Falcon 9 - Knowledge

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happening), but it is a small device, unlikely to cause major damage to its own engine, let alone the neighbouring ones. Even so, as with engine nacelles on commercial jets, the fire/explosive barriers will assume that the entire chamber blows apart in the worst possible way. The bottom close-out panels are designed to direct any force or flame downward, away from neighbouring engines and the stage itself. ... we've found that the Falcon 9's ability to withstand one or even multiple engine failures, just as commercial airliners do, and still complete its mission is a compelling selling point with customers. Apart from the

2114: 3894: 3846: 3183: 2100: 3259: 7322:"With Falcon I's fourth launch, the first stage got cooked, so we're going to beef up the Thermal Protection System (TPS). By flight six we think it's highly likely we'll recover the first stage, and when we get it back we'll see what survived through re-entry, and what got fried, and carry on with the process. That's just to make the first stage reusable, it'll be even harder with the second stage – that has got to have a full heatshield, it'll have to have deorbit propulsion and communication". 3095: 12165: 11442: 29: 2919: 4296:

typically operating every four months. The Bandwagon program started in 2024, offers access to mid-inclination orbits of approximately 45 degrees, with flights typically operating every six months. Unlike traditional secondary payload arrangements, these programs do not rely on a primary mission. Instead, SpaceX provides a unique "cake topper" option for larger satellites between 500 and 2,500 kilograms (1,100 and 5,500 lb).

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reduced fuel reserves so that the likelihood that there was sufficient fuel to execute the mission dropped from 99% to 95%. Because NASA had purchased the launch and therefore contractually controlled several mission decision points, NASA declined SpaceX's request to restart the second stage and attempt to deliver the secondary payload into the correct orbit. As a result, the secondary payload reentered the atmosphere.

10671: 3376:(AFSS) replaced the ground-based mission flight control personnel and equipment. AFSS offered on-board Positioning, Navigation and Timing sources and decision logic. The benefits of AFSS included increased public safety, reduced reliance on range infrastructure, reduced range spacelift cost, increased schedule predictability and availability, operational flexibility, and launch slot flexibility". 2038: 9859: 9804: 8611: 8569: 7335: 6053: 5875: 5720: 5684: 5648: 5602: 5048: 4271:, said that his outfit was cutting prices by 30%, alleging that SpaceX was price dumping by charging commercial customers US$ 60 million per flight while charging NASA between 1.5 and 4 times as much for the same flight. Musk denied the claim and replied that the price difference reflected that the Falcon 9s were 80% reusable, while Russian rockets were single use. ULA CEO 4573:, the primary payload, Dragon, was successful. A secondary payload was placed in an incorrect orbit because of a changed flight profile due to the malfunction and shut-down of a single first-stage engine. Likely enough fuel and oxidizer remained on the second stage for orbital insertion, but not enough to be within NASA safety margins for the protection of the 1313:, and in March, SpaceX performed a static fire test, where the first stage was fired without launch. The test was aborted at T−2 due to a failure in the high-pressure helium pump. All systems up to the abort performed as expected, and no additional issues needed addressing. A subsequent test on 13 March fired the first-stage engines for 3.5 seconds. 2105: 2101: 2103: 3011:(nose cone) to protect (non-Dragon) satellites during launch. The fairing is 13 m (43 ft) long, 5.2 m (17 ft) in diameter, weighs approximately 1900 kg, and is constructed of carbon fiber skin overlaid on an aluminum honeycomb core. SpaceX designed and fabricates fairings in Hawthorne. Testing was completed at NASA's 8752:"Once we have all nine engines and the stage working well as a system, we will extensively test the "engine out" capability. This includes explosive and fire testing of the barriers that separate the engines from each other and from the vehicle. ... It should be said that the failure modes we've seen to date on the test stand for the 2104: 1073:(ISS) launched on 8 October 2012. In 2020, it became the first commercial rocket to launch humans to orbit. The Falcon 9 has an exceptional safety record, with 373 successful launches, two in-flight failures, one partial failure and one pre-flight destruction. It is the most-launched American rocket in history. 8756:

are all relatively benign – the turbo pump, combustion chamber and nozzle do not rupture explosively even when subjected to extreme circumstances. We have seen the gas generator (that drives the turbo pump assembly) blow apart during a start sequence (there are no checks in place to prevent that from

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and US$ 35 million with a 5.2 m (17 ft) fairing. SpaceX also announced a heavy version of Falcon 9 with a payload capacity of approximately 25,000 kilograms (55,000 lb). Falcon 9 was intended to support LEO and GTO missions, as well as crew and cargo missions to the ISS.

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SpaceX ... developed prices for flying those secondary payloads ... A P-POD would cost between $ 200,000 and $ 325,000 for missions to LEO, or $ 350,000 to $ 575,000 for missions to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). An ESPA-class satellite weighing up to 180 kilograms would cost $ 4–5 million for

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SpaceX provides two rideshare programs, regularly scheduled Falcon 9 flights for small satellite deployment: Transporter and Bandwagon. The Transporter program started in 2021 and specializes in delivering payloads to sun-synchronous orbits, primarily serving Earth observation missions, with flights

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At the time of Falcon 9's 2010 maiden flight, the price of a v1.0 launch was listed from US$ 49.9–56 million. The list price increased thereafter, to US$ 54–59.5 million (2012). US$ 56.5 million (v1.1, August 2013), US$ 61.2 million (June 2014), US$ 62 million (Full Thrust, May 2016), to US$ <30

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In October 2016, Musk described Block 5 as coming with "a lot of minor refinements that collectively are important, but uprated thrust and improved legs are the most significant". In January 2017, Musk added that Block 5 "significantly improves performance and ease of reusability". The maiden flight

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film series. In 2005, SpaceX announced that it was instead proceeding with Falcon 9, a "fully reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle", and had already secured a government customer. Falcon 9 was described as capable of launching approximately 9,500 kilograms (20,900 lb) to low Earth orbit

