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Falcon 9 rocket

by | Feb 19, 2020

Falcon 9 rocket is a partially reusable two-stage-to-orbit medium lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured by SpaceX.  The Falcon 9 rocket is powered by nine Merlin engines which were also developed by SpaceX.  The name Falcon 9 is derived from the Millennium Falcon and the nine engines of the rocket’s first stage.

The rocket has evolved from the initial design.

  • Versions v1.0 (2010–2013)
  • v1.1 (2013–2016)
  • v1.2 “Full Thrust” (2015–present)
  • Block 5 Full Thrust variant, flying since May 2018.

Unlike most rockets, which are expendable launch systems, which means that the rocket is essentially thrown away after use.  Since the introduction of the Full Thrust version, Falcon 9 is partially reusable.  The first stage of the Falcon 9 is capable of re-entering the atmosphere and landing back vertically after separating from the second stage. The first successful landing was December 2015 during flight 20 with the v1.2 version.

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°)
  • 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°)
  • 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 FT: 4,020 kg (8,860 lb)

 

 

NASA and SpaceX completed a launch escape demonstration of the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket on Jan. 19, 2020. The test began at 10:30 a.m. EST with liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a mission to show the spacecraft’s capability to safely separate from the rocket in the unlikely event of an inflight emergency.
Credits: NASA Television

 

 

 

 

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