Falcon 9
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Falcon 9 | |
 Falcon 9 (left) and Falcon 9 Heavy (right) |
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| Fact sheet | |
|---|---|
| Function | Man-rated re-usable heavy orbital launch vehicle |
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Cost per launch (2006) | Normal: $35m (USD) Heavy: $78m (USD) |
| Size | |
| Height | 54 m (178 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.60 m (12 ft) |
| Mass | 325,000 kg (716,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | Normal: 9,900 kg Heavy: 27,500 kg |
| Payload to GTO |
Normal: 4,900 kg Heavy: 12,000 kg |
| Launch History | |
| Status | In Development |
| Launch sites | Omelek Island LC-40 Cape Canaveral |
| Maiden flight | Normal: Mid-2008 (planned) Heavy: 2010 (planned) |
| Boosters (Falcon 9 Heavy) | |
| No boosters | 2 |
| Engines | 9 Merlin 1C |
| Thrust | 4,086 kN (918,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Sea level: 255 sec (2.6 kN/kg) Vacuum: 304 sec (3.0 kN/kg) |
| Burn time | Unknown |
| Fuel | LOX/RP-1 |
| First Stage | |
| Engines | 9 Merlin 1C |
| Thrust | 4,086 kN (918,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Sea level: 255 sec (2.6 kN/kg) Vacuum: 304 sec (3.0 kN/kg) |
| Burn time | Unknown |
| Fuel | LOX/RP-1 |
| Second Stage | |
| Engines | 1 Merlin 1C (vacuum modified) |
| Thrust | 513 kN (115,400 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Vacuum: 304 sec (3.07 kN/kg) |
| Burn time | 345 seconds |
| Fuel | LOX/RP-1 |
The Falcon 9 is an EELV class launch vehicle planned by SpaceX and scheduled to launch in 2009. Three variants are proposed that should provide payloads of between 9,900 kg and 27,500 kg to low Earth orbit, and between 4,900 kg and 12,000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit. It will have a fairing diameter of 5.2 m or 3.6m. The Falcon 9 is also the intended launch vehicle for the SpaceX Dragon manned spacecraft.
Contents |
[edit] Design
The Falcon 9's first stage will have nine Merlin rocket engines while the second stage will have a single Merlin engine modified for vacuum operation[1]. Both stages are designed for reuse[2]. As with the Falcon 1, Falcon 9's launch sequence includes a hold-down feature that allows full engine ignition and systems check before liftoff. If a problem is detected, the vehicle has an automatic shut-down and fuel unloading feature. SpaceX is developing several launch facilities, with the first two launches of the Falcon 1 taking place from Omelek Island in the Marshall Islands.
The two planned variants are:
- Falcon 9 - Consisting of a single sustainer and second stage, it is predicted to cost $35 million, and will be able to boost 9,900 kg to LEO, 4,900 kg to GTO.
- Falcon 9 Heavy - Based on the Falcon 9, it will add an additional two nine-engine boosters and increase payload to 27,500 kg to LEO, 12,000 kg to GTO. It is predicted to cost $78 million.
