Falcon 9
Falcon 9 launches with first Dragon spacecraft |
| Function |
Orbital launch vehicle |
| Manufacturer |
SpaceX |
| Country of origin |
United States |
| Cost per launch (2012) |
Normal:
LEO (<80% cap.) $49.9M[1]
LEO (>80% cap.) $56.0M[1]
GTO (<3,000 kg) $49.9M[1]
GTO (>3,000 kg) $56.0M[1]
|
| Size |
| Height |
54.3 m (178 ft) |
| Diameter |
3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Mass |
333,400 kg (735,000 lb) |
| Stages |
2 |
| Capacity |
| Payload to LEO |
10,450 kg (23,000 lb) |
Payload to
GTO |
4,540 kg (10,000 lb) |
| Launch history |
| Status |
Active |
| Launch sites |
Cape Canaveral SLC-40
Vandenberg SLC-4E |
| Total launches |
3 |
| Successes |
3 |
| Maiden flight |
June 4, 2010[2] |
| First stage |
| Engines |
9 Merlin 1C |
| Thrust |
5,000 kN (1,100,000 lbf)(sl) |
| Specific impulse |
Sea level: 255 sec (2.6 kN/kg)
Vacuum: 304 sec (3.0 kN/kg) |
| Burn time |
170 seconds[3] |
| Fuel |
LOX/RP-1 |
| Second stage |
| Engines |
1 Merlin Vacuum |
| Thrust |
445 kN (100,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse |
Vacuum: 342 sec (3.45 kN/kg)[4] |
| Burn time |
345 seconds |
| Fuel |
LOX/RP-1 |
Falcon 9 is a rocket-powered spaceflight launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, headquartered in Hawthorne, California. Both stages of its two-stage-to-orbit vehicle use liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants. The Falcon 9 can lift payloads of 10,450 kilograms (23,000 lb) to low Earth orbit, and 4,450 kilograms (9,800 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit, which places the Falcon 9 design in the medium-lift range of launch systems.
The first Falcon 9 flight was launched, after several delays, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on June 4, 2010, at 2:45 pm EDT (19:45 UTC) with a successful orbital insertion.[5]
The second launch of the Falcon 9, and the first of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop it, occurred at 10:43 EST (15:43 UTC) on December 8, 2010, from Cape Canaveral.[6] The Dragon spacecraft completed two orbits, then splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.[7]
The Falcon 9 and Dragon combination won a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract from NASA to resupply the International Space Station under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.
The base Falcon 9 is a two stage, LOX/RP-1 powered launch vehicle.
The Falcon 9 first stage is powered by nine SpaceX Merlin 1C rocket engines with 556 kN (125,000 lbf) sea-level thrust per engine for a total thrust on liftoff of about 5.0 MN (1.1 million lbf).[8] The Falcon 9 first stage uses a pyrophoric mixture of triethylaluminum-triethylborane (TEA-TEB) as a first-stage ignitor.[9]
The upper stage is powered by a single Merlin engine modified for vacuum operation, with an expansion ratio of 117:1 and a nominal burn time of 345 seconds. For added reliability of restart, the engine has dual redundant pyrophoric igniters (TEA-TEB).[8] SpaceX has expressed hopes that both stages will eventually be reusable.[10]
The interstage, which connects the upper and lower stage for Falcon 9, is a carbon fiber aluminum core composite structure. Reusable separation collets and a pneumatic pusher system separate the stages. The Falcon 9 tank walls and domes are made from aluminum lithium alloy. SpaceX uses an all-friction stir welded tank, the highest strength and most reliable welding technique available. The second stage tank of Falcon 9 is simply a shorter version of the first stage tank and uses most of the same tooling, material and manufacturing techniques. This saves money during vehicle production.[8]
Four Draco thrusters are used on the Falcon 9 second-stage as a reaction control system.[11]
The reliability of the Falcon-9 will not be established until the vehicle has a significant launch record. The company has predicted that it will have high reliability based on the philosophy that "through simplicity, reliability and low cost can go hand-in-hand,"[12] but this remains to be shown.[citation needed] As a comparison, the Russian Soyuz series has more than 1,700 launches to its credit, far more than any other rocket.
