FALCON 9: Elon Musk's Creation

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Falcon 9

Falcon 9 Rocket
It is a partially reusable two-stage-to orbit medium-lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured by SpaceX in the United States.It is an orbital launch vehicle.
It is powered by Merlin engines,also developed by SpaceX,burning cryogenic liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene as propellants.
This rocket evolved with versions:-
1. v1.0(2010-2013)
2. v1.1(2013-2016)
3. v1.2"Full Thrust"(2015-present)

Variant v1.2 is divided in three blocks:
1.Block-3(retired)
2.Block-4(retired)
3.Block-5(active)

Cost per launch: New:$62M(2020)
                             Reused:$50M(2019)                                   

Falcon 9 can lift payloads of up to 22800kg to low Earth orbit(LEO) and 8300kg to geostationary transfer orbit(GTO)when expended, and 5500kg to GTO when first stage is recovered.

In 2008,SpaceX won a Commercial Resupply Service(CRS)contract in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services(COTS)program to deliver cargo to the International Space Station(ISS)using the Falcon 9 rocket and dragon capsule.
The first mission under this contract was launched on October 8,2012.Falcon 9 has been human-rated for transporting NASA astronauts to the ISS.
The latest variant,Block-5 has improved engine thrust,improved landing legs and other minor improvements to help recovery and reuse.



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