SpaceX
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | El Segundo, California |
Key people | Elon Musk: CEO and CTO |
| Products | Orbital rocket launch |
| Revenue | unknown |
Number of employees | 205 |
| Website | spacex.com |
The Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) is a space-transportation startup company founded by Elon Musk. Its stated goal is to improve the cost and reliability of access to space "ultimately by a factor of ten". It is based in El Segundo, California, USA.
SpaceX is developing a family of partially reusable two-stage kerosene–liquid-oxygen launch vehicles.
Background
SpaceX was founded in June 2002 by CEO/CTO Elon Musk, who had also co-founded startup companies Zip2 and PayPal. As of March 2006 he had invested about $100,000,000 of his personal wealth in SpaceX. Although Musk has stated that he could financially handle two early-launch failures, he also has said "If we have three consecutive failures […] it's not clear to me that we know what we're doing and maybe we should go out of business."
As of November 2005, the company has approximately 160 employees.[1] The launch crew in the Marshall Islands comprises 25 persons, with 6 in mission control. This small number of employees, when compared to other companies that produce similarly sized rockets, is part of the cost reduction that Musk is trying to achieve. He sees other rocket manufacturers as providing space-launch services at an unreasonably high price to support an unnecessary bureaucracy.
Launcher versions
| Version | Falcon 1 | Falcon 5 (cancelled) |
Falcon 9 | Falcon 9 (large fairing) |
Falcon 9-S5 (cancelled) |
Falcon 9 Heavy (Previously Falcon 9-S9) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 boosters with 5 × Merlins each | 2 boosters with 9 × Merlins each |
| Stage 1 | 1 × Merlin | 5 × Merlin | 9 × Merlin | 9 × Merlin | 9 × Merlin | 9 × Merlin |
| Stage 2 | 1 × Kestrel | 1 × Merlin | 1 × Merlin | 1 × Merlin | 1 × Merlin | 1 × Merlin |
| Height (max; m) |
21.3 | 47 | 47 | 53 | 53 | 53 |
| Diameter (m) |
1.7 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Initial thrust (kN) |
454 | 1,890 | 3,400 | 3,400 | ? | ? |
| Takeoff weight (tonnes) |
38.6 | 154.5 | ? | 290 | ? | ? |
| Fairing diameter (Inner; m) |
1.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Payload (LEO; kg) |
570 | 4,100 | 9,300 | 8,700 | 16,500 | 24,750 |
| Payload (GTO; kg) |
— | 1,050 | 3,400 | 3,100 | 6,400 | 9,650 |
| Price (Mil. USD) |
6.7 | 18 | 27 | 35 | 51 | 78 |
| Price/kg (LEO; USD) |
11,754 | 4,390 | 2,903 | 4,023 | 3,091 | 3,152 |
| Price/kg (GTO; USD) |
— | 17,143 | 7,941 | 11,290 | 7,969 | 8,083 |
| Success ratio (successful/total) |
0/2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Launches
Maiden test flight of Falcon 1
On November 26, 2005, the first launch attempt was scrubbed because of weather and ground-related holds. On December 19, 2005, a second scrub occurred when a faulty valve caused the first-stage kerosene tank to deform during an unfueling maneuver. Subsequently, the launch tower was redesigned to reduce liquid-oxygen boil-off and to avoid wind-related holds. On February 10, 2006, further static testing led to a delay for an unspecified cause.
On March 17 and March 22, before the maiden flight, two static firings were performed in order to validate the rocket hardware and launch procedures.
The Falcon 1 maiden flight was originally scheduled for 21:00 UTC on 24 March 2006 (08:00 local time, 25 March) on March 24. An unplanned hold of about 90 minutes occurred because a ship tasked with recovery of the first stage was in a restricted down-range zone. Launch finally occurred at 22:30 UTC (09:30 local time, 25 March), from Omelek Island, in the Kwajalein Atoll.
