SPACEX ANNOUNCES THE FALCON 9

[mrmorris]

Way cool updates at their site.<br /><br /><i>"El Segundo, CA – September 8, 2005 – SpaceX today announced its new launch vehicle, the Falcon 9, an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) class vehicle. With up to a 17 ft (5.2 m) diameter fairing, Falcon 9 is capable of launching approximately 21,000 lbs (9,500 kg) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in its medium configuration and 55,000 lbs (25,000 kg) to LEO in its heavy configuration, a lift capacity greater than any other launch vehicle. In the medium configuration, Falcon 9 is priced at $27 million per flight with a 12 ft (3.6 m) fairing and $35 million with a 17 ft fairing. Prices include all launch range and third party insurance costs, making Falcon 9 the most cost efficient vehicle in its class worldwide. <br /><br />SpaceX initially intended to follow its first vehicle development, Falcon 1, with the intermediate class Falcon 5 launch vehicle. However, in response to customer requirements for low cost enhanced launch capability, SpaceX accelerated development of an EELV-class vehicle, upgrading Falcon 5 to Falcon 9. SpaceX has sold Falcon 9 to a US government customer. SpaceX still plans to make Falcon 5 available in late 2007. <br /><br />Falcon 9 uses similar engines, electronics, guidance & control and separation systems to Falcon 1. However, in the case of Falcon 9, there are nine Merlin engines clustered together. Some examples of rockets that made effective use of clustering are the Saturn I manned rocket (eight thrust chambers) of the Apollo Program and the Soyuz manned rocket (thirty-two thrust chambers) currently used to service the International Space Station. Clustering provides the ability to lose multiple engines during flight and still complete the mission, resulting in a higher level of propulsion reliability. <br /><br />A recent study performed by the Futron Corporation, concluded that Falcon 5 was superior in design reliability to other vehicles in it</i>

 

[mrmorris]

Way cool updates at their site.<br /><br /><i>"El Segundo, CA – September 8, 2005 – SpaceX today announced its new launch vehicle, the Falcon 9, an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) class vehicle. With up to a 17 ft (5.2 m) diameter fairing, Falcon 9 is capable of launching approximately 21,000 lbs (9,500 kg) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in its medium configuration and 55,000 lbs (25,000 kg) to LEO in its heavy configuration, a lift capacity greater than any other launch vehicle. In the medium configuration, Falcon 9 is priced at $27 million per flight with a 12 ft (3.6 m) fairing and $35 million with a 17 ft fairing. Prices include all launch range and third party insurance costs, making Falcon 9 the most cost efficient vehicle in its class worldwide. <br /><br />SpaceX initially intended to follow its first vehicle development, Falcon 1, with the intermediate class Falcon 5 launch vehicle. However, in response to customer requirements for low cost enhanced launch capability, SpaceX accelerated development of an EELV-class vehicle, upgrading Falcon 5 to Falcon 9. SpaceX has sold Falcon 9 to a US government customer. SpaceX still plans to make Falcon 5 available in late 2007. <br /><br />Falcon 9 uses similar engines, electronics, guidance & control and separation systems to Falcon 1. However, in the case of Falcon 9, there are nine Merlin engines clustered together. Some examples of rockets that made effective use of clustering are the Saturn I manned rocket (eight thrust chambers) of the Apollo Program and the Soyuz manned rocket (thirty-two thrust chambers) currently used to service the International Space Station. Clustering provides the ability to lose multiple engines during flight and still complete the mission, resulting in a higher level of propulsion reliability. <br /><br />A recent study performed by the Futron Corporation, concluded that Falcon 5 was superior in design reliability to other vehicles in it</i>

 

[nacnud]

Cool! I had heard rumours of a falcon 9 but its great to get confirmation. I'm especially interested in this part:<br /><br /><i> Falcon 5 and Falcon 9 will be the world’s first launch vehicles where all stages are designed for reuse. The Falcon 1 has a reusable first stage, but an expendable upper stage. Reuse is not factored into launch prices. When the economics of stage recovery and checkout are fully understood, SpaceX will make further reductions in launch prices.</i><br /><br />I wonder what the reusable second stage could look like? I’m thinking something like the second stage of the Kistler K1, anyone seen any pictures yet?<br />

