SpaceX: Falcon 9 Fully Reusable Heavy Lift Launcher

[Lord Zentei]

SpaceX Announces the Falcon 9 Fully Reusable Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle

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.

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.

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.

A recent study performed by the Futron Corporation, concluded that Falcon 5 was superior in design reliability to other vehicles in its class, due to engine redundancy. Falcon 9, by extension, has even higher reliability with increased propulsion redundancy.

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.

SpaceX has launch sites at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the Marshall Islands, allowing for direct launch into any orbital inclination. With its launch complex in the Marshall Islands, SpaceX is the only US heavy launch provider with a launch site close to the equator, providing an advantage for equatorial satellite launch.

[InnocentBystander]

27 million per launch? A shuttle is what, a billion? How is it that this thing is so much cheaper?

[The Grim Squeaker]

I think that it isn't re-usable or some other reason, but it is a demonstration of an order of magnitude less of expenses and pork that NASA has come to empathise.

[Lord Zentei]

I think it is half a billion actually, not that this is much better. The shuttle is a horrible system that was built with noble aspirations. It should have been replaced years ago.

[Lord Zentei]

Ghetto:

I understand that the Delta IV heavy costs about 100 million per launch.

[aerius]

Projected. They haven't even launched Falcon 1 yet and just recently completely test firings of the engine. Looks promising, but we'll see.

[Sea Skimmer]

If the shuttle is any indication the 'reusable' parts and especially the engines will all need total rebuilds in-between launches.

[InnocentBystander]

According to Wikipedia the shuttle's max payload 63000 lbs, which is a fair amount more than this thing, while the Delta IV can move around 15000lbs, which is a lot less.

This new vehicle sounds pretty hefty, but aren't there some things that only the Shuttle can bring up (station components or something?)?

[Ma Deuce]

According to Wikipedia the shuttle's max payload 63000 lbs, which is a fair amount more than this thing, while the Delta IV can move around 15000lbs, which is a lot less.

That figure you provided for the Delta IV must be for one of the Delta IV Medium models (and that looks too small even for them), because the Delta IV Heavy's maximum LEO payload is close to 58,000lbs.

[Ma Deuce]

GHETTO EDIT:

I found some quick figures for comparison.

Payloads to LEO (185km altitude, 27deg inclination)
Shuttle: 60,500lbs
Delta IV Heavy: 56,760lbs*
Delta IV Medium+ (with 4 GEM-60 strap-on solid boosters): 29,920lbs
Delta IV Medium+ (with 2 strap-on boosters): 22,660lbs
Delta IV Medium (no strap-on boosters): 18,920lbs

*Can be uprated to around 65,000lbs by strapping 4 GEM-60 solid boosters to the Core stage.

[phongn]

Projected. They haven't even launched Falcon 1 yet and just recently completely test firings of the engine. Looks promising, but we'll see.

F1's maiden launch has been delayed for a whole lotta reasons, alas, but they're projected for a Sept. 30th launch. They also have a $100-million contract with the USAF which will keep them afloat for awhile.

Still, I'm a bit skeptical as to if they can do it for that cost. Jumping from F1 to F5 would be a challenge, nevermind going from F1 to F9.