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From left to right, Falcon 9 v1.0, three versions of Falcon 9 v1.1, three versions of Falcon 9 v1.2 (Full Thrust), three versions of Falcon 9 Block 5, Falcon Heavy and Falcon Heavy Block 5. The Falcon Heavy design is based on Falcon 9's fuselage and engines. By 2008, SpaceX had been aiming for the first launch of Falcon 9 in 2009, while "Falcon ...
Falcon 9 is a partially reusable, human-rated, two-stage-to-orbit, medium-lift launch vehicle [a] designed and manufactured in the United States by SpaceX.The first Falcon 9 launch was on 4 June 2010, and the first commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 8 October 2012. [14]
Even when reusing components, there is often a high refurbishment cost. [1] For geostationary transfer orbits, prices are as low as about US$11,300/kg for a Falcon Heavy or Falcon 9 launch. [2] [3] [4] Costs of low Earth orbit launches are significantly less, but this is not the intended orbit for a space elevator.
Falcon 9 v1.1 was developed in 2010–2013, and made its maiden flight in September 2013. The Falcon 9 v1.1 is 60 percent heavier, with 60 percent more thrust than the v1.0 version of the Falcon 9. [23] It includes realigned first-stage engines [24] and 60 percent longer fuel tanks, making it more susceptible to bending during flight. [23]
Falcon 9 Block 5 United States ... Partially reusable (drone ship) 22,800 [24] 8,300 [24] 4,020 to TMI [24] Expendable: Falcon Heavy
Since then, Falcon 9 first-stage boosters have been landed and recovered 389 times out of 401 attempts, including synchronized recoveries of the side-boosters of most Falcon Heavy flights. In total 44 recovered boosters have been refurbished and subsequently flown at least a second time, with a record of 24 launches and landings carried out by ...
They had no plans to build an upper stage engine for the Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy using methalox propellant. [14] However, on November 7, 2018, Elon Musk tweeted, "Falcon 9 second stage will be upgraded to be like a mini-BFR Ship," which may imply the use of a Raptor engine on this new second stage.
[33] [34] The cost of a fairing is about $6 million which accounts for 10 percent of overall Falcon 9 launch costs. [16] The "bouncy castle" idea led to SpaceX contracting for the fast vessel Mr. Steven which was subsequently modified to facilitate a large net being strung between long arms that extend considerably beyond the width of the ship. Mr.