 

[nacnud]

Cool! I had heard rumours of a falcon 9 but its great to get confirmation. I'm especially interested in this part:<br /><br /><i> Falcon 5 and Falcon 9 will be the world’s first launch vehicles where all stages are designed for reuse. The Falcon 1 has a reusable first stage, but an expendable upper stage. Reuse is not factored into launch prices. When the economics of stage recovery and checkout are fully understood, SpaceX will make further reductions in launch prices.</i><br /><br />I wonder what the reusable second stage could look like? I’m thinking something like the second stage of the Kistler K1, anyone seen any pictures yet?<br />

 

[nacnud]

Found some on the spaceX site under overview, falcon 9<br />

 

[nacnud]

Found some on the spaceX site under overview, falcon 9<br />

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"For now they just need to get their first vehicle launched."</font><br /><br />True enough... but fun to read their announcements in any event. I had a college professor once tell the class that he bought one Lotto ticket at the beginning of each week (this was back when Florida Lotto drawings were once/week). He'd stick it on the dash of his car and when he looked at as he drove during the week, he would always think 'What if...'. He was well aware that statistically -- winning big wasn't going to happen, but it was worth a buck a week to him just for the nice daydreams. I always thought of that as the only reasonable justification for spending money on those suckers.<br /><br />Coming back to the point however...<br /><br />Reading SpaceX's announcements doesn't cost me a cent... but sure does make for some nice daydreams. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"For now they just need to get their first vehicle launched."</font><br /><br />True enough... but fun to read their announcements in any event. I had a college professor once tell the class that he bought one Lotto ticket at the beginning of each week (this was back when Florida Lotto drawings were once/week). He'd stick it on the dash of his car and when he looked at as he drove during the week, he would always think 'What if...'. He was well aware that statistically -- winning big wasn't going to happen, but it was worth a buck a week to him just for the nice daydreams. I always thought of that as the only reasonable justification for spending money on those suckers.<br /><br />Coming back to the point however...<br /><br />Reading SpaceX's announcements doesn't cost me a cent... but sure does make for some nice daydreams. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">Great if they can do it. For now they just need to get their first vehicle launched.</font>/i><br /><br />I absolutely <b>love</b> groups like SpaceX, but I will truly believe once they have a couple of flights under their belts.</i>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">Great if they can do it. For now they just need to get their first vehicle launched.</font>/i><br /><br />I absolutely <b>love</b> groups like SpaceX, but I will truly believe once they have a couple of flights under their belts.</i>

 

[radarredux]

Here is another photo from the extended family of launchers SpaceX is considering (The Falcon 9 - S9 can put about 2.5 times more mass to LEO than the Falcon 9). To get the full page, click on the "Falcon" tab acoss SpaceX's top menu bar:<br />http://www.spacex.com/<br /><br />

 

[radarredux]

Here is another photo from the extended family of launchers SpaceX is considering (The Falcon 9 - S9 can put about 2.5 times more mass to LEO than the Falcon 9). To get the full page, click on the "Falcon" tab acoss SpaceX's top menu bar:<br />http://www.spacex.com/<br /><br />

 

[mikejz]

The really really intresting point is they already have orders for the 5 and 9. It seems like the Gov't and SpaceX seem really to like each other (Something no other startup space company seems to have going for it). They are making a play right for the EELV market which is almost a pure DoD play, Musk is an MBA, he must be smelling blood in the water. <br /><br />

 

[radarredux]

Note: Falcon 5 may have been retired.<br /><br />Looking at the Falcon manifest page (go to www.spacex.com and click "Falcon" tab at the top) there are no Falcon 5 launches anymore. There is a US Government Falcon 9 in Q2 2007 and a Bigelow Falcon 9 in Q1 2008. Otherwise, everything is listed as Falcon 1.

