Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX)
The Falcon 9 Block 5 is a reusable, active launch vehicle manufactured by SpaceX (established in 2002). It undertook its inaugural launch on 05/11/2018.
Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.
Falcon 9 Block 5 Specifications
| Variant | Block 5 |
|---|---|
| Length | 70 m |
| Diameter | 3.65 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 549 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 7607 kN |
| Apogee | 200 km |
| LEO Capacity | 22800 kg |
| GTO Capacity | 8300 kg |
| Launch Cost | $52,000,000 |
Falcon 9 Block 5 Launch Record
| Total Launches | 616 |
|---|---|
| Successful Launches | 615 |
| Failed Launches | 1 |
| Pending Launches | 109 |
| Consecutive Successful Launches | 318 |
Falcon 9 Block 5 Landing Record
| Attempted Landings | 606 |
|---|---|
| Successful Landings | 601 |
| Failed Landings | 5 |
| Consecutive Successful Landings | 301 |
| Fastest Turnaround | 1 hr 5 min |
Manufacturer
CEO: Elon Musk
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.
Programs
The Commercial Crew Program (CCP) is a human spaceflight program operated by NASA, in association with American aerospace manufacturers Boeing and SpaceX. The program conducts rotations between the expeditions of the International Space Station program, transporting crews to and from the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon capsules, in the first crewed orbital spaceflights operated by private companies.
Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) are a series of flights awarded by NASA for the delivery of cargo and supplies to the International Space Station.The first CRS contracts were signed in 2008 and awarded $1.6 billion to SpaceX for twelve cargo Dragon and $1.9 billion to Orbital Sciences for eight Cygnus flights, covering deliveries to 2016. The Falcon 9 and Antares rockets were also developed under the CRS program to deliver cargo spacecraft to the ISS.