After 29 seconds of flight (T plus 00:00:29), the main engine failed, leading to loss of the vehicle soon thereafter. High-resolution photography of the launch shows the engine on fire during ascent. An investigation of the cause of the propulsion failure conducted by SpaceX and DARPA determined that corrosion on an aluminum nut led to failure resulting in a fuel leak. Corrective actions being taken include replacing similar nuts with welds where possible and with stainless steel where welding is not possible.[2] It should be noted that early failures for a space launch vehicle have been typical; the first two launches of Ariane 5 did not succeed (although the second Ariane 5 launch did deliver its payload to a stable orbit and was therefore considered a partial success/failure), for instance.
The company provided a live webcast of the flight from various launchpad cameras, with mission-control voiceover. The webcast showed water-dump, ignition, and pad liftoff. The view switched to an onboard camera, with the atoll clearly receding in the background. About 40 seconds into the flight, the webcast ceased.
The 19.5-kilogram (43-pound) United States DARPA payload FalconSAT-2 was built by United States Air Force Academy cadets to investigate the phenomenon known as "space weather", or plasma in the upper atmosphere. The planned orbit was 450 kilometers (280 miles).
Second test flight of Falcon 1
The second Falcon 1 launched a demonstration payload to return data on the booster's performance, however it failed to reach orbit. The second stage was shut down about a minute and a half before schedule (T+ 7:30) due to a control issue. [3] SpaceX later stated that "The second stage was otherwise functioning well and even deployed the satellite mass simulator ring at the end of flight! Actual final velocity was 5.1 km/s or 11,000 mph, whereas 7.5 km/s or 17,000 mph is needed for orbit."
The first launch attempt was targeted for 2300 UTC, 20 March 2007 however it was aborted one minute and two seconds prior to launch (T minus 00:01:02) due to a ground control software handover failure. A second attempt was made at 00:05 UTC, 21 March 2007, but the launch was aborted automatically 0.5 seconds after firing the engines because the main engine chamber pressure was about 0.2 percent lower than allowable. The low pressure was caused by the fuel being colder than desired. The third attempt successfully launched the rocket at 01:10 UTC, 21 March 2007 (13:10 local time, 20 March 2007), the vehicle separated from the first stage booster and fairing at approximately 6:14 PST.
The webcast from the vehicle was lost at T+ 5:05 at an altitude of approximately 300 kilometers, but SpaceX was able to retrieve telemetry for the entire mission. The video showed a coning motion that increased during the second stage burn, then a roll immediately before loss of signal.[4] Musk noted that the control problem was initiated during stage separation, when the shut down kick of the main engine exceeded their predictions. This caused a bump between the first stage and second stage engine nozzle, along with sloshing in the tanks. The vehicle's systems were designed to damp out sloshing, but the unexpected motion exceeded design parameters. [3]
SpaceX stated they were happy with the launch as the rocket reached space and validated the riskiest and most difficult parts of the new design. Musk expressed confidence that they would solve the control issue and noted that all new rockets typically have these problems to work out; "I think they had something like 12 Atlas failures before the 13th one was success. To get this far on our second launch being an all-new rocket -- new main engine, new first stage, new second stage engine, new second stage, new fairing, new launch pad system, with so many new things -- to have gotten this far is great." [5] A post-mission report declared this launch "the end of the test phase for Falcon 1 and the beginning of the operational phase." [6]
Upcoming launches
The third launch (Q3 2007) will carry a Naval Research Laboratory Optical Sciences Division Tacsat payload from Vandenberg Air Force Base's Pad 3W. This launch was originally scheduled for early 2006, and scheduled to carry a secondary payload, arranged through Texas-based Space Services, Inc.: memorial capsules containing the cremated remains of 187 persons, including Project Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper and Star Trek actor James Doohan.