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approach been used. A 2011 NASA report "estimated that it would have cost the agency about US$ 4 billion to develop a rocket like the Falcon 9 booster based upon NASA's traditional contracting processes" while "a more commercial development" approach might have allowed the agency to pay only US$ 1.7

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that deploy from the vehicle moments after stage separation. Initially, the V1.2 Full Thrust version of the Falcon 9 were equipped with grid fins made from aluminum, which were eventually replaced by larger, more aerodynamically efficient, and durable titanium fins. The upgraded titanium grid fins,

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Despite public statements that they would endeavor to make the second-stage reusable as well, by late 2014, SpaceX determined that the mass needed for a heat shield, landing engines, and other equipment to support recovery of the second stage was prohibitive, and abandoned second-stage reusability

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The Full Thrust upgrade (also known as FT, v1.2 or Block 3), made major changes. It added cryogenic propellant cooling to increase density allowing 17% higher thrust, improved the stage separation system, stretched the second stage to hold additional propellant, and strengthened struts for holding

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requested that SpaceX carry one of their small satellites (weighing a few hundred pounds, versus Dragon at over 12,000 pounds)... The higher the orbit, the more test data can gather, so they requested that we attempt to restart and raise altitude. NASA agreed to allow that, but only on condition

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stated "Our estimate remains around 10 flights as a fleet average to achieve a consistent breakeven point ... and that no one has come anywhere close". However, Elon Musk responded "payload reduction due to reusability of booster and fairing is <40% for Falcon 9 and recovery and refurb is

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in October 2012 was a partial success after engine number 1 lost pressure at 79 seconds, and then shut down. To compensate for the resulting loss of acceleration, the first stage had to burn 28 seconds longer than planned, and the second stage had to burn an extra 15 seconds. That extra burn time

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launched 36 times from 2015 to 2015. The most recent version, Block 5, was introduced in May 2018. With each iteration, the Falcon 9 has become more powerful and capable of vertical landing. As vertical landings became more commonplace, SpaceX focused on streamlining the refurbishment process for

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On 26 June 2019, Jonathan Hofeller (SpaceX vice president of commercial sales) said that price discounts given to early customers on mission with reused boosters had become the standard price. In October 2019, Falcon 9's "base price" of US$ 62 million per launch was lowered to US$ 52 million for

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plan called for the first stage to conduct a burn to reduce its reentry velocity, and then a second burn just before reaching the water. Although not a complete success, the stage was able to change direction and make a controlled entry into the atmosphere. During the final landing burn, the RCS

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F9's launch sequence includes a hold-down feature that allows full engine ignition and systems check before liftoff. After the first-stage engine starts, the launcher is held down and not released for flight until all propulsion and vehicle systems are confirmed to be operating normally. Similar

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In December 2010, the SpaceX production line manufactured a Falcon 9 (and Dragon spacecraft) every three months. By September 2013, SpaceX's total manufacturing space had increased to nearly 93,000 m (1,000,000 sq ft), in order to support a production capacity of 40 rocket cores

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The first multi-engine test (two engines firing simultaneously, connected to the first stage) was completed in January 2008. Successive tests led to a 178-second (mission length), nine engine test-fire in November 2008. In October 2009, the first flight-ready all-engine test fire was at its

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for cargo transport to the space station leaving the details to industry" had allowed SpaceX to complete the task at a substantially lower cost. "According to NASA's own independently verified numbers, SpaceX's development costs of both the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets were estimated at

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that was not properly purged after cleaning. On another Starlink mission on 15 February 2021, hot exhaust gasses entered an engine due to a fatigue-related hole in its cover. SpaceX stated the failed cover had the "highest... number of flights that this particular boot design had seen."

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Merlin 1D engines have suffered two premature shutdowns on ascent. Neither has affected the primary mission, but both landing attempts failed. On an 18 March 2020 Starlink mission, one of the first stage engines failed 3 seconds before cut-off due to the ignition of some

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The original NASA COTS contract called for the first demonstration flight in September 2008, and the completion of all three demonstration missions by September 2009. In February 2008, the date slipped into the first quarter of 2009. According to Musk, complexity and

1224:(COTS) program to deliver cargo to ISS using Falcon 9/Dragon. Funds would be disbursed only after the demonstration missions were successfully and thoroughly completed. The contract totaled US$ 1.6 billion for a minimum of 12 missions to ferry supplies to and 2394:— first dedicated smallsat rideshare launch arranged by SpaceX, set the record of the most satellites launched on a single launch with 143 satellites, surpassing the previous record of 108 satellites held by the November 17, 2018 launch of an 9593:. Musk quote: "We will never give up! Never! Reusability is one of the most important goals. If we become the biggest launch company in the world, making money hand over fist, but we're still not reusable, I will consider us to have failed". 1205:(SAA) "to develop and demonstrate commercial orbital transportation service", including the purchase of three demonstration flights. The overall contract award was US$ 278 million to provide three demonstration launches of Falcon 9 with the 4079:

involving a massive net, in order to catch returning fairings. Two dedicated ships were outfitted for this role, making their first catches in 2019. However, following mixed success, SpaceX returned to water landings and wet recovery.

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SpaceX conducts the static fire test — that typically ends with a 3.5-second engine firing — before every launch to wring out issues with the rocket and ground systems. The exercise also helps engineers rehearse for the real launch

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Since 2018, SpaceX has routinely reused first stages, reducing the demand for new cores. In 2023, SpaceX performed 91 launches of Falcon 9 with only 4 using new boosters and successfully recovered the booster on all flights. The

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In 2017, SpaceX started including incremental changes to the Full Thrust, internally dubbed Block 4. Initially, only the second stage was modified to Block 4 standards, flying on top of a Block 3 first stage for three missions:

3369:. Plans to reuse the second-stage were abandoned as the weight of a heat shield and other equipment would reduce payload too much. The reusable booster was developed using systems and software tested on the Falcon 9 prototypes. 5362: 2102: 6882:"The flanges will link the rocket with ground storage tanks containing liquid oxygen, kerosene fuel, helium, gaserous nitrogen and the first stage ignitor source called triethylaluminum-triethylborane, better known as TEA-TAB" 4284:'s launches were costing US$ 95 million due to extra security. SpaceX executive Christopher Couluris stated that reusing rockets could bring prices even lower, that it "costs 28 million to launch it, that's with everything". 3086:

cast and cut from a single piece of titanium, offer significantly better maneuverability and survivability from the extreme heat of re-entry than aluminum grid fins and can be reused indefinitely with minimal refurbishment.

