Talk:Falcon 9

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[edit] EELV

The article states that the Falcon 9 is an EELV, or Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, but surely this is not the case, seeing as it is re-usable, and therefore not expendable. --GW_Simulations 19:23, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

I believe SpaceX has called it a EELV Class vehicle meaning that it has the same lift capability as the EELV family. The article may need clarified a bit. --StuffOfInterest 19:43, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] BFTS

It would be nice to get some information on the "BFTS" ("Big Falcon Test Stand", my definition, I know there are several others for the "F") into the article. With testing for the Falcon 9 due to start this summer[1], the BFTS should be getting some attention. There were a few good pictures of the stand released on 2005[2], but I haven't seen anything lately. Does anyone have any info that could be used to help out in a "testing" section for the Falcon 9? --StuffOfInterest 14:47, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Falcon 9 Heavy

The description of the Falcon 9 - S9 says "Based on the Falcon 9 - S5, it will add an additional two nine-engine boosters". So it should have 4 boosters. However, the picture in the box ony shows 2 boosters. Is the picture wrong or do I misunderstand something? Vinnivince 22:25, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

The 9-Heavy looks like it will follow the plan laid out by the Delta IV and Atlas V: the common core will be replicated in two boosters. The text to which you refer should be changed: rather than adding two 5-engine boosters, the Heavy will have two 9-engine boosters. SpaceX says, "It consists of a standard Falcon 9 with two additional Falcon 9 first stages acting as liquid strap-on boosters." http://www.spacex.com/falcon9_heavy.php All the mentions in the Wikipedia article of a "Falcon 9 - S5" may now be obsolete anyway. If you feel like it, please update the article based on what SpaceX says today makes sense in general! (Sdsds - Talk) 22:55, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Reuse of the second stage

Is there any solid source for the reuse of the second stage of the Falcon 9? If its based on Falcon 1 technology, only the first stage would be reusable (as it does not need any aerodynamic heat shields, just parachutes), while the second stage would be traveling to fast for a reentry without serious protection. If have found no SpaceX document saying that the second stage is reuseable. --Urwumpe (talk) 09:00, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

I do not know. I think I've heard of it, but maybe I just read it here in the article. I also doubt that it would work considering the reentry. ColdCase (talk) 03:37, 24 November 2007 (UTC)
I've heard that the "Falcon Program Overview" section of the Falcon 1 Payload User’s Guide claims that all stages of the Falcon 9 will be reusable. I doubt just hearing that some document makes a claim is citable, though. (sdsds - talk) 21:49, 24 November 2007 (UTC)