American rocket Falcon 9: specifications and photos

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

June 28, 2015 at 17:21 (Moscow time) another launch of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle failed at the Cape Canaveral launch site. The Falcon 9 rocket was prepared by SpaceX, a private US company founded by Elon Musk.

Falcon and NASA

NASA back in 2008 signed a contract with the company to launch the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and the Dragon spacecraft. The very idea of producing this type of launch vehicle is dictated by the fact that a series of unsuccessful launches of the Space Shuttle followed. And Elon Musk himself plans to reduce the cost of space flights by 10 times. However, this project was also estimated at that time at $1.6 billion.

The failed rocket launch disrupted a number of tasks that NASA set for itself, except for the launch of the Space Shuttle to the ISS. The Falcon 9 rocket carried 1.8 tons of cargo.

The main task that was planned to be performed by this launch was to replenish food supplies for members of the ISS. In addition, the rocket also carried the International Docking Adapter (IDA) docking unit,developed by Boeing. This 526 kg docking port was supposed to facilitate the docking of the Dragon spacecraft to the ISS. For the same purpose, Dragon also tried to deliver a spacesuit for spacewalks. Undoubtedly, the loss of such important components will adversely affect the scientific work schedule on board the ISS.

But that's not all! The Falcon 9 rocket explosion destroyed 8 Flock 1f satellites commissioned by Planet Labs. Moreover, each of them carried three CubeSats, which were supposed to observe the Earth in optical mode.

Falcon 9 Specifications

The design of the rocket is designed in such a way that avionics and on-board computers are installed on each stage, which are designed to control all flight parameters.

All avionics used on board the rocket are manufactured by SpaceX. Also, in addition to its own navigation system, GPS equipment is used to improve the accuracy of launching into orbit.

In addition, each engine has its own controller, which constantly monitors all parameters of the engine. And each controller is equipped with three processor units to improve system reliability.

The Falcon 9 rocket is two-stage, and this version has gone through two modifications:

• version 9 v1.0;
• version 9 v1.1.

The difference between the second version and the first is that it has a more advanced engine. And they are also distinguished by the location of the engines in the lower stage.

And although in both versionsthe engines run on kerosene with an oxidizer of liquid oxygen, but the Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket already launches 4.85 tons of payload into space, while the US Falcon 9 v1.0 rocket only 3.4 tons.

At the same time, the length of version 1.1 is 68.4 meters with a launch weight of 506 tons.

To understand these parameters - the Russian missile "Proton-M" is shorter by 10 meters (58.2 m), the launch weight is larger - 705 tons. But Proton-M launches 6.74 tons of payload into orbit.

According to NASA, the Falcon 9 launch cost is $60 million, while Proton-M costs $30 million more.

So what about the first step?

Falcon 9 rocket launched by NASA from two launch pads. They are located one in Florida, the second in California. Work is also underway to deploy two more launch pads.

SpaceX has been constantly working since 2013 to create technology for reusable Falcon 9 v1.1 components. The first attempt to save the Falcon 9 took place in January 2015. According to calculations, the stage was supposed to land in the area of the floating platform. But bad weather at sea did not allow picking up the rocket stage.

And to date, these efforts have been unsuccessful. None of the launches made led the company to save the stage.

Expert Opinion

Although the media reports that the last successful launch of Falcon 9 (December 2015) allowed to savethe lower stage of the rocket, but experts doubt the further use of the first stage. Experts believe that, given the heating temperature of the rocket body both at launch and during descent, after it passes through the atmosphere, there is very little chance of reusing this element of the rocket.

But that's not all. For reusable use, additional elements are needed - these are landing racks and the necessary fuel supply. And this, in turn, reduces the payload by up to 30%.

Reliable missile?

From 2010 to 2013, five launches were made, of which four were fully operational.

But the launch of Falcon 9 in October 2012 was considered "partly successful" by experts. Then the Falcon 9 rocket for the first time sent equipment to the ISS on a Dragon truck. But the launch of the Orbcomm-G2 satellite into geostationary orbit failed, resulting in the satellite being launched into a lower orbit than planned.

The result of this "partially successful operation" is deplorable. Orbcomm-G2 did not stay in orbit for long and on October 12 of the same year burned up without a trace in the Earth's atmosphere.

In this regard, it is interesting how SpaceX explained the failure. According to experts, a part of the casing from the fairing near the first stage engine was torn off.

Causes of the disaster

The explosion of the Falcon 9 rocket in June 2015 did not add credibility. It did not stay in flight for long - 2 minutes 19 seconds. Oncethe rocket went into hypersonic mode, an explosion occurred, and after 8 seconds the Falcon 9 fell apart. NASA, together with SpaceX, launched an investigation into the causes of the disaster.

The head of SpaceX put forward his version. According to his theory, the accident occurred as a result of overpressure in the oxidizer tanks on the upper stage. This happened at a time when the first stage had not yet separated.

Other accidents

Of course, accidents in the space industry are not uncommon. So, only in the USA this year there were three incidents (taking into account the catastrophe suffered by the Falcon 9 launch vehicle).

In October 2014, after launching from the spaceport on Wallops Island, the private Antares launch vehicle exploded. It was expected to launch a Cygnus truck (both manufactured by Orbital Sciences) into orbit towards the ISS.

Also in 2014, another SpaceShipTwo crashed. It was assumed that suborbital tourist flights would be carried out on it. And Virgin Galactic is still trying to fix the cause of the crash.

The first launch of the Proton-M carrier rocket took place on April 7, 2001. Then the rocket with upper stage "Breeze-M" successfully launched the satellite "Ekran-M" into orbit. An improved version of the control system was installed on this rocket, which made it possible to improve the development of rocket fuel based on heptyl, which, as you know, is a toxic substance both for humans and for the environment. Also, the new system made it possible to increase the mass of the payload launched into orbit.

Since then, 90 Proton-M launches have passed, but only 80 of them were fully regular. The main cause of emergency situations is caused by malfunctions in the upper stage.

Undoubtedly, such statistics are not a successful indicator for missiles with such a rich history. In any case, the explosion of the Falcon 9 rocket will help to better understand its malfunctions and take them into account on the next launch.

What's next?

Currently able to deliver cargo to the ISS:

• Russian "Progress";
• Japanese HTV;
• Dragon;
• Cygnus.

NASA has high hopes for Dragon as a vehicle capable of returning cargo from the ISS to Earth. The contract with this company was extended until 2017, and 15 more launches are planned.

The last time the Falcon 9 launch vehicle with the Dragon transport successfully completed its mission on December 22, 2015

NASA has no doubt that the accident with the Falcon 9 will in no way interfere with the creation of manned spacecraft. As part of this program, SpaceX intends to launch the Falcon Heavy rocket. This launch is capable of competing with both the Russian Proton and the European Ariane 5.

The accident that the American Falcon 9 rocket suffered once again showed that no one is immune from disaster in space exploration.