The Falcon Class of rockets is designed and manufactured by the company SpaceX. There are several versions on the launch vehicle namely Falcon 1, Falcon 9 and its revisions and the Falcon Heavy, which is currently in testing. The Falcon vehicles use the Merlin Engine in varying number depending on the version of the vehicle. It consists of three stages and features an innovative system to return the main stage to Earth for reuse.
The first stage features nine Merlin Engines, aero-braking systems, and a flight system that is capable of returning the vehicle to Earth after it has delivered the second stage to the upper atmosphere. During assent the stage uses all 9 of its engines operating a maximum for a typical launch until it reaches the mission's MECO (3) or Main Engine Cut Off point wherein the engines are shut down in preparation for separation of the second stage. After separation the first stage will then perform what is called a boost-back burn in which it relights its engines in order to land at a predetermined point. Currently, SpaceX utilizes several different landing pads but most notably they use automated drone ships to land the first stage. After the boost-back burn is completed and the intended bearing has been achieved, the engines will cut off again to prevent over-burning and to conserve fuel for the final "suicide burn". In order to guide the first stage in its descent, the stage is equipped with aero-breaking fins. These fins are relatively small compared to the size of the rocket but actually exert a fairly strong force on the rocket allowing them to turn the rocket using the aerodynamics. At the last possible point the engines will relight for a final time and burn just long enough to touch down. This is dubbed a "suicide burn" (4) because it is intended to bring the speed of the vehicle to zero just as it touches down. If the burn weren't to proceed as expected the vehicle may land hard on the ground which can, and has, lead to loss of the vehicle. This has happened in the past as pictured below (5):
Automated Drone Ship (2)
Another vehicle used in conjunction with the first stage of the Falcon 9 is the automated drone ship. The drone ship uses GPS tracking and a 4 powerful turbo thrusters to provide a stable landing position for the returning first stage. The drone ship is essentially a large landing pad for the first stage of the Falcon 9 that allows the vehicle to land safely in the ocean. Having the capability to land in the ocean allows for a greater number of planned missions to take place because the rocket never has to land near populated areas.
Second Stage
Once separated in the upper atmosphere, this stage delivers the payload into the desired orbit. This stage is designed to work in upper to no atmosphere conditions, and even though it is much smaller than the first stage, it provides a greater change in velocity, and therefore the orbit of the payload than that of the first stage. This is due to the fact that it has much less mass to move and is farther out of the Earth's gravity well, meaning that the fuel in this stage is much more efficient. This compounds as the rocket burns more and more fuel because that means it is getting lighter while being pushed with the same force, meaning a greater change in speed. This allows the second stage to deliver the payload to its intended orbit, which is higher as a result of this effect.
Payload
The Falcon 9 is capable of delivering 8,300-22,800 kgs (1) of payload into orbit, depending on the orbit. For low earth orbit it can deliver 22,800 kg, while for geostationary transfer orbits it can only deliver 8,300 kg. This is because geostationary orbits are much higher up and thus require more fuel per kg than lower orbits. Currently the Falcon 9 uses the Dragon Capsule as one of its payloads. This capsule is used to deliver supplies to the International Space Station and revisions are underway to create a capsule that can even deliver astronauts to space. Plans are in the works to deliver humans into an orbit around the moon and are currently undergoing testing. This mission will use the Falcon Heavy rocket which is essentially three Falcon 9s coupled together and has greater lifting power, allowing for a lunar orbit.
