Falcon-9

Falcon-9
(Dragon-QU) [SpaceX]

Falcon-9
(5.2 m fairing) [SpaceX]

Falcon-9 is a liquid fueled orbital launch vehicle for medium to heavy sized missions, which is currently under development at SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.). It is techonologically based on the Falcon-1 launch vehicle. Both stages are Kerosene / LOX fueled.

The first stage, which will be reusable after recovery by parachutes, is to be powered by 9 of the SpaceX built Merlin-1C engines with regenerative cooling. The upper stage will use a single Merlin engine and will also be reusable. The Falcon-9 is offered both with a 3.6 m fairing or a 5.2 m fairing.

Launch site for low inclination launches is Cape Canaveral launch pad (SLC-40). High inclination launches might will either launch from Vandenberg AFB or Omelek Island.

The Falcon-9 will also lift the Dragon space capsule for ISS cargo flights, which might be developed into a manned spacecraft.

The first flight for a Falcon-9 is planned for 2010.

Version	Stage 1	Stage 2
Falcon-9 (Block 1)	Stage 1 / 9 Merlin-1C	Stage 2 / 1 Merlin-1C-Vac
Falcon-9 (Block 2)	Stage 1 / 9 Merlin-1C+	Stage 2 / 1 Merlin-1C-Vac

Performance (kg)	LEO	LPEO	SSO	GTO	GEO	MolO	IP
Falcon-9 (Block 1)	9900			4050	-
Falcon-9 (Block 2)	10450	9000	8159	4536	-		2473

No.  TypNo Type             Date        LS           Payload 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None


planned launches

 1    1    Falcon-9         xx.xx.10    CC SLC-40   Dragon Qualification Unit

           Falcon-9         xx.xx.12    CC SLC-40   Amos 4
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.11    CC SLC-40   CASSIOPE 1
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.10    CC SLC-40   Dragon C1
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.10    CC SLC-40   Dragon C2
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.10    CC SLC-40   Dragon C3
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.11    CC SLC-40   Dragon C4	
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.11    CC SLC-40   Dragon C5
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.12    CC SLC-40   Dragon C6
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.12    CC SLC-40   Dragon C7
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.13    CC SLC-40   Dragon C8
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.13    CC SLC-40   Dragon C9
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.13    CC SLC-40   Dragon C10
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.14    CC SLC-40   Dragon C11
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.14    CC SLC-40   Dragon C12
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.14    CC SLC-40   Dragon C13
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.15    CC SLC-40   Dragon C14
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.15    CC SLC-40   Dragon C15
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.11    CC SLC-40   DragonLab 1	
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.12    CC SLC-40   DragonLab 2
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.12    Va / Om     SAOCOM 1A
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.13    Va / Om     SAOCOM 1B
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.13    CC SLC-40   (Bigelow)
           Falcon-9         xx.xx.12    CC SLC-40   (Loral)


Launch Sites

CC    Cape Canaveral, SLC-40

Last update: 27.09.2009