As with the company's smaller Falcon 1 vehicle, Falcon 9's launch sequence includes a hold-down feature that allows full engine ignition and systems check before liftoff. After first stage engine start, the launcher is held down and not released for flight until all propulsion and vehicle systems are confirmed to be operating normally. Similar hold-down systems have been used on other launch vehicles such as the Saturn V[13] and Space Shuttle. An automatic safe shut-down and unloading of propellant occurs if any abnormal conditions are detected.[8]
Like the Saturn V and the unrealized Falcon 5 design, the presence of multiple first stage engines allows for mission completion even if one of the first-stage engines fails mid-flight. This is known as "engine-out capability".[8] Falcon 9 is the first rocket "since the Saturn series from the Apollo program to incorporate engine-out capability"[14]
Falcon 9 has triple redundant flight computers and inertial navigation, with a GPS overlay for additional orbit insertion accuracy.[8]
Although the first stage has parachutes and was intended to be recovered to demonstrate (possible future) reuse, to date SpaceX has failed to recover the stages from their initial test launches. The stages are expendable for the initial launches. By flight six, the first stage is intended to be recovered.[10] Although reusability of the second stage is more difficult, SpaceX has intended both stages of the Falcon 9 to be reusable.[15] Musk stated:
"By [Falcon 9] flight six we think it’s highly likely we’ll recover the first stage, and when we get it back we’ll see what survived through re-entry, and what got fried, and carry on with the process. ... That's just to make the first stage reusable, it'll be even harder with the second stage – which has got to have a full heatshield, it'll have to have deorbit propulsion and communication."
[10]
Both stages are covered with a layer of ablative cork, have parachutes to land them gently in the sea and have been marinized by using materials that resist salt-water corrosion, anodizing and paying attention to galvanic corrosion.[15]
While many commentators[who?] are skeptical about reusability, Musk has said that if the vehicle does not become reusable, "I will consider us to have failed.”[16]
SpaceX announced on 29 September 2011 at the National Press Club they would attempt to develop powered descent and recovery of both Falcon 9 stages – a fully vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) rocket.[17][18] Included was a video[19] said to be an approximation depicting the first stage returning tail-first for a powered descent and the second stage, with heat shield, rentering head first before rotating for a powered descent.[20]
There is one active launch site and two others are planned or proposed:
| Version |
Falcon 9 block 1 |
Falcon 9 v1.1[23] |
| Stage 0 |
|
|
| Stage 1 |
9 × Merlin 1C |
9 × Merlin 1D |
| Stage 2 |
1 × Merlin 1C Vacuum |
1 × Merlin 1D Vacuum |
Height
(max; m) |
53[23] |
69.2 (227 ft) |
| Diameter(m) |
3.6[24] |
3.6 |
Initial thrust
(kN) |
|
5670 |
Takeoff weight
(tonnes) |
318[23] |
480 |
Fairing diameter
(Inner; m) |
|
3.6 or 5.2 (large fairing) |
Payload
(LEO; kg) |
8500-9000 kg(launch at Cape Canaveral)[23] |
16,000 |
Payload
(GTO; kg) |
3,400[23] |
5,000 |
Price
(Mil. USD) |
|
54–59.5 |
Minimal price/kg
(LEO; USD) |
|
3,719 |
Minimal price/kg
(GTO; USD) |
|
11,900 |
Success ratio
(successful/total) |
3/3 |
|
Historical data based on circa 2007 specifications may be found in these three sources.[25][26][27]
While SpaceX's previous launcher, the Falcon-1, was developed using private funding, the development of the Falcon-9 was funded by NASA, starting with seed money from the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.[28] Musk is quoted as stating that if NASA funding had not been available to develop the Falcon-9, the vehicle would have been developed with private funding, but at a slower pace.
