 Launch of the 10th Falcon 9 v1.1 with the Deep Space Climate Observatory on February 11, 2015. This rocket was installed with landing legs and grid fins. | |
| Function | Orbital launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Cost per launch | $61.2M[1] |
| Size | |
| Height | 68.4 m (224 ft)[2] |
| Diameter | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Mass | 505,846 kg (1,115,200 lb)[2] |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | 13,150 kg (28,990 lb)[1][2] |
| Payload to GTO | 4,850 kg (10,690 lb)[1][2] |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Vandenberg SLC-4E |
| Total launches | 13 |
| Success(es) | 13 |
| First flight | September 29, 2013[3] |
| First stage | |
| Engines | 9 Merlin 1D[2] |
| Thrust | 5,885 kN (1,323,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Sea level: 282 s[4] Vacuum: 311 s |
| Burn time | 180 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX/RP-1 |
| Second stage | |
| Engines | Merlin Vacuum (1D) |
| Thrust | 801 kN (180,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Vacuum: 340 s |
| Burn time | 375 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX/RP-1 |
Falcon 9 v1.1 is the second version of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket-powered spaceflight launch system. It was developed in 2010–2013, and made its maiden launch in September 2013. It is both designed and manufactured by SpaceX, headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It is currently the only active rocket of the Falcon rocket family.
Falcon 9 v1.1 was a new vehicle design, with 60 percent more thrust and weight than the Falcon 9 v1.0 launch vehicle. It flew for the first time on a demonstration mission on the sixth overall launch of any Falcon 9 on September 29, 2013.[5]
Both stages of the two-stage-to-orbit vehicle use liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants. The Falcon 9 v1.1 can lift payloads of 13,150 kilograms (28,990 lb) to low Earth orbit, and 4,850 kilograms (10,690 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit, which places the Falcon 9 design in the medium-lift range of launch systems.
The Falcon 9 v1.1 and Dragon capsule combination is being used, beginning in April 2014, to resupply the International Space Station under a contract with NASA. SpaceX is developing the Falcon 9 v1.1 to be able to carry humans and has a contract with NASA for developing and testing several additional technologies to enable it to carry NASA astronauts. No contracts for NASA astronaut missions have yet been signed.
References
edit- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
spacex-capabilitieswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference
spacex-falcon9was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Graham, Will. "SpaceX successfully launches debut Falcon 9 v1.1". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
- ^ "Falcon 9". SpaceX. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
- ^ "SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch in California". CBS News. Retrieved 29 September 2013.