SpaceX Falcon 9 is a partially reusable and human-rated rocket that uses the Merlin Engine. It is known for its near-perfect flight record
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Payload to LEO | 22800 kg |
| Payload to GTO | 8300 kg |
| Fuel and Propellant | RP1 + LOX |
The Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket
- Falcon 9 holds the record for launching the most number of satellites (143) in a single launch
- Falcon 9 was the first commercial rocket to launch humans into space
- Falcon 9 holds the record for the most number of launches
Falcon 9 Missions
- Falcon 9 failed launch on July 11 from Vandenberg Space Force base in California. 20 Starlink satellites were lost in atmospheric burn-up due to a second-stage rocket burn issue. There was an atypical buildup of ice in the second-stage rocket engines, which didn’t affect performance. However, a 1-second burn of the second-stage to circularize the orbit resulted in a RUD (Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly)/explosion. The RUD anomaly happened due to a LOX leak that prevented the second-stage engine burn. This resulted in the satellites being too low for proper orbit
- Three Starlink launches are being planned in rapid succession from Florida and California to test the second-stage rocket burn anomaly
- Two crewed missions using the Falcon 9 are being planned
- Polaris Dawn mission piloted by Jared Isaacman
- Crew-9 mission by NASA to send astronauts to the ISS
- Falcon 9 will be used to provide launch services for NOAA’s JPSS-4 mission (Joint Polar Satellite System) slated for 2027 from California’s Vandenberg station. NASA has awarded a ~$112.7 million contract to SpaceX ← https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-noaas-jpss-4-mission
- Deployment of Eumetsat’s MTG-S1 (geostationary weather satellite)