SpaceX estimated that development costs are on the order of $300 million.[29] NASA evaluated them using a traditional cost-plus contract approach initially at $3.6 billion.[30] Elon Musk at a National Press Club luncheon on Thursday, September 29, 2011 stated that fuel and oxygen total about $200,000 for Falcon 9 rocket.[31]
At an appearance in May 2004 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Elon Musk testified, "Long term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. [...] Ultimately, I believe $500 per pound [of payload delivered to orbit] or less is very achievable."[32]
SpaceX formally announced plans for the Falcon 9 on 2005-09-08, describing it as being a "fully reusable heavy lift launch vehicle."[33] A Falcon 9 medium[clarification needed] was described as being capable of launching approximately 21,000 lb (9,500 kg) to low Earth orbit, priced at $27 million per flight ($1286/lb).[citation needed]
Falcon 9 payload services include secondary and tertiary payload connection via an ESPA-ring, the same interstage adapter first utilized for launching secondary payloads on US DoD missions that utilize the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELV) Atlas V and Delta IV. This reduces launch costs for the primary mission and enables secondary and even tertiary missions with minimal impact to the original mission. As of 2011[update], SpaceX announced pricing for ESPA-compatible payloads on the Falcon 9.[34]
As of December 2010[update], SpaceX stated that the Falcon 9 production line is manufacturing one new Falcon 9 (and Dragon spacecraft) every three months. In 2012, this is expected to double to one every six weeks.[35]
The original NASA COTS contract called for the first demonstration flight of Falcon in September 2008, and completion of all three demonstration missions by September 2009.[36] February 2008, the plan for the first Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo flight was delayed by six months to late in the first quarter of 2009. According to Elon Musk, the complexity of the development work and the regulatory requirements for launching from Cape Canaveral have contributed to the delay.[37] The first COTS demo flight was delayed several additional times, and was eventually scheduled for December 2010.[38]
The first multi-engine test (with two engines connected to the first stage, firing simultaneously) was successfully completed in January 2008,[39] with successive tests leading to the full Falcon 9 complement of nine engines test fired for a full mission length (178 seconds) of the first stage on November 22, 2008.[40] In October 2009, the first flight-ready first stage had a successful all-engine test fire at the company's test stand in McGregor, TX. In November 2009 Space X conducted the initial second stage test firing lasting forty seconds. This test succeeded without aborts or recycles. On January 2, 2010, a full-duration (329 seconds) orbit-insertion firing of the Falcon 9 second stage was conducted at the McGregor test site[citation needed] The full stack arrived at the launch site for integration at the beginning of February 2010, and SpaceX initially scheduled a launch date of March 22, 2010, though they estimated anywhere between one and three months for integration and testing.[41]
On February 25, 2010 SpaceX's first flight stack was set vertical at Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral,[42] and on March 9, SpaceX performed a static fire test, where the first stage was to be fired without taking off. The test aborted at T-2 seconds due to a failure in the system to pump high-pressure helium from the launch pad into the first stage turbopumps to get them spinning in preparation for launch. Subsequent review showed that the failure was a valve that didn't receive a command to open. As the problem was with the pad and not with the rocket itself, it didn't occur at the McGregor test site, which didn't have the same valve setup. Some fire and smoke were seen at the base of the rocket, leading to speculation of an engine fire. However, no damage was sustained by the vehicle or the test pad and the fire and smoke were the result of normal burnoff from the liquid oxygen and fuel mix present in the system prior to launch. All vehicle systems leading up to the abort performed as expected and no additional issues were noted that needed addressing. A subsequent test on March 13 was successful in firing the nine first-stage engines for 3.5 seconds.[43]
The first flight was delayed from March 2010 to June due to review of the Falcon 9 flight termination system by the Air Force.
The first actual launch attempt occurred at 1:30 pm EDT on Friday, June 4, 2010 (1730 UTC). The launch was aborted shortly after ignition, and the rocket successfully went through a failsafe abort.[44] Ground crews were able to recycle the rocket, and successfully launched it at 2:45 pm EDT (1845 UTC) the same day.[5]
Launch video (1 min 52 secs)
The Falcon 9 maiden launch occurred on June 4, 2010 and was deemed a success, placing the test payload within 1 percent of the intended orbit. The second stage engine performed a short second burn to demonstrate its multiple firing capability.[45]
The rocket experienced, "a little bit of roll at liftoff" as Ken Bowersox from SpaceX put it. This roll had stopped prior to the craft reaching the top of the tower.[46] The second stage began to slowly roll near the end of its burn which was not expected.[45]
The halo from the venting of propellant from the Falcon 9 rocket as it rolled in space could be seen from all of Eastern Australia and some believed it to be a UFO.[47][48]
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch with COTS Demo Flight 1
The next launch attempt for Falcon 9 was COTS Demo Flight 1, with an operational Dragon module. The launch took place on December 8, 2010.[6] The flight placed the Dragon capsule in a roughly 300-kilometer (190 mi) orbit. After two orbits, the capsule re-entered the atmosphere to be recovered off the coast of Mexico.[7] This flight tested the pressure vessel integrity, attitude control using the Draco engines, telemetry, guidance, navigation, control systems, the PICA-X heat shield, and parachutes at speed.
