While SpaceX spent its own capital to develop its previous launcher, the Falcon 1, development of the Falcon 9 was accelerated by partial NASA funding and commitments to purchase flights once specific capabilities were demonstrated. The initial launch would not occur until 2010. In October 2005, SpaceX announced plans to launch Falcon 9 in the first half of 2007. V1.0 flew from 2010–2013, V1.1 flew from 2013–2016, while V1.2 Full Thrust first launched in 2015, encompassing the Block 5 variant, is in operation since May 2018.įalcon 9 rocket family from left to right: Falcon 9 v1.0, v1.1, Full Thrust, Block 5, and Falcon Heavy Conception and funding The rocket evolved through several versions. Falcon 9 is certified for the National Security Space Launch program and NASA Launch Services Program as "Category 3", which can launch the most expensive, important, and complex NASA missions. įalcon 9 is human-rated for transporting NASA astronauts to the ISS. On 24 January 2021, Falcon 9 set a record for the most satellites launched by a single rocket, carrying 143 into orbit. The former was launched into an advantageous super-synchronous transfer orbit, while the latter went into a lower-energy GTO, with an apogee well below the geostationary altitude. The heaviest payloads flown to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) were Intelsat 35e carrying 6,761 kg (14,905 lb), and Telstar 19V with 7,075 kg (15,598 lb). Both stages are powered by SpaceX Merlin engines, using cryogenic liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene ( RP-1) as propellants. Individual boosters have flown as many as 15 flights. Since then, SpaceX has successfully landed boosters over 150 times. This feat was first achieved on flight 20 in December 2015. The booster is capable of landing vertically to facilitate reuse. The first (booster) stage carries the second stage and payload to a pre-determined altitude, after which the second stage lifts the payload to its ultimate destination. rocket with the most launches in history and with the best safety record, having suffered just one flight failure. rocket currently certified for transporting humans to the International Space Station. In 2020 it became the first commercial rocket to ever launch humans to orbit and is currently the only such vehicle capable of doing so. The first Falcon 9 ISS commercial resupply mission to the ISS launched on 8 October 2012. The first Falcon 9 launch was in June 2010. It can also be used as an expendable heavy-lift launch vehicle. Falcon 9 is a partially reusable medium-lift launch vehicle that can carry cargo and crew into Earth orbit, designed, manufactured and launched by American aerospace company SpaceX.
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