5487: 8874:"Falcon 9 B1059.6 landing failure update. A Merlin engine boot (a life leader) developed a hole and sent hot gas to 'where it wasn't supposed to be' and shut down during first stage flight. Not enough thrust for landing" 6932: 4057:

In May 2021 the first booster reached 10 missions. Musk indicated that SpaceX intends to fly boosters until they see a failure in Starlink missions. As of 17 September 2024, the record is 23 flights by the same booster.

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Even though the Falcon 9 is a medium-lift launch vehicle, through these programs, SpaceX has become the leading provider of rideshare launches. Given the company's frequent launch cadence and low prices, operators of

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V1.0 flew five successful orbital launches from 2010 to 2013. The much larger V1.1 made its first flight in September 2013. The demonstration mission carried a small 500 kg (1,100 lb) primary payload, the

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SpaceX is currently producing one vehicle per month, but that number is expected to increase to '18 per year in the next couple of quarters'. By the end of 2014, she says SpaceX will produce 24 launch vehicles per

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equipped with a steerable parachute as well as RCS thrusters that can be recovered and reused. A payload fairing half was recovered following a soft-landing in the ocean for the first time in March 2017, following

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SpaceX pricing and payload specifications published for v1.1 as of March 2014 included about 30% more performance than the published price list indicated; SpaceX reserved the additional performance to perform

10349: 5308: 9988: 7351: 1302:. In November, SpaceX conducted the initial second stage test firing, lasting forty seconds. In January 2010, a 329-second (mission length) orbit-insertion firing of the second stage was conducted at McGregor. 3879:, including a 79-second round-trip flight to an altitude of 744 m (2,441 ft). In March 2013, SpaceX announced that as of the first v1.1 flight, every booster would be equipped for powered descent. 15722:

This Template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future

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SpaceX also offers more traditional rideshares where small satellites piggyback on the launch of a large primary payload. In the past, the company has offered clients the option to mount payloads using the

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family of rockets, multiple engines allow for mission completion even if one fails. Detailed descriptions of destructive engine failure modes and designed-in engine-out capabilities were made public.

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The second stage igniter propellant lines were later insulated to better support in-space restart following long coast phases for orbital trajectory maneuvers. Four extensible carbon fiber/aluminum

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F9 v1.0 was an expendable launch vehicle developed from 2005 to 2010. It flew for the first time in 2010. V1.0 made five flights, after which it was retired. The first stage was powered by nine

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parts. Each stage has stage-level flight computers, in addition to the Merlin-specific engine controllers, of the same fault-tolerant triad design to handle stage control functions. Each engine

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In 2024, it was stated that SpaceX's internal costs for launching a Falcon 9 were "significantly less than $ 20 million", achieved through the reuse rocket's first stage and payload fairings.

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fuel, while the second stage uses 28,000 L (6,200 imp gal; 7,400 US gal) of liquid oxygen and 17,000 L (3,700 imp gal; 4,500 US gal) of RP-1.

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aerodynamic control surfaces, and successfully guided itself to the ship, before running out of hydraulic fluid and crashing into the platform. A second attempt occurred in April 2015, on

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Within a year, we need to get it from where it is right now, which is about a rocket core every four weeks, to a rocket core every two weeks... By the end of 2015, says SpaceX president

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in December 2015. As of 17 September 2024, SpaceX has successfully landed Falcon 9 boosters 335 times. Individual boosters have flown as many as 23 flights. Both stages are powered by

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Sixteen test flights were conducted from 2013 to 2016, six of which achieved a soft landing and booster recovery. Since January 2017, with the exceptions of the centre core from the

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tank, for its strength and reliability. The second stage tank is a shorter version of the first stage tank. It uses most of the same tooling, material, and manufacturing techniques.

1080:. The first (booster) stage carries the second stage and payload to a predetermined speed and altitude, after which the second stage accelerates the payload to its target orbit. The 9256: 7137: 5919: 3947:

The first attempt to land a booster on a ground pad near the launch site occurred on flight 20, in December 2015. The landing was successful and the booster was recovered. This was

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understood from the beginning that the orbit-raising maneuver was tentative. They accepted that there was a high risk of their satellite remaining at the Dragon insertion orbit...

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In 2011, Musk estimated that fuel and oxidizer for v1.0 cost about US$ 200,000. The first stage uses 245,620 L (54,030 imp gal; 64,890 US gal) of

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By February 2016 the production rate for Falcon 9 cores had increased to 18 per year, and the number of first stage cores that could be assembled at one time reached six.

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thrusters could not overcome an aerodynamically induced spin. The centrifugal force deprived the engine of fuel, leading to early engine shutdown and a hard splashdown.

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In 2011, SpaceX estimated that Falcon 9 v1.0 development costs were approximately US$ 300 million. NASA estimated development costs of US$ 3.6 billion had a traditional

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SpaceX planned from the beginning to make both stages reusable. The first stages of early Falcon flights were equipped with parachutes and were covered with a layer of

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derivative is a heavy-lift launch vehicle composed of three Falcon 9 first-stage boosters. The central core is reinforced, while the side boosters feature aerodynamic

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In 2022, the Falcon 9 set a new record with 60 successful launches by the same launch vehicle type in a calendar year. This surpassed the previous record held by

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Both of the rocket's stages would return to the launch site and touch down vertically, under rocket power, on landing gear after delivering a spacecraft to orbit

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The stage separation system was redesigned to reduce the number of attachment points from twelve to three, and the vehicle had upgraded avionics and software.

