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Rocket

FALCON9

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

DRAGON SPACECRAFT

Dragon carries cargo in the spacecraft’s pressurized capsule and unpressurized trunk, which can also accommodate secondary payloads. In the future, Dragon will carry astronauts in the pressurized capsule as well.

COMPOSITE FAIRING

The payload fairing is for the delivery of satellites to destinations in low Earth orbit (LEO), geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) and beyond.

FIRST STAGE

Falcon 9’s first stage incorporates nine Merlin engines and aluminum-lithium alloy tanks containing liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellant.

ENGINE

9

BURNTIME

162 SEC

Thrust At Sea Level

7, 607kN1
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PAYLOAD

Falcon 9 delivers payloads to space aboard the Dragon spacecraft or inside a composite fairing.

SECOND STAGE

The second stage, powered by a single Merlin vacuum engine, delivers Falcon 9’s payload to the desired orbit. For maximum reliability, the second stage has redundant igniter systems.

ENGINE

9

BURNTIME

162 SEC

Thrust At Sea Level

7, 607kN1
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NINE MARLINE ENGINES

With its nine first-stage Merlin engines clustered together, Falcon 9 can sustain up to two engine shutdowns during flight and still successfully complete its mission. Falcon 9 is the only launch vehicle in its class with this key reliability feature.

PAYLOAD

Dragon Overview

HEIGHT 8.1 m / 26,7 ft
DIAMETER 4 m / 13 ft
CAPSULE VOLUME 9.3 m³ / 328 ft³
TRUNK VOLUME 37 m³ / 1300 ft³
LAUNCH PAYLOAD MASS 6,000 kg / 13,228 lbs
RETURN PAYLOAD MASS 3,000 kg / 6,624 lbs

TRUNK

Dragon Overview

Dragon’s trunk not only carries unpressurized cargo but also supports the spacecraft during ascent. One half of the trunk is covered in solar panels that provide power to Dragon during flight and while on-station. The trunk remains attached to Dragon until shortly before reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.

VOLUME 37 m³ / 1300 ft³

CAPSULE

Dragon Overview

OVERVIEW | LAUNCH ABORT | ATTITUDE CONTROL

The Dragon capsule, also known as the pressurized section, allows for the transport of people as well as environmentally sensitive cargo. Dragon is equipped with Draco thrusters that allow Dragon to maneuver while on orbit and 8 SuperDracos that power the spacecraft’s launch escape system.

VOLUME 9.3 m³ / 328 ft³

CAPSULE

Dragon Overview

OVERVIEW | LAUNCH ABORT | ATTITUDE CONTROL

The Dragon capsule, The launch abort system is a crew safety system built into the Dragon spacecraft, used to quickly separate Dragon from Falcon 9 in the unlikely event of an emergency. In the unlikely event of an emergency, Dragon’s launch abort system can quickly separate the spacecraft from Falcon 9. Using its SuperDraco engines, Dragon will propel itself away from the launch vehicle.

NUMBER OF ENGINES 8
ESCAPE THRUST 71 kN / 16,000 lbf

CAPSULE

Dragon Overview

OVERVIEW | LAUNCH ABORT | ATTITUDE CONTROL

The Dragon capsule, The Dragon spacecraft is equipped with 16 Draco thrusters used to orient the spacecraft during the mission, including apogee/perigee maneuvers, orbit adjustment and attitude control. Each Draco thruster is capable of generating 90 pounds of force in the vacuum of space.

NUMBER OF ENGINES 16
THRUST IN VACUUM 400N / 90 lbf

DRACO

ENGINE

DRONESHIP | LANDING ZONE

The Dragon spacecraft is equipped with 16 Draco thrusters used to orient the spacecraft during the mission, including apogee/perigee maneuvers, orbit adjustment and attitude control. Each Draco thruster is capable of generating 90 pounds of force in the vacuum of space.

NUMBER OF ENGINE 16
THRUST IN VACUUM 400 N / 90 lbf

DRACO

ENGINE

DRONESHIP | LANDING ZONE

An array of eight SuperDraco engines provide fault-tolerant propulsion for Dragon’s launch escape system. In the unlikely event of an emergency, the eight SuperDraco engines can power Dragon half a mile away from the launch vehicle in less than eight seconds.

NUMBER OF ENGINE 8
THRUST IN VACUUM 73 kN / 16,400 lbf
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