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 | |
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Height |
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Diameter | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
Mass |
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Stages | 2 |
Capacity | |
Payload to LEO (28.5°) |
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Payload to GTO (27°) |
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Payload to Mars | FT: 4,020 kg (8,860 lb) |
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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