Falcon-1

Falcon-1 (dev) [SpaceX]

Falcon-1 [SpaceX]

Falcon-1e [SpaceX]

Falcon-1 is a small liquid fueled orbital launch vehicle, which is currently under development at SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.). Both stages are Kerosene / LOX fueled.

The first stage, which will be reusable after recovery by parachutes, is to be powered by the SpaceX built Merlin engine. The second stage will be propelled by the Kestrel engine, which uses technology derived from the of the Lunar Module Descent Engine.

Planned launch sites are SLC-3W at Vandenberg for high inclination launches and a launch site on Omelek Island in the Marshall Islands. A Cape Canaveral launch pad is also considered for launching.

The basic Falcon-1 vehicle will carry up to 420 kg payloads to low equatorial earth orbit. SpaceX claims, the Falcon will reduce the costs for an orbital launch by the factor of three - a price of $ 6.7 million for the basic version is planned.

An enhanced version called Falcon-1e with the regeneratively cooled Merlin-1C+ engine, stretched first stage and new payload fairing for increased performance will be introduced in 2010.

Version	Stage 1	Stage 2
Falcon-1 (dev)	Stage 1 / Merlin-1A	Stage 2 / Kestrel-1
Falcon-1	Stage 1 / Merlin-1C	Stage 2 / Kestrel-2
Falcon-1e	stretched Stage 1 / Merlin-1C+	Stage 2 / Kestrel-2

Performance (kg)	LEO	LPEO	GTO	GEO	MolO	IP
Falcon-1 (dev)	420		-	-	-	-
Falcon-1	470	290	-	-	-	-
Falcon-1e		1010	-	-	-	-

No.  TypNo Type             Date        LS           Payload 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1    1    Falcon-1 (dev)   24.03.06 F  Om           FalconSat 2
 2    2    Falcon-1 (dev)   21.03.07 F  Om           Demosat (LCT2 / AFSS)
 3    1    Falcon-1         03.08.08 F  Om           Trailblazer / PreSat / Nanosail D / Celestis 07
 4    2    Falcon-1         28.09.08    Om           Ratsat
 5    3    Falcon-1         14.07.09    Om           RazakSat 1
 

planned launches

      1    Falcon-1e        xx.xx.10    Om           ?
           Falcon-1e        xx.xx.10    Om           Orbcomm-2 F1 / Orbcomm-2 F2 / Orbcomm-2 F3
           Falcon-1e        xx.xx.xx    Om           Orbcomm-2 F4 / Orbcomm-2 F5 / Orbcomm-2 F6
           Falcon-1e        xx.xx.xx    Om           Orbcomm-2 F7 / Orbcomm-2 F8 / Orbcomm-2 F9
           Falcon-1e        xx.xx.xx    Om           Orbcomm-2 F10 / Orbcomm-2 F11 / Orbcomm-2 F12
           Falcon-1e        xx.xx.xx    Om           Orbcomm-2 F13 / Orbcomm-2 F14 / Orbcomm-2 F15
           Falcon-1e        xx.xx.14    Om           Orbcomm-2 F16 / Orbcomm-2 F17 / Orbcomm-2 F18
           Falcon-1e        xx.xx.14    Om           (Astrium/SSTL earth observation satellite)


Failures:

 1: First stage plumbing failure
 2: Second stage failure
 3: Stage separation failure


Launch Sites

Om    Omelek Island, Kwajalein, Marshall Islands
Va    Vandenberg SLC-3W

Last update: 27.09.2009