 

[mikejz]

The really really intresting point is they already have orders for the 5 and 9. It seems like the Gov't and SpaceX seem really to like each other (Something no other startup space company seems to have going for it). They are making a play right for the EELV market which is almost a pure DoD play, Musk is an MBA, he must be smelling blood in the water. <br /><br />

 

[radarredux]

Note: Falcon 5 may have been retired.<br /><br />Looking at the Falcon manifest page (go to www.spacex.com and click "Falcon" tab at the top) there are no Falcon 5 launches anymore. There is a US Government Falcon 9 in Q2 2007 and a Bigelow Falcon 9 in Q1 2008. Otherwise, everything is listed as Falcon 1.

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"Note: Falcon 5 may have been retired."</font><br /><br />Well the site still lists it, and the price is considerably lower than the 9, so I can't see it going away. It would be required for SpaceX to land the Bigelow post-ASP space-station contract <i>as currently written</i> since that contract only offers $33 million/launch and the price of the Falcon-9 launch *alone* is $27 million. That's not to say Bigelow couldn't rewrite the contract for crew rotation 'plus ~4,500 kg of cargo' for a larger sum that makes the Falcon 9 an option.<br /><br />What strikes me as interesting is that the smallest Falcon 9 is almost exactly the same size as the V, but has so much larger payload. Nine engines vs five provides a lot more thrust... but what about propellant?? Does the V not use 100% of the propellant volume?<br /><br />Things that make you (or at least me) go 'Hmmm'.

 

[mikejz]

What also is intresting is that the annoucenment does not seem to talk about any new engines beyond the Merlin. He seems to of dropped the option of a RL-10 upper stage as well. I wonder about the total reuseablity part however---seems something a little out of left field, but clearly if the 2nd stage is reusable, manned flight does not seem that far off. <br /><br />Other observation: An RLV with a fairing, intresting. <br /><br />Another observation: I never remember the Merlin being throttleable, isn't that how the traditional 'heavy config' works? Maybe cross pipeing?

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"Note: Falcon 5 may have been retired."</font><br /><br />Well the site still lists it, and the price is considerably lower than the 9, so I can't see it going away. It would be required for SpaceX to land the Bigelow post-ASP space-station contract <i>as currently written</i> since that contract only offers $33 million/launch and the price of the Falcon-9 launch *alone* is $27 million. That's not to say Bigelow couldn't rewrite the contract for crew rotation 'plus ~4,500 kg of cargo' for a larger sum that makes the Falcon 9 an option.<br /><br />What strikes me as interesting is that the smallest Falcon 9 is almost exactly the same size as the V, but has so much larger payload. Nine engines vs five provides a lot more thrust... but what about propellant?? Does the V not use 100% of the propellant volume?<br /><br />Things that make you (or at least me) go 'Hmmm'.

 

[mikejz]

What also is intresting is that the annoucenment does not seem to talk about any new engines beyond the Merlin. He seems to of dropped the option of a RL-10 upper stage as well. I wonder about the total reuseablity part however---seems something a little out of left field, but clearly if the 2nd stage is reusable, manned flight does not seem that far off. <br /><br />Other observation: An RLV with a fairing, intresting. <br /><br />Another observation: I never remember the Merlin being throttleable, isn't that how the traditional 'heavy config' works? Maybe cross pipeing?

 

[krrr]

The Falcon 5 is the Falcon 9 with four engines removed and tanks only partially filled.

 

[krrr]

The Falcon 5 is the Falcon 9 with four engines removed and tanks only partially filled.

 

[mikejz]

Given that it is reuseable, is the really a cost-effective idea?

 

[mikejz]

Given that it is reuseable, is the really a cost-effective idea?

 

[mikejz]

Edit that is correct that the Falcon V is just a reduced 9.<br /><br />Old Specs for Falcon V were 30m high, new is 47. Payload has decreased.