Falcon 9 v1.1
Falcon 9 v1.1 was the second version of SpaceX's Falcon 9 orbital launch vehicle. The rocket was developed in 2011–2013, made its maiden launch in September 2013, and its final flight in January 2016. The Falcon 9 rocket was fully designed, manufactured, and operated by SpaceX. Following the second Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) launch, the initial version Falcon 9 v1.0 was retired from use and replaced by the v1.1 version.
Launch of the 9th Falcon 9 v1.1 with the SpaceX CRS-5 on 10 January 2015. This rocket was equipped with landing legs and grid fins. | |
| Function | Orbital medium-lift launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Cost per launch | $56.5M (2013) – 61.2M (2015) |
| Size | |
| Height | 68.4 m (224 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Mass | 505,846 kg (1,115,200 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO (28.5°) | |
| Mass | 13,150 kg (28,990 lb) 10,886 kg (24,000 lb) (PAF structural limitation) |
| Payload to GTO (27°) | |
| Mass | 4,850 kg (10,690 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Falcon 9 |
| Derivative work | Falcon 9 Full Thrust |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | |
| Total launches | 15 |
| Success(es) | 14 |
| Failure(s) | 1 |
| Landings | 0 / 3 attempts |
| First flight | 29 September 2013 |
| Last flight | 17 January 2016 |
| Type of passengers/cargo | Dragon, DSCOVR |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | 9 Merlin 1D |
| Maximum thrust | Sea level: 5,885 kN (1,323,000 lbf) Vacuum: 6,672 kN (1,500,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Sea level: 282 seconds Vacuum: 311 seconds |
| Burn time | 180 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX / RP-1 |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 1 Merlin 1D Vacuum |
| Maximum thrust | 716 kN (161,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 340 seconds |
| Burn time | 375 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX / RP-1 |
Falcon 9 v1.1 was a significant evolution from Falcon 9 v1.0, with 60 percent more thrust and weight. Its maiden flight carried out a demonstration mission with the CASSIOPE satellite on 29 September 2013, the sixth overall launch of any Falcon 9.
Both stages of the two-stage-to-orbit vehicle used liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants. The Falcon 9 v1.1 could lift payloads of 13,150 kilograms (28,990 lb) to low Earth orbit, and 4,850 kilograms (10,690 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit, which places the Falcon 9 design in the medium-lift range of launch systems.
Beginning in April 2014, the Dragon capsules were propelled by Falcon 9 v1.1 to deliver cargo to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. This version was also intended to ferry astronauts to the ISS under a NASA Commercial Crew Development contract signed in September 2014 but those missions are now scheduled to use the upgraded Falcon 9 Full Thrust version, first flown in December 2015.
Falcon 9 v1.1 was notable for pioneering the development of reusable rockets, whereby SpaceX gradually refined technologies for first-stage boostback, atmospheric re-entry, controlled descent and eventual propulsive landing. This last goal was achieved on the first flight of the successor variant Falcon 9 Full Thrust, after several near-successes with Falcon 9 v1.1.