This flight is to be the first fully commercially developed launcher to deliver a payload to the International Space Station.
The first launch attempt, on 19 May 2012 resulted in a countdown abort on the pad at T−00:00:00.5.[49]
Following the countdown abort, representatives stated that the next attempt was scheduled for 22 May 2012 at 03:44 EDT (07:44 GMT) or 23 May 2012 at 03:22 EDT (07:22 GMT). This second attempt was successful.[50]
| Flight № |
Date and time (GMT) |
Payload |
Customer |
Outcome |
Remarks |
| 1 |
4 June 2010, 18:45 |
Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit |
SpaceX |
Success |
1st Flight of Falcon 9 Block 1[45] |
| 2 |
8 Dec 2010, 15:43[51] |
NASA COTS – Demo 1, 2 Cubesats[52] |
NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services, National Reconnaissance Office |
Success |
Maiden flight of Dragon Capsule; 3 hours, testing of maneuvering thrusters and reentry[53] |
| 3 |
22 May 2012, 07:44[54] |
NASA COTS – Demo C2+[55] |
NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services |
Success[56] |
Combined COTS 2 and 3 mission that includes berthing with ISS, first night launch of Falcon 9.[57] During the first attempted launch on 19 May 2012, a chamber pressure on one of the engines was observed by onboard computers as being outside nominal parameters; therefore the launch was automatically aborted after main engine ignition. Second attempt was successful.[58] |
|
2012 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 1[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
Prototype second-generation Orbcomm satellite to be launched as a secondary payload[60][61] |
|
2012 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 2[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
Last scheduled of Falcon 9 block 1 v1.0.[62] |
|
2013–2014 |
17 OG2 satellites on various missions[60][59] |
Orbcomm |
Scheduled |
Commercial mission and first Falcon 9 v1.1 flight, with improved 16 tonne to LEO capacity.[62] |
|
2013 |
CASSIOPE[63] |
MDA Corp |
Scheduled |
|
|
2013 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 3[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2013 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 4[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2013 |
SES-8 communication satellite[64][65] |
SES |
Scheduled |
First geostationary launch for Falcon 9. 1Q2013[64] |
|
2013 |
Thaicom 6 |
THAICOM |
Scheduled (second quarter of 2013) |
|
|
2013 |
Google Lunar X Prize Moon Mission[66] |
Astrobotic Technology |
Scheduled (no earlier than December 2013) |
deliver a lander, small rover and up to 240 pounds (110 kg) of payload to the surface of the Moon[66] |
|
2014 |
SAOCOM 1A[67][68] |
CONAE |
Scheduled |
|
|
2014 |
DragonLab Mission 1 |
SpaceX |
Scheduled |
|
|
2014 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 5[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2014 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 6[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2014 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 7[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
AMOS-4[69][70] |
Spacecom |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
SAOCOM 1B[67][68] |
CONAE |
Scheduled |
|
|
2014 |
Space Systems/Loral[71] |
Space Systems |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
TBD |
Spacecom (Israel) |
Scheduled |
|
|
2014 |
DragonLab Mission 2 |
SpaceX |
Scheduled |
|
|
2014 |
Asiasat 6[72] |
Asiasat |
Scheduled |
|
|
2014 |
Asiasat 8[72] |
Asiasat |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 8[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 9[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 10[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
TBD |
Bigelow Aerospace[59] |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 11[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 12[59] |
NASA Commercial Resupply Services |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015 |
TBD |
SES |
Scheduled |
|
|
2015–2017 |
Iridium NEXT[21][73] |
Iridium Communications Inc. |
Scheduled |
up to 10 launches with multiple satellites per launch. |
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- ^ Clark, Stephen. "Falcon Launch Report – Mission Status Center". Spaceflight Now. http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/status.html. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
- ^ "NRO Taps Boeing for Next Batch of Cubesats". Space News. 2010-04-08. http://www.spacenews.com/military/100408-nro-taps-boeing-next-cubesats.html. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
- ^ Clark, Stephen. "SpaceX on the verge of unleashing Dragon in the sky". Spaceflight Now. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/101207preview/. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ^ "Falcon 9/Dragon Launch: Engine repair expected by tonight". SpaceX. 19 May 2012. http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=37995. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ "SpaceX Station Cargo Mission Planned". Aviation Week. 2011-07-20. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/07/20/02.xml&headline=SpaceX%20Station%20Cargo%20Mission%20Planned. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (2012-05-22). "Dragon circling Earth after flawless predawn blastoff". Spaceflight Now Inc. (Tonbridge, Kent, United Kingdom). Archived from the original on 2012-05-22. http://www.webcitation.org/67rHZ22U1. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
- ^ Harding, Pete (2012-05-05). "ISS schedule slips Dragon launch to May 19 – future manifest outlook". NasaSpaceflight (not affiliated with NASA). http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/iss-schedule-dragon-launch-19-may-future-manifest-outlook/. Retrieved 5 May 2012. "...the first ever night launch of a Falcon 9 rocket."