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Falcon 9 first-stage boosters landed successfully in 350 of 362 attempts (96.7%), with 325 out of 330 (98.5%) for the Falcon 9 Block 5 version. A total of 321

1414:, which had 47 launches (45 successful) in 1979. In 2023, the Falcon family of rockets (including the Falcon Heavy) had 96 successful launches, surpassing the 10208: 9412: 8999: 8434:

The aforementioned Second Stage will be tasked with a busy role during this mission, lofting the 5300 kg SES-9 spacecraft to its Geostationary Transfer Orbit.

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V1.1 is 60% heavier with 60% more thrust than v1.0. Its nine (more powerful) Merlin 1D engines were rearranged into an "octagonal" pattern that SpaceX called

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launch which experienced early shut-down of a first-stage Merlin 1D engine during ascent due to damage, but still delivered the payload to the target orbit,

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Symbol indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)

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Boosters that will be deliberately expended do not have legs or fins. Recoverable boosters include four extensible landing legs attached around the base.

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disintegrated on the launch pad during fueling for an engine test. Block 5 has a success rate of 99.7% (319/320). For comparison, the industry benchmark

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launch was the first operational launch utilizing AFSS. All SpaceX launches after 16 March used AFSS. A 25 June mission carried the second batch of ten

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In 2014, SpaceX released combined development costs for Falcon 9 and Dragon. NASA provided US$ 396 million, while SpaceX provided over US$ 450 million.

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becomes the first Falcon 9 booster to fly and land 20 times; this was preceded by certification of boosters to fly that often, double the initial goal,

8976: 5195: 17624: 15756: 12059: 11823: 9962: 7164:"Flying with larger & significantly upgraded hypersonic grid fins. Single piece cast & cut titanium. Can take reentry heat with no shielding" 6069: 3865: 3840: 3241: 10083: 10050: 9496: 6966: 5830: 5385: 4367: 3435:. It includes incremental engine thrust upgrades leading to Block 5. The maiden flight of the full Block 4 design (first and second stages) was the 1375:

Rockets from the Falcon 9 family have been launched 386 times over 14 years, resulting in 383 full successes (99.22%), two in-flight failures (

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The F9 interstage, which connects the upper and lower stages, is a carbon-fibre aluminium-core composite structure that holds reusable separation

2460:— Second stage failed to relight, Starlink satellites deployed into lower orbit than planned. This resulted in loss of all 20 Starlink satellites. 1193:, with no pre-arranged sales of launch services. SpaceX developed Falcon 9 with private capital as well, but did have pre-arranged commitments by 13627: 13012: 10106: 8678: 5252: 4204: 13022: 12964: 12949: 9789: 5657: 2209: 9226: 4659: 7433: 7075: 3308:

These improvements increased the payload capability from 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) to 13,150 kg (28,990 lb). SpaceX president

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launch, saw the first failure of a Merlin 1D first-stage engine during ascent, and the second ascent engine failure on the rocket following

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LEO mission in January 2017, again achieving reuse and landing of a recovered booster. The third reuse flight came in November 2018 on the

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The elements of the stack arrived at the launch site for integration at the beginning of February, 2010. The flight stack went vertical at

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to purchase several operational flights once specific capabilities were demonstrated. Milestone-specific payments were provided under the

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Jupiter 3/EchoStar XXIV has a larger mass, when comparing both initial mass (~9,200 kg vs. 7,076 kg) and dry mass (5,817 kg vs. 3,031 kg)

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lists it as a "Category 3" (Low Risk) launch vehicle allowing it to launch the agency's most expensive, important, and complex missions.

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The Falcon Heavy first stage center core and boosters each carry landing legs, which will land each core safely on Earth after takeoff.

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In October 2005, SpaceX announced plans to launch Falcon 9 in the first half of 2007. The initial launch would not occur until 2010.

9085: 8624: 5061: 4894:"Due to continued design improvements, this Falcon 9 carried its highest ever payload of 17.5 tons of useful load to a useful orbit" 4010: 1127:, while the latter went into a lower-energy GTO, with an apogee well below the geostationary altitude. On 24 January 2021, Falcon 9 16166: 13414: 12138: 11755: 8731: 8278: 6401:"Congrats to @SpaceX team on 48th launch this year! Falcon 9 now holds record for most launches of a single vehicle type in a year" 3783:. An automatic safe shut-down and unloading of propellant occur if any abnormal conditions are detected. Prior to the launch date, 3287:. This is designed to simplify and streamline manufacturing. The fuel tanks were 60% longer, making the rocket more susceptible to 649: 8524: 7961: 6370: 5891: 4955: 14883: 13971: 11803: 10496: 10461: 4140: 2276: 1748: 406: 46: 10265: 9844: 9631: 7602: 1415: 11795: 7575: 7381: 7305: 7195:"New titanium grid fins worked even better than expected. Should be capable of an indefinite number of flights with no service" 6869: 6644: 6492: 5765: 5697: 4156: 4120: 1736: 1306: 1050: 397: 8497: 7510: 7270: 6720: 15749: 13602: 13112: 12188: 11933: 11715: 11311: 7924: 5573: 4419: 4031: 4019: 3387: 3271: 2999:

and a pneumatic pusher system. The original stage separation system had twelve attachment points, reduced to three for v1.1.

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stated, "Ultimately, I believe 500 per pound (1100/kg) or less is very achievable". At its 2016 launch price with a full

3861:. These were defeated by the accompanying aerodynamic stress and heating. The stages were salt-water corrosion-resistant. 2380:— first crewed operational launch of the Crew Dragon, holding the record for the longest spaceflight by a US crew vehicle, 16322: 16117: 16107: 16029: 14506: 14328: 11760: 8765:, none of the existing launch vehicles can afford to lose even a single thrust chamber without causing loss of mission". 8331: 7757: 6989: 6181: 5944: 4309: 3312:

stated the v1.1 had about 30% more payload capacity than published on its price list, with the extra margin reserved for

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At 5.3 tons, AMOS-6 is the largest communications satellite ever built by IAI. Scheduled for launch in early 2016 from

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Payload was restricted to 10,886 kg (24,000 lb) due to structural limit of the payload adapter fitting (PAF).