Launch Statistics
The Falcon 9 has been in operation for the last seven years; over this period of time the Falcon 9 has been launched 38 times. The first rocket version Falcon 9 v1.0 was launched 5 times from June 2010 to March 2013, and its successor Falcon 9 v1.1 15 times from September 2013 to January 2016. The latest upgrade, the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, has been launched 18 times from December 2015 to present. Of these 38 flights 36 have been successful, giving the Falcon 9 program 94.74% successful launch rate. (6)
Table of Contents
The Falcon 9
Capabilities and Specifications
First Stage
The first stage features nine Merlin Engines, aero-braking systems, and a flight system that is capable of returning the vehicle to Earth after it has delivered the second stage to the upper atmosphere. During assent the stage uses all 9 of its engines operating a maximum for a typical launch until it reaches the mission's MECO (3) or Main Engine Cut Off point wherein the engines are shut down in preparation for separation of the second stage. After separation the first stage will then perform what is called a boost-back burn in which it relights its engines in order to land at a predetermined point. Currently, SpaceX utilizes several different landing pads but most notably they use automated drone ships to land the first stage. After the boost-back burn is completed and the intended bearing has been achieved, the engines will cut off again to prevent over-burning and to conserve fuel for the final "suicide burn". In order to guide the first stage in its descent, the stage is equipped with aero-breaking fins. These fins are relatively small compared to the size of the rocket but actually exert a fairly strong force on the rocket allowing them to turn the rocket using the aerodynamics. At the last possible point the engines will relight for a final time and burn just long enough to touch down. This is dubbed a "suicide burn" (4) because it is intended to bring the speed of the vehicle to zero just as it touches down. If the burn weren't to proceed as expected the vehicle may land hard on the ground which can, and has, lead to loss of the vehicle. This has happened in the past as pictured below (5):Automated Drone Ship (2)
Another vehicle used in conjunction with the first stage of the Falcon 9 is the automated drone ship. The drone ship uses GPS tracking and a 4 powerful turbo thrusters to provide a stable landing position for the returning first stage. The drone ship is essentially a large landing pad for the first stage of the Falcon 9 that allows the vehicle to land safely in the ocean. Having the capability to land in the ocean allows for a greater number of planned missions to take place because the rocket never has to land near populated areas.
Second Stage
Once separated in the upper atmosphere, this stage delivers the payload into the desired orbit. This stage is designed to work in upper to no atmosphere conditions, and even though it is much smaller than the first stage, it provides a greater change in velocity, and therefore the orbit of the payload than that of the first stage. This is due to the fact that it has much less mass to move and is farther out of the Earth's gravity well, meaning that the fuel in this stage is much more efficient. This compounds as the rocket burns more and more fuel because that means it is getting lighter while being pushed with the same force, meaning a greater change in speed. This allows the second stage to deliver the payload to its intended orbit, which is higher as a result of this effect.Payload
The Falcon 9 is capable of delivering 8,300-22,800 kgs (1) of payload into orbit, depending on the orbit. For low earth orbit it can deliver 22,800 kg, while for geostationary transfer orbits it can only deliver 8,300 kg. This is because geostationary orbits are much higher up and thus require more fuel per kg than lower orbits. Currently the Falcon 9 uses the Dragon Capsule as one of its payloads. This capsule is used to deliver supplies to the International Space Station and revisions are underway to create a capsule that can even deliver astronauts to space. Plans are in the works to deliver humans into an orbit around the moon and are currently undergoing testing. This mission will use the Falcon Heavy rocket which is essentially three Falcon 9s coupled together and has greater lifting power, allowing for a lunar orbit.Launch Statistics
The Falcon 9 has been in operation for the last seven years; over this period of time the Falcon 9 has been launched 38 times. The first rocket version Falcon 9 v1.0 was launched 5 times from June 2010 to March 2013, and its successor Falcon 9 v1.1 15 times from September 2013 to January 2016. The latest upgrade, the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, has been launched 18 times from December 2015 to present. Of these 38 flights 36 have been successful, giving the Falcon 9 program 94.74% successful launch rate. (6)References
1. "Capabilities & Services (2016)" Space X, Retrieved March 19, 2017
2. "Space X Lands Rocket on Drone Ship - Historic Moment!" Stephen Cane, 2016 Retrieved March 4, 2017
3. "MECO; Second Stage Takes Over" Heiney, Anna, 2015 Retrieved February 20, 2017
4. "What is a Suicide Burn?" Kjorling, Michael 2015, Retrieved March 19, 2017
5. "SpaceX Falcon 9 Landing & Explosion(close-up & slow motion)" SciNews, 2015 Retrieved March 19, 2017
6. "SpaceX Statistics" Space X, Retrieved July 17, 2017