[edit] Launcher versions
| Version | Falcon 9 | Falcon 9 Heavy (Previously Falcon 9-S9) |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 0 | — | 2 boosters with 9 × Merlins 1C each |
| Stage 1 | 9 × Merlin 1C | 9 × Merlin 1C |
| Stage 2 | 1 × Merlin 1C | 1 × Merlin 1C |
| Height (max; m) |
50 or 54 (large fairing) | 50 or 54 (large fairing) |
| Diameter (m) |
3.6 | 3.6 |
| Initial thrust (kN) |
4,400 | 12,258 |
| Takeoff weight (tonnes) |
325 | 885 |
| Fairing diameter (Inner; m) |
3.6 or 5.2 (large fairing) | 3.6 or 5.2 (large fairing) |
| Payload (LEO; kg) |
10,400 (launch at Kwajalein) or 9,900 (launch at Cape Canaveral) | 27,500 |
| Payload (GTO; kg) |
5,070 (launch at Kwajalein) or 4,900 (launch at Cape Canaveral) | 12,000 |
| Price (Mil. USD) |
35 to LEO; 35 to 55 (according to Satellite Mass) to GEO | 90 to LEO; 55 to 90 (according to Satellite Mass) to GEO |
| minimal Price/kg (LEO; USD) |
3,365 | 3,273 |
| minimal Price/kg (GTO; USD) |
between 10,000 and 11,000 (according to Satellite Mass) | between 7,826 and 10,000 (according to Satellite Mass) |
| Success ratio (successful/total) |
— | — |
[edit] Production and Testing
On April 12, 2007 SpaceX announced it had completed the primary structure for its first Falcon 9 the first-stage tank.[8] The tank walls and domes are made from friction stir welded aluminum 2198.[9] The tank has been shipped to a SpaceX test facility in Texas, where first-stage static firings are already conducted. Around January 28, 2008, the first multi-engine (with two engines connected to the first stage, running simultaneously) firing test have been completed successfully. On March 8 three Merlin 1C were fired simultaneously for the first time. The next test took place on May 29, 2008, and saw five engines firing together. The next multi-engine firing test will see all nine engines firing and will take place in summer 2008.[10] Until now, no unexpected data was collected during the multi-engine firing tests and development of the Falcon 9 rocket is going ahead as planned according to SpaceX.[11][12]
In February, 2008 it was revealed that the first Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo flight would be delayed by six months to late in the first quarter of 2009 due to the immense amount of development and regulatory work required. According to Elon Musk, the complexity of the development work and the regulatory requirements for launching from Cape Canaveral have contributed to the delay.[13]
[edit] Scheduled launches
From SpaceX.com;
- Q4 2008 (arrival at launch site): Demonstration flight of Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral
- 2009: Demo flight 1 of Falcon 9 for NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program
- 2009: Launch of MDA Corp. payload on Falcon 9[2]
- 2009: Launch of HYLAS for Avanti Communications. First geosynchronous launch.
- 2009: Demo flight 2 of Falcon 9 for NASA COTS program, 2nd stage becomes a rendezvous target for the Dragon capsule
- 2010: Demo flight 3 of Falcon 9 for NASA COTS program, demonstration of cargo delivery to the International Space Station
- 2011: Launch of Bigelow Aerospace prototype inflatable space station module on Falcon 9
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ SpaceX.com Falcon 9 overview
- ^ a b NASA, SpaceX (unknown). "Space Act Agreement Between National Aeronautics And Space Administration And Space Explorations Technologies Corp. For Commercial Orbital Transport Services Demonstration (COTS)" (PDF). Retrieved on 2007-11-22.
- ^ "SpaceX Falcon Data Sheet", Space Launch Report, 5 July 2007.
- ^ "Monster Progress Update (Mostly Falcon 9)", SpaceX, 17 August 2007.
- ^ "Falcon 1 Overview", SpaceX, 28 September 2007.
- ^ "Falcon 9 Overview", SpaceX, 28 September 2007.
- ^ "Falcon 9 Heavy Overview", SpaceX, 28 September 2007.
- ^ "SpaceX Completes Primary Structure of the Falcon 9 First Stage Tank", PR Newswire, April 12, 2007.
- ^ "Testing to Begin for SpaceX Falcon 9 First Stage Tank", satNews.com, April 16, 2007.
- ^ SpaceX Conducts First Five Engine Firing of Falcon 9 Rocket. The Space Fellowship (June 03, 2008).
- ^ SpaceX Conducts First Multi-Engine Firing of Falcon 9 Rocket. The Space Fellowship (28 January 2008).
- ^ SpaceX conducts first Three-Engine firing of Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX (28 March 2008).
- ^ Rob Coppinger. "SpaceX Falcon 9 maiden flight delayed by six months to late Q1 2009", Flight Global, 27 February 2008.
[edit] External links
- Test firing of two Merlin 1C engines connected to Falcon 9 first stage, Movie
- Test firing of two Merlin 1C engines connected to Falcon 9 first stage, Movie
- 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)