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Falcon 9 is capable of losing up to 2 engines and still complete the mission by burning the remaining engines longer.

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The launch also marked the first flight of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, internally known only as the "Upgraded Falcon 9"

4313: 4179: 2080: 1760: 422: 415: 9901: 5973: 1363: 15742: 13136: 12384: 11260: 10796: 10200: 8171: 4160: 4124: 2496: 2416: 1310: 393: 13017: 6667: 6121: 5536: 3298:), with the engines burning for a nominal 180 seconds. The stage's thrust rose to 6,672 kN (1,500,000 lb 17619: 16415: 16054: 15883: 15709: 13842: 11987: 11878: 4538:

The Falcon 9 v1.0 only launched the Dragon spacecraft; it was never launched with the clam-shell payload fairing.

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launch, was a successful flight, but had the first recovery failure of a previously flown and recovered booster,

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cargo spacecraft. Additional milestones were added later, raising the total contract value to US$ 396 million.

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sometimes completes a test cycle, culminating in a three-and-a-half second first stage engine static firing.

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valve became stuck, preventing the control system from reacting rapidly enough for a successful landing.

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Development testing of the first stage was completed in July 2013, and it first flew in September 2017.

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computers, each having 2 CPUs which constantly check the other 2 in the trio. The Merlin 1D engines can

2167:, and the first demonstration of the rocket's engine-out capability due to the failure of a first-stage 17128: 16408: 15889: 15699: 14974: 14375: 14045: 13046: 12374: 12023: 10782: 4599:

One rocket and payload were destroyed before launch, during preparation for a routine static fire test.

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for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches. SLC-6 is likely to become the fourth launch site for Falcon 9.

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floating platform in January 2015. The rocket incorporated (for the first time in an orbital mission)

3334:. Many engineering changes to support reusability and recovery of the first stage were made for v1.1. 16300: 15704: 15694: 14013: 13681: 13634: 12362: 12357: 11856: 11767: 10775: 10768: 5661: 4654: 4652: 4329: 4171: 4152: 3799: 3791: 3379:

FT's capacity allowed SpaceX to choose between increasing payload, decreasing launch price, or both.

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Congressional testimony by SpaceX in 2017 suggested that the unusual NASA process of "setting only a

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cargo missions to the ISS have an average cost of US$ 133 million under a fixed-price contract with

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The v1.1 first stage offered a total sea-level thrust at liftoff of 5,885 kN (1,323,000 lb

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Interactive 3D model of the Falcon 9, fully integrated on the left and in exploded view on the right

17560: 17540: 17431: 17086: 16475: 16112: 15366: 14142: 13580: 11777: 11566: 11390: 5279:"SpaceX rocket failure highlights need for multiple launch options: 'Falcon 9 is not invulnerable'" 4098: 3973: 3941: 3313: 3149: 3051: 37: 12915: 12581: 8847:"Component fatigue caused early shutdown of Merlin engine on last SpaceX launch – Spaceflight Now" 7071: 4649: 4514: 4468:

There was also an on-pad explosion; sometimes it is counted as a launch, resulting in 64 launches.

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to the International Space Station the first Falcon 9 rocket NASA agreed to fly a second time".

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The first operational relaunch of a previously flown booster was accomplished in March 2017 with

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Flight 300 — 200th consecutive successful vertical landing for the orbital class Falcon booster,

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and was projected to be priced at US$ 27 million per flight with a 3.7 m (12 ft)

17519: 17514: 17509: 17441: 17386: 17337: 17317: 17307: 17302: 17196: 16898: 16626: 16295: 16049: 16012: 16007: 15765: 15585: 15240: 15167: 14957: 14930: 14925: 14608: 14571: 13897: 13128: 12217: 12132: 11509: 11286: 10608: 10482: 8705: 5278: 4522: 4424: 4241: 4116: 3811: 3752: 2543: 2345: 1243: 9439:"SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites in record 10th liftoff (and landing) of reused rocket" 9227:"Falcon Heavy core booster tips over in rough seas after drone ship landing – Spaceflight Now" 8820:"SpaceX engine issue on last Starlink mission caused by cleaning fluid according to Elon Musk" 8554: 6779:"SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on record 20th reflight of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage" 3731:

As of 17 September 2024, Falcon 9 had achieved 373 out of 376 full mission successes (99.2%).

3540: 2233:— total loss of mission due to structural failure and helium overpressure in the second stage, 2113: 17582: 17451: 17446: 17396: 17391: 17365: 17332: 16987: 16920: 16721: 16643: 16255: 16222: 16177: 15856: 15629: 15496: 15262: 15115: 14707: 14625: 14333: 11914: 11886: 11642: 11517: 11501: 10632: 10598: 6894: 6835: 4861: 4345: 4175: 3744: 3431:

in July 2017. Block 4 was described as a transition between the Full Thrust v1.2 Block 3 and

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engines arranged in a 3 × 3 grid. Each had a sea-level thrust of 556 kN (125,000 lb

3039: 2989: 2129: 13074: 9869:"Environmental Assessment, Boost-Back and Landing of the Falcon 9 First Stage at SLC-4 West" 8300: 3875:. Between 2012 and 2013, this low-altitude, low-speed demonstration test vehicle made eight 17504: 17456: 17032: 16945: 16848: 16359: 15541: 15401: 14871: 13271: 13259: 12245: 12127: 11800: 11385: 11253: 10713: 10368: 10046: 10042: 10015: 9985:"Russia will cut space launch prices by 30 percent in response to SpaceX predatory pricing" 9143: 8877: 8873: 8390: 7763: 7229: 7198: 7167: 6933:"Musk Says SpaceX Being "Extremely Paranoid" as It Readies for Falcon 9's California Debut" 6404: 5814: 4352: 4144: 3858: 3845: 3489: 3420: 3343: 3157: 3127: 3107: 2528: 2280: 1744: 1602: 1434: 1166: 1143: 402: 359: 108: 9902:"SpaceX to fly reused rockets on half of all 2018 launches as competition lags far behind" 8620: 6309: 5165: 4893: 3893: 3365:

helium bottles believed to have been involved with the failure of flight 19. It offered a