- ^ "SpaceX Dragon ship aborts launch". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18118136. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Launch Manifest". SpaceX. http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php. Retrieved 21 Nov 2011.
- ^ a b "Orbcomm Eagerly Awaits Launch of New Satellite on Next Falcon 9" (Press release). Space News. 2012-05-25. http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/120525-spacex-success-welcome-orbcomm.html. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
- ^ de Selding, Peter B. (2010-11-10). "Tardy Orbcomm Satellites To Share Falcon 9 with Dragon Capsule". Space News. http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/101110-orbcomm-switching-falcon9.html. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
- ^ a b "Falcon 9 Overview". SpaceX. 2012-05-27. http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
- ^ "Dragon Mission Report | Q&A with SpaceX founder and chief designer Elon Musk". Spaceflight Now. 2012-05-18. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/120518musk/. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
- ^ a b "SpaceX and SES Announce SATELLITE Launch Agreement". RLV and Space Transport News. 2011-03-14. http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=27919. Retrieved 2011-03-14. "the first geostationary satellite launch using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The firm launch agreement with SpaceX also includes an option for a second SES launch. ... The SES-8 satellite is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2013 from SpaceX’s Launch Complex 40 at the Air Force Station at Cape Canaveral, Florida."
- ^ Morring, Frank, Jr. (2011-03-23). "Satellite Operators Boost Launch Competition". Aviation Week. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/awst/2011/03/21/AW_03_21_2011_p24-297637.xml&headline=Satellite%20Operators%20Boost%20Launch%20Competition. Retrieved 2011-03-24. "'The decision by SES to launch a medium-size geostationary communications satellite on a Space Exploration Technologies Inc. (SpaceX) Falcon 9 rocket marks another effort by satellite operators to add to their bottom lines by taking a tight-fisted approach to the prices they pay for launch services. ... 'SES-8 is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2013 to the orbital slot at 95 deg. East Long., where it will be co-located with the NSS-6 satellite to support growing demand for direct-to-home broadcast TV delivery in South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as customers in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Korea."
- ^ a b "SpaceX Lands Contract To Fly To Moon". Aviation Week. 2011-02-08. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/02/08/01.xml&headline=SpaceX%20Lands%20Contract%20To%20Fly%20To%20Moon. Retrieved 2011-02-08. "Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology, a Carnegie Mellon University spin-off company, has signed a launch services contract with Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) for a Falcon 9 rocket to deliver a lander, small rover and up to about 240 lb. of payload to the surface of the Moon"
- ^ a b "Launch manifest". SpaceX. 2012. http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ a b "Spacex signs argentina's space agency for two falcon 9 launches". SpaceX. 2009-04-16. http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090416. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ "Amos 4". Gunter's Space Page. 2009-09-27. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/amos-4.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ "Spacex and spacecom sign contract for falcon 9 geosynchronous transfer mission". SpaceX. 2010-01-27. http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100127. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ "SpaceX and Space Systems/Loral Sign Contract for Falcon 9 Geosynchronous Transfer" (Press release). SpaceX. March 15, 2010. http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100315. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
- ^ a b "SpaceX to launch AsiaSat craft from Cape Canaveral". Spaceflightnow. 2012-02-08. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1202/08spacexasiasat/. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
- ^ "Elon Musk: SpaceX signs “biggest” commercial launch deal ever" (Press release). Orlando Sentinel. 2010-06-16. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2010/06/elon-musk-spacex-signs-biggest-commercial-launch-deal-ever.html. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
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Partially reusable
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Current
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Planned
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Retired
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Cancelled
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Completely reusable
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Current
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Planned
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Retired
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Cancelled
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- Italics indicates suborbital launch systems
- ‡ - Recovery failed on first three Falcon 1 flights; reusability abandoned thereafter
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- * - Japanese projects using US rockets or stages
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