they would attempt to develop powered descent and recovery of both Falcon 9 stages – a fully vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL
VTVL
Vertical takeoff, vertical landing is a form of takeoff and landing using rockets . Multiple VTVL craft have flown. , at least five VTVL rocket vehicles are currently under development at four different aerospace companies...
) rocket.
Included was a video said to be an approximation depicting the first stage returning tail-first for a powered descent and the second stage, with heat shield, rentering head first before rotating for a powered descent.
Launch sites
There is one active launch site and two others are planned or proposed:- Cape Canaveral Air Force StationCape Canaveral Air Force StationCape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
Launch Complex 40 is an active Falcon 9 launch site. - SpaceX plans to lease Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4Space Launch Complex 4 , was a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, used by Atlas and Titan rockets between 1963 and 2005. It consisted of two separate launch pads, SLC-4W and SLC-4E, which were formerly designated PALC2-3 and PALC2-4 respectively. Both pads were originally built for use by...
. Conversion of the site for Falcon 9 is estimated to cost $50 million and the first launch is due in summer 2012. , Musk indicated he is confident that a Vandenberg launch pad can be ready for Iridium satellite launches "within 12 to 18 months". - SpaceX may upgrade their Omelek IslandOmelek IslandOmelek Island is part of the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. It is controlled by the United States military under a long-term lease and is part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.-Geography:The Island is about in size...
Falcon 1Falcon 1The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine...
launch site for use by the Falcon 9; , their launch manifest gives Omelek (Kwajalein) as a possible site for several Falcon 9 launches, the first as an alternative for the ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
CONAE mission in 2012.
Launcher versions
| Version | Falcon 9 block 1 | Falcon 9 block 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 0 | ||
| Stage 1 | 9 × Merlin 1C | 9 × Merlin 1C |
| Stage 2 | 1 x Merlin 1C Vacuum | 1 x Merlin 1C Vacuum |
| Height (max; m) |
53 | 54.9 (180 ft) |
| Diameter (m) |
3.6 or 5.2(large fairing) | 3.6 or 5.2(large fairing) |
| Initial thrust (kN) |
4,940 (1,110,000 lb/ft) | |
| Takeoff weight (tonne Tonne The tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI... s) |
318 | 333 |
| Fairing diameter (Inner; m) |
4.6 | |
| Payload (LEO Low Earth orbit A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km... ; kg) |
9,900 kg(launch at Cape Canaveral) | 8,560 (polar orbit from Kwajalein Kwajalein Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S... ) or 10,450 (launch at Cape Canaveral) |
| Payload (GTO Geostationary transfer orbit A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit is a Hohmann transfer orbit used to reach geosynchronous or geostationary orbit.... ; kg) |
2,400 | 4,680 (launch at Kwajalein Kwajalein Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S... ) or 4,540 (launch at Cape Canaveral) |
| Price (Mil. USD United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) |
49.9–56 to LEO; 49.9–56 (according to Satellite Mass) to GTO | |
| minimal Price/kg (LEO Low Earth orbit A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km... ; USD United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) |
5,360 | |
| minimal Price/kg (GTO Geostationary transfer orbit A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit is a Hohmann transfer orbit used to reach geosynchronous or geostationary orbit.... ; USD United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) |
12,000 | |
| Success ratio (successful/total) |
2/2 | 0/0 |
Historical data based on circa 2007 specifications may be found in these three sources.
Initial descriptions
At an appearance in May 2004 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Elon MuskElon Musk
Elon Musk is an American engineer and entrepreneur heritage best known for co-founding PayPal, SpaceX and Tesla Motors. He is currently the CEO and CTO of SpaceX, CEO and Product Architect of Tesla Motors and Chairman of SolarCity...
testified, "Long term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. [...] Ultimately, I believe $500 per pound [of payload delivered to orbit] or less is very achievable."
SpaceX formally announced the Falcon 9 on 2005-09-08, describing it as being a "fully reusable heavy lift launch vehicle." A Falcon 9 medium was described as being capable of launching approximately 21000 lb (9,525.4 kg) to low Earth orbit, priced at $27 million per flight ($1286/lb).
Production and testing
, the Falcon 9 production line is manufacturing one new Falcon 9 (and Dragon spacecraft) every three months. In 2012, this will double to one every six weeks.Production history
On April 12, 2007 SpaceX announced it had completed the primary structure for its first Falcon 9 first-stage tank. The tank was shipped to a SpaceX test facility in Texas for first-stage static firing validation. The first multi-engine test (with two engines connected to the first stage, firing simultaneously) was successfully completed in January 2008, with successive tests leading to the full Falcon 9 complement of nine engines test fired for a full mission length (178 seconds) of the first stage on November 22, 2008.The original NASA COTS contract called for the first demonstration flight of Falcon in September 2008, and completion of all three demonstration missions by September 2009. February 2008, the plan for the first Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo flight was delayed by six months to late in the first quarter of 2009. According to Elon Musk, the complexity of the development work and the regulatory requirements for launching from Cape Canaveral have contributed to the delay. The first COTS demo flight was delayed several additional times, and was eventually scheduled for December 2010.