3015:

facility in spring 2013 where the acoustic shock and mechanical vibration of launch, plus

8: 17565: 17555: 17401: 17322: 16582: 16557: 16519: 16455: 16290: 16227: 16102: 16064: 15937: 15877: 15769: 15734: 15272: 15083: 14464: 14402: 14219: 13946: 13652: 13167: 12781: 12747: 12075: 11938: 11525: 10649: 8938: 6496: 5810: 5386:"Intelsat 35e is launched into advantageous super-synchronous transfer orbit by Falcon 9" 4386: 4112: 3872: 3323: 3146: 3059: 2951: 2507: 2240: 2220: 1419: 1202: 286: 17600:

Some families include both missiles and carrier rockets; they are listed in both groups.

9785: 8739: 8520: 8274: 6866: 6148:"SpaceX successfully conducts full mission-length firing of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle" 5139:"SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage Engine Successfully Completes Full Mission Duration Firing" 4925:"Air Force requirements will keep SpaceX from landing Falcon 9 booster after GPS launch" 17286: 16716: 16267: 15931: 15073: 15016: 14702: 14407: 13597: 12990: 12791: 12757: 12728: 12605: 12389: 12379: 11603: 11590: 11339: 11055: 10803: 10789: 9466:"SpaceX successfully catches first Falcon Heavy fairing in Mr. Steven's/Ms. Tree's net" 8762: 7429: 7102:"Falcon Heavy Rocket Launch and Booster Recovery Featured in Cool New SpaceX Animation" 5884: 4667: 4636: 4526: 4406: 4043: 3983: 3735:

succeeded in its primary mission, but left a secondary payload in a wrong orbit, while

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made its first flight in December 2015. The first stage of the Full Thrust version was

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was stranded in a lower-than-planned orbit). Additionally, one rocket and its payload (

1232: 1089: 1081: 1077: 1058: 594: 11700: 11695: 10364: 17044: 16348: 16343: 16261: 16087: 15607: 15182: 14523: 12069: 12043: 11278: 10642: 10625: 10618: 10043:"ULA CEO Tory Bruno's view on the economics of reusing rockets by propulsive flyback" 9814: 9524:"reuse – How does SpaceX plan to achieve reusability of the Falcon 9 *second* stage?" 9413:"SpaceX to resume Starlink flights, stretching reused Falcon rockets to their limits" 8799:

that there be substantial propellant reserves, since the orbit would be close to the

8584:. NASA. January 2010. Figure 2: Historical Rocket Launch Data (Soyuz Rocket Family). 8254: 8151: 7940: 7657: 7377: 5693: 5569: 5431: 4960: 4518: 4305: 3827: 3407: 2420: 2048: 1392: 1353: 1328:

annually. The factory was producing one Falcon 9 per month as of November 2013.

1265: 10011: 9253:"Historic SpaceX Falcon 9 booster topples over and is lost at sea – Spaceflight Now" 7571: 7225: 6636: 6550:"SpaceX makes aerospace history with successful launch and landing of a used rocket" 6400: 5511:"SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Certified to Launch NASA's Most Precious Science Missions" 17587: 17550: 17524: 17436: 17381: 17344: 17268: 17201: 16620: 16572: 16567: 16547: 16502: 16460: 16244: 16034: 15947: 15580: 15162: 15157: 15093: 14829: 14824: 14814: 14564: 14559: 14554: 14549: 14544: 14539: 14481: 14427: 14313: 14214: 14179: 13951: 13934: 13929: 13212: 13051: 13036: 12250: 11473: 11306: 10720: 10659: 10591: 10584: 10574: 8934:"Elon Musk says SpaceX will attempt to develop fully reusable space launch vehicle" 7927:. Space Launch Report. 14 August 2017. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017 7277: 7194: 7163: 6668:"SpaceX Falcon 9 bids temporary goodbye to West Coast in launch and landing photos" 3499: 3448: 3432: 3165: 3131: 3019: 2973: 2955: 2940: 2395: 1616: 1404: 962: 901: 886: 779: 12274: 11723: 9140:"The Falcon 9 first stage landing is confirmed. Second stage continuing nominally" 8489: 8386: 7899:"SpaceX's Final Falcon 9 Design Coming This Year, 2 Falcon Heavy Launches in 2018" 4030:

in April 2016. After landing a second time, it was retired. In June 2017, booster

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with 7,075 kg (15,598 lb). The former was launched into an advantageous

17496: 17477: 17206: 16935: 16888: 16599: 16273: 16198: 16193: 16172: 15964: 15942: 15872: 15833: 15689: 15600: 15381: 15110: 15078: 14844: 14839: 14834: 14353: 14258: 14008: 13757: 13222: 12692: 12660: 12650: 12630: 12347: 12263: 12168: 12146: 12097: 12033: 11926: 11851: 11535: 11496: 11479: 11468: 11463: 11334: 11246: 11183: 11174: 11132: 11118: 11090: 10676: 10670: 10509: 10505: 10468: 9361:"Bulgaria's first communications satellite to ride SpaceX's second reused rocket" 9139: 6873: 6354: 5831:"NASA selects SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster and Dragon spacecraft for cargo resupply" 4067: 3655: 3309: 3215: 3063: 3008: 2559: 2338: 1277: 1225: 645: 183: 11945: 8020:"SpaceX's Elon Musk geeks out over Mars interplanetary transport plan on Reddit" 7817:(audio file). The Space Show. Event occurs at 08:15–11:20. 2212. Archived from 7403: 6580:"SpaceX even landed the nose cone from its historic used Falcon 9 rocket launch" 6151: 5359:"SpaceX's rockets and spacecraft have really cool names. But what do they mean?" 4956:"SpaceX Test-Fires New Falcon 9 Block 5 Rocket Ahead of Maiden Flight (Updated)" 3817:

SpaceX emphasized that the first stage is designed for "engine-out" capability.