The maiden launch of the Falcon 9 is scheduled for the second quarter of 2008 with a U.S. government payload, followed closely by the launch of a payload for the Canadian MDA Corporation.[7]
On May 2, 2005, SpaceX announced that it had been awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Responsive Small Spacelift (RSS) launch services by the United States Air Force, which could allow the Air Force to purchase up to $100,000,000 worth of launches from the company. [8]
Elon Musk indicated at the International Space Development Conference that SpaceX has sold 11 contracts for flights on the various Falcon vehicles. [9]
Future development
Heavy lift launchers
On September 8, 2005, SpaceX announced the development of the Falcon 9 rocket, which will have nine Merlin engines in its first stage.[10][11] The design is an EELV-class vehicle, intended to compete with the Delta IV and the Atlas V rockets. Both stages will be designed to be reusable.
The company purchased the McGregor, Texas testing facilities of now-defunct Beal Aerospace, and is refitting the largest test stand at the facilities for Falcon 9 testing. The test stand is more than capable of testing the 9 Merlin 1C engines of the Falcon 9, which will deliver 350-metric-tons-force (3.4-meganewtons) of thrust, considering that Beal Aerospace built the test stand to accommodate a maximum 1,500 metric-tons-force (15 meganewtons) of thrust.
In addition to the Falcon 9, SpaceX has announced plans for the development of the Merlin 2 engine[citation needed], a scale version of a larger F-1-class engine to be developed in the future. The company is rumored to be working on a very large rocket to accompany the F-1-class engine, known by the codename "BFR". In the past, Musk has said "Long-term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. We expect that each size increase would result in a meaningful decrease in cost per pound to orbit. For example, dollar cost per pound to orbit dropped from $4,000 to $1,300 ($8,800/kg to $2,900/kg) between Falcon 1 and Falcon 5. Ultimately, I believe $500 per pound ($1,100/kg) or less is very achievable." On other occasions, Musk has stated that he expects to be able to offer a price of $1,000 per kilogram by 2010.[citation needed]
Manned orbital spaceflight: SpaceX Dragon
SpaceX has announced that it plans to pursue a manned commercial space program through the end of the decade. [2]
On Friday 18 August 2006, NASA announced that the company was one of two selected to provide crew and cargo resupply demonstration contracts to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. SpaceX will demonstrate crew and cargo resupply using the SpaceX Dragon, a conventional blunt-cone ballistic capsule, which is capable of carrying 7 persons or a mixture of personnel and cargo to and from low Earth orbit.[12] It will be launched atop a Falcon 9 vehicle. The nosecone of the vehicle has a hinged cap, which opens to reveal a standard ISS Common Berthing Mechanism, which allows the Dragon to dock to the U.S. segment of the ISS. NASA's plan calls for SpaceX demonstration flights between 2008 and 2010. SpaceX may receive up to $278 million if it meets all NASA milestones.[13][14][15]
Space Industry Partnerships
Satellite systems
In January 2005, SpaceX bought a 10% stake in Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
External links
- SpaceX official website
- SpaceX Internal Engineering Blog (written by Old Man Soule)(note that this is site is indeed maintained by SpaceX employees)
- Full Summons and Complaint by SpaceX against Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation (October 23, 2005)
- Notes from SpaceX pre-launch conference (Michael Belfiore, November 18, 2005)
- Kwajalein Atoll and Rockets (Candid and highly unofficial blog by Elon Musk's brother Kimbal, with on-site pictures and reporting.)
- Latest Space Fellowship SpaceX News (Space Fellowship)
Articles
- A tour/interview of SpaceX (The Space Review, February 27 - March 13): Parts 2, 3, 4
- The SpaceX Dragon: America's First Privately Financed Manned Orbital Spacecraft? (SpaceRef, March 6, 2006)
- A bold plan to go where men have gone before (New York Times, February 5, 2006)
- Interview with Elon Musk and VP of Development Operations (NasaSpaceFlight.com, January 20, 2006)
- Big plans for SpaceX (The Space Review, November 14, 2005)
- Shooting the Moon (Discover Magazine cover