In October 2009, the first flight-ready first stage had a successful all-engine test fire at the company's test stand in McGregor, TX. In November 2009 Space X conducted the initial second stage test firing lasting forty seconds. This test involved a new test stand and a new flight stage, and succeeded without aborts or recycles. On January 2, 2010, a full-duration (329 seconds) orbit-insertion firing of the Falcon 9 second stage was conducted at the McGregor test site The full stack arrived at the launch site for integration at the beginning of February 2010, and SpaceX initially scheduled a launch date of March 22, 2010, though they estimated anywhere between one and three months for integration and testing.
On February 25, 2010 SpaceX's first flight stack was set vertical at Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, and on March 9, SpaceX performed a static fire test, where the first stage was to be fired without taking off. Some fire and smoke were seen at the base of the rocket, leading to speculation of an engine fire. However, all components checked out, but the test executed a nominal abort at T-2 seconds due to a failure in the spin-start system. This system is designed to pump high pressure helium from the launch pad into the first stage turbopumps to get them spinning in preparation for launch. Subsequent review showed that the failure was a valve that didn't receive a command to open. As the problem was with the pad and not with the rocket itself, it didn't occur at the McGregor test site, which didn't have the same valve setup. No damage was sustained by the vehicle or the test pad and the fire and smoke were the result of normal burnoff from the liquid oxygen and fuel mix present in the system prior to launch. All vehicle systems leading up to the abort performed as expected and no additional issues were noted that needed addressing. A subsequent test on March 13 was successful in firing the nine first-stage engines for 3.5 seconds.
The delay of the first flight from March 2010 to June was due to review of the Falcon 9 flight termination system by the Air Force. On June 1, SpaceX announced on their update page that they had completed testing of the FTS and all results were nominal.
The first actual launch attempt, at 1:30pm EDT on Friday, June 4, 2010 (1730 UTC), was aborted shortly after ignition, and the rocket successfully went through a failsafe abort. Ground crews were able to recycle the rocket, and successfully launched it at 2:45pm EDT (1845 UTC) the same day.
Maiden Launch
The Falcon 9 maiden launch occurred on June 4, 2010 and was deemed a success, placing the test payload within 1 percent of the intended orbit. The second stage engine performed a short second burn to demonstrate its multiple firing capability.The rocket experienced, "a little bit of roll at liftoff" as Ken Bowersox
Ken Bowersox
Kenneth Dwane "Sox" Bowersox is an engineer, United States Naval officer, and a former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of five Space Shuttle missions and an extended stay aboard the International Space Station....
from SpaceX put it. This roll had stopped prior to the craft reaching the top of the tower. The second stage began to slowly roll near the end of its burn which was not expected.
The halo from the venting of propellant from the Falcon 9 rocket as it rolled in space could be seen from all of Eastern Australia and some believed it to be a UFO.
Continued development
The next launch attempt for Falcon 9 was COTS Demo Flight 1, with an operational Dragon module. The launch took place on December 8, 2010. The flight placed the Dragon capsule in a roughly 300 kilometres (186.4 mi) orbit. After two orbits, the capsule re-entered the atmosphere to be recovered off the coast of Mexico.This flight tested the pressure vessel integrity, attitude control using the Draco engines, telemetry, guidance, navigation, control systems, the PICA-X heat shield, and parachutes at speed.
Launches and scheduled launches
Note, that as of 9 July 2011, the COTS 2 and COTS 3 missions may be combined, and that no flights currently appear on the Kennedy Space Center launch manifest regarding any fall 2011 launches by Falcon 9. Waiting for official confirmation from both NASA and SpaceX on both date and mission profile for these two flights.| Flight No | Date & Time (GMT) | Payload | Customer | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 June 2010, 18:45 | Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit The Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit was a boilerplate version of the Dragon spacecraft manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. After using it for ground tests to rate Dragon's shape and mass in various tests, SpaceX launched it into low-Earth orbit on... |
SpaceX SpaceX Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California... |
Success | 1st Successful Flight of Falcon 9 Block 1 |
| 2 | 8 Dec 2010, 15:43 | NASA COTS – Demo 1, 2 Cubesat CubeSat A CubeSat is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research that usually has a volume of exactly one liter , has a mass of no more than 1.33 kilograms, and typically uses commercial off-the-shelf electronics components... s |
NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Commercial Orbital Transportation Services is a NASA program to coordinate the delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station by private companies. The program was announced on January 18, 2006... , National Reconnaissance Office National Reconnaissance Office The National Reconnaissance Office , located in Chantilly, Virginia, is one of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. It designs, builds, and operates the spy satellites of the United States government.-Mission:... |
Success | maiden flight of Dragon Capsule; 3 hours, testing of maneuvering thrusters and reentry |
| 7 Jan 2012 | NASA COTS – Demo 2/3 COTS Demo Flight 2 Dragon C2, also known as COTS Demo Flight 2, is a planned second test-flight for SpaceX's unpiloted Dragon cargo spacecraft, and the third overall flight for the company's two-stage Falcon 9 launch vehicle.... |
NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Commercial Orbital Transportation Services is a NASA program to coordinate the delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station by private companies. The program was announced on January 18, 2006... |
Scheduled | Combined COTS 2 and 3 mission that includes docking with Space Station | |
| 2012-2014 | 2 OG2 satellites | Orbcomm Orbcomm ORBCOMM is a company that offers M2M global asset monitoring and messaging services from its constellation of 29 LEO communications satellites orbiting at 775 km. Like its voice-centric competitors Iridium and Globalstar, it filed for Chapter 11 protection, in September, 2000. ORBCOMM issued... |
Scheduled | Commercial mission | |
| 2012 | CASSIOPE CASSIOPE CASSIOPE is a hybrid satellite project of the Canadian Space Agency. Planned for launch in an elliptical polar orbit in 2011, it will carry a commercial communications system called Cascade and a scientific experiment package called ePOP... |
MDA Corp MacDonald Dettwiler MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. is a Richmond, British Columbia-based Canadian aerospace, information services and products company, employing over 3000 people throughout Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, under the MDA brand name.... |
Scheduled | ||
| 2012 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 1 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2012 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 2 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2013 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 3 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2013 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 4 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2014 | SAOCOM 1A SAOCOM SAOCOM is a planned Earth observation satellite series of the Argentine Space Agency CONAE. Two satellites are planned, SAOCOM 1A and SAOCOM 1B. Both will be equipped with a L-band full polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar... |
CONAE | Scheduled | ||
| 2015 | AMOS-4 | Spacecom Spacecom Spacecom, or Space Communication , is a communications satellite operator in the Middle East, European Union and North-America headquartered in the city of Ramat Gan, Israel... |
Scheduled | ||
| 2014 | DragonLab Mission 1 | SpaceX SpaceX Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California... |
Scheduled | ||
| 2014 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 5 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2013 | SES-8 communication satellite | SES | Scheduled | First geostationary Geostationary orbit A geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth's equator , with a period equal to the Earth's rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero. An object in a geostationary orbit appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers... launch for Falcon 9. 1Q2013 |
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| 2014 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 6 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2014 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 7 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2013 | Thaicom 6 | THAICOM Thaicom Thaicom is the name of a series of communications satellites operated out of Thailand and the name of Thaicom Public Company Limited, which is the company that owns and operates the THAICOM satellite fleet and other telecommunication businesses in Thailand and throughout the... |
Scheduled (second quarter of 2013) | ||
| 2013 | SAOCOM 1B SAOCOM SAOCOM is a planned Earth observation satellite series of the Argentine Space Agency CONAE. Two satellites are planned, SAOCOM 1A and SAOCOM 1B. Both will be equipped with a L-band full polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar... |
CONAE | Scheduled | ||
| 2013 | Google Lunar X Prize Google Lunar X Prize The Google Lunar X PRIZE, abbreviated GLXP, sometimes referred to as Moon 2.0, is a space competition organized by the X Prize Foundation, and sponsored by Google. It was announced at the Wired Nextfest on 13 September 2007... Moon Mission |
Astrobotic Technology Astrobotic Technology Astrobotic Technology is a privately held seed-stage company formed by Carnegie Mellon professor Red Whittaker and his associates, with the goal of winning the Google Lunar X Prize... |
Scheduled (no earlier than December 2013) | deliver a lander, small rover and up to 240 pounds (108.9 kg) of payload to the surface of the Moon | |
| 2014 | Space Systems/Loral | Space Systems | Scheduled | ||
| 2014 | TBD | Spacecom (Israel) | Scheduled | ||
| 2014 | TBD | CONAE (Argentina) | Scheduled | ||
| 2014 | DragonLab Mission 2 | SpaceX SpaceX Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California... |
Scheduled | ||
| 2015 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 8 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2015 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 9 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2015 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 10 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2015 | TBD | Bigelow Aerospace Bigelow Aerospace Bigelow Aerospace is a North Las Vegas, Nevada space technology startup company that is pioneering work on expandable space station modules. Bigelow Aerospace was founded by Robert Bigelow in 1998... |
Scheduled | Probable payload: Bigelow Sundancer with a stated mass of 8,618.4 kg, 1,832 kg under Falcon 9 stated lift capability | |
| 2015 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 11 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2015 | NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 12 | NASA Commercial Resupply Services | Scheduled | ||
| 2015 | TBD | SES | Scheduled | ||
| 2015 | TBD | CONAE (Argentina) | Scheduled | ||
| 2015–2017 | Iridium NEXT | Iridium Communications Inc. | Scheduled | up to 10 launches with multiple satellites per launch. |
External links
- Falcon 9 official page
- Falcon Heavy official page
- Test firing of two Merlin 1C engines connected to Falcon 9 first stage, Movie 1, Movie 2 (January 18, 2008)
- Press release announcing design (September 9, 2005)
- SpaceX hopes to supply ISS with new Falcon 9 heavy launcher (Flight International, September 13, 2005)
- SpaceX launches Falcon 9, With A Customer (Defense Industry Daily, September 15, 2005)