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The booster stage has 9 engines, arranged in a configuration that SpaceX calls

2944: 1291: 42: 14516: 13041: 10433: 10293:"Old Falcon 9 rockets done firing their engines will now inflame imaginations" 8327: 6173: 5938: 3094: 17613: 17211: 17173: 16955: 16925: 16843: 16838: 16709: 16470: 16353: 16097: 15839: 15827: 15617: 15612: 15421: 15416: 15411: 15371: 15088: 15063: 15009: 15004: 14994: 14989: 14984: 14866: 14861: 14690: 14390: 14385: 14273: 14169: 14130: 14125: 14115: 14105: 14095: 14085: 14080: 14075: 14070: 14065: 14060: 14055: 14050: 13961: 13822: 12855: 12818: 12813: 12678: 12666: 12655: 12645: 12640: 12635: 12625: 12615: 12610: 12574: 12561: 12551: 12546: 12541: 12536: 12531: 12526: 12521: 12516: 12511: 12506: 12501: 12496: 12491: 12486: 12481: 12476: 12471: 12466: 12461: 12456: 12240: 12235: 11687: 11650: 11380: 11375: 11156: 11140: 11125: 11111: 11104: 11097: 11083: 11069: 11062: 11036: 11028: 11021: 11014: 11007: 11000: 10993: 10986: 10979: 10972: 10965: 10958: 10951: 10944: 10937: 10930: 10923: 10916: 10909: 10902: 10895: 10888: 10706: 10699: 9863: 9808: 9279: 8758: 8753: 8615: 8573: 7339: 6057: 5879: 5724: 5688: 5652: 5606: 5305:"SpaceX launches Falcon 9 first-stage booster on record-breaking 19th flight" 5052: 4253: 4222: 4192: 4035: 3987: 3951:

that after launching an orbital mission, a first stage achieved a controlled

3780: 3768: 3483: 3477: 3436: 3391: 3253: 3211: 3199: 3187: 3177: 3123: 3119: 3103: 3099: 2936: 2928: 2912: 2586: 2491: 2387:— first launch of the Cargo Dragon 2, an uncrewed variant of the Crew Dragon, 2272: 2179: 2168: 2142: 1594: 1586: 1430: 1426: 1206: 1162: 1158: 1097: 1093: 718: 709: 699: 635: 584: 574: 375: 367: 81: 13061: 12929: 12921: 10428: 10012:"SpaceX rockets are 80% reusable, theirs are 0%. This is the actual problem" 7845:"SpaceX successfully landed its Falcon 9 rocket after launching it to space" 7457:"SpaceX Says Requirements, Not Markup, Make Government Missions More Costly" 6695:"SpaceX's Falcon 9 sticks foggy booster recovery at California landing zone" 4459:, which is much larger due to nozzle extension, and cannot work at sea level 17570: 17419: 17168: 17163: 17158: 16992: 16982: 16893: 16653: 16648: 16514: 16465: 16250: 16216: 16210: 16077: 15804: 15501: 15489: 15484: 15479: 15213: 15152: 15058: 14999: 14979: 14635: 14630: 14496: 14380: 14204: 14120: 14110: 14100: 14090: 13956: 13766: 13001: 12887: 12826: 12797: 12672: 12620: 12588: 12567: 12556: 12451: 12446: 12440: 12435: 12430: 12425: 12420: 12415: 12410: 12257: 12038: 12028: 11972: 11677: 11420: 11349: 11318: 11148: 11076: 10881: 10874: 10866: 10859: 10852: 10845: 10838: 10831: 10824: 10729: 9753: 9735: 9717: 9576: 6371:"SpaceX seeks to accelerate Falcon 9 production and launch rates this year" 4587: 4570: 4382: 4027: 3977: 3966: 3937: 3925: 3902: 3818: 3736: 3732: 3428: 3357: 3326:

landing legs were included on later flights where landings were attempted.

2969: 2686: 2409: 2363: 2295: 2247: 2230: 2205: 2160: 1630: 1442: 1384: 1376: 1116: 669: 532: 512: 326: 9605:"SpaceX prepares Falcon 9 for EchoStar 23 launch as SLC-40 targets return" 6125: 6038: 4276:<10%, so you're roughly even with 2 flights, definitely ahead with 3". 4225:

and 146,020 L (32,120 imp gal; 38,570 US gal) of

17312: 16975: 16965: 16882: 16871: 16704: 16694: 16689: 16485: 16430: 16338: 16204: 16161: 16122: 15981: 15862: 15810: 15472: 15460: 15455: 15450: 15196: 15053: 14969: 14920: 14697: 14685: 14675: 14670: 14368: 14363: 14348: 14152: 14038: 14033: 13986: 13981: 13834: 13787: 13612: 13376: 13320: 12959: 12954: 12934: 12882: 12868: 12839: 12803: 12369: 12283: 12103: 10567: 10560: 10107:"Some European launch officials still have their heads stuck in the sand" 9197:"SpaceX successfully launches sixth Starlink launch despite engine issue" 8679:"Starlink satellite deployments continue with successful Falcon 9 launch" 6810:"SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket suffers failure during Starlink satellite launch" 6005:"It's Star Wars Day and SpaceX Just Launched Its Own 'Falcon' Into Space" 4233: 4050:, was the first Block 5 booster produced, and had flown initially on the 3917: 2931:

rocket engines. Every Merlin engine produces 854 kN (192,000 lb

2502: 2486: 2327: 2302: 2265: 1400: 1120: 15386: 10438:

Test firing of two Merlin 1C engines connected to Falcon 9 first stage,

9307:"SES-10 launched successfully on SpaceX's flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket" 6462:"SpaceX debuts new model of the Falcon 9 rocket designed for astronauts" 6035:"SpaceX Announces the Falcon 9 Fully Reusable Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle" 5453:"SpaceX launches 143 satellites on one rocket in record-setting mission" 4167:

accident in September 2016, but was operational again by December 2017.

2440:

Flight 236 — first launch with a fairing half flying for the tenth time,

17017: 17012: 17007: 17002: 16997: 16970: 16960: 16876: 16801: 16796: 16791: 16786: 16781: 16776: 16699: 16507: 16495: 16490: 16480: 15958: 15654: 15526: 15521: 15516: 15511: 15506: 15467: 15443: 15438: 15433: 15428: 15302: 15282: 14878: 14787: 14782: 14777: 14772: 14767: 14762: 14680: 14491: 14417: 14343: 14323: 14263: 14246: 14241: 14236: 14162: 14157: 14147: 14028: 14018: 13941: 13902: 13592: 13107: 12981: 12305: 11682: 11610: 10736: 5196:"NASA and SpaceX launch astronauts into new era of private spaceflight" 4272: 3995: 2309: 1450: 1189:

SpaceX spent its own capital to develop and fly its previous launcher,

9000:"SpaceX launches its Grasshopper rocket on 12-story-high hop in Texas" 7659:

Gwynne Shotwell comments at Commercial Space Transportation Conference

6284:"Q & A with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk: Master of Private Space Dragons" 5484:"All four NSSL launch vehicle developers say they'll be ready in 2021" 3206:) for a total liftoff thrust of about 5,000 kN (1,100,000 lb 1036: 17327: 17027: 17022: 16950: 16908: 16811: 16683: 16658: 16636: 16562: 16332: 16039: 15908: 15666: 15649: 15573: 15568: 15536: 15531: 15406: 15342: 15337: 15327: 15322: 15317: 15277: 15267: 15250: 15201: 15187: 15103: 15098: 14962: 14950: 14940: 14888: 14797: 14665: 14640: 14618: 14511: 14412: 14290: 14001: 13996: 13966: 13907: 13233: 13182: 12945: 12899: 12772: 12738: 12733: 12723: 12091: 11408: 10399: 9086:"SpaceX Checks Throttle Valve After Flawed Falcon 9 Recovery Attempt" 6748:"SpaceX record-breaking first half of 2023 following Starlink launch" 6606:"SpaceX Falcon 9 sets new record with Telstar 19V launch from SLC-40" 6396: 6096:"SpaceX Falcon 9 maiden flight delayed by six months to late Q1 2009" 5981: 4660:"SpaceX is stretching the lifetime of its reusable Falcon 9 boosters" 4264: 4218:

payload, Full Thrust launch costs reached US$ 1,200/lb ($ 2,600/kg).

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has performed 117 launches with a success rate of 95.7%, and Chinese

3747:

has performed 1880 launches with a success rate of 95.1% (the latest

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satellite. Larger payloads followed, starting with the launch of the

3082: 2653: 2553: 2480: 1271: 9691: 8105:"SpaceX set to debut Falcon 9 rocket upgrades with launch next week" 6524:"Musk unveils revised version of giant interplanetary launch system" 6229: 5565:

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services: A New Era in Spaceflight

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continues to produce one (expendable) second stage for each launch.

17409: 17180: 17037: 16940: 16913: 16903: 16828: 16816: 16806: 16678: 16631: 16604: 16044: 15952: 15920: 15914: 15867: 15671: 15659: 15644: 15639: 15590: 15546: 15396: 15359: 15354: 15349: 15255: 15245: 15177: 15172: 15145: 15125: 14945: 14935: 14851: 14802: 14792: 14660: 14613: 14596: 14591: 14586: 14581: 14576: 14486: 14454: 14449: 14358: 14318: 14295: 14209: 14194: 14184: 14023: 13914: 13643: 13607: 13408: 13368: 13117: 13092: 13056: 12969: 12876: 12786: 12767: 12322: 12310: 12225: 11955: 11750: 11627: 11596: 11414: 11367: 10167:"SpaceX launches first mid-inclination dedicated rideshare mission" 9632:"Falcon Heavy build up begins; SLC-40 pad rebuild progressing well" 4321: 4237: 3991: 3933: 3913: 3854: 3776: 3764: 3760: 3424: 3403: 3399: 3275: 3139: 2457: 2402: 2359: 2352: 2175: 1875: 1446: 1380: 1260: 1256: 1190: 1101: 604: 316: 17078: 9658:"SPACE LAUNCH DELTA 30 TO LEASE SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 6 TO SPACE X" 7728:"SpaceX Preparing for Launch of "Significantly Improved" Falcon 9" 6493:"With Block 5, SpaceX to increase launch cadence and lower prices" 6357:, the company plans to ratchet up production to 40 cores per year. 4625:"SpaceX and the categorical imperative to achieve low launch cost" 3406:

versions, to improve control authority, and heat tolerance during

3081:

To control the core's descent through the atmosphere, SpaceX uses

2954:. The second stage of the Falcon 9 has 1 short or regular nozzle, 2373:— first crewed launch of the Crew Dragon, carrying two astronauts, 2330:— heaviest communications satellite delivered to GEO, at the time, 17360: 17224: 17219: 16866: 16771: 16766: 16761: 16756: 16751: 16746: 16741: 16736: 16731: 16726: 16673: 16668: 16663: 16449: 15902: 15634: 15563: 15553: 15391: 15312: 15307: 15140: 15135: 15130: 14915: 14757: 14752: 14747: 14742: 14737: 14732: 14727: 14722: 14717: 14712: 14655: 14650: 14645: 14397: 14231: 13924: 13919: 13227: 13102: 12904: 10380: 10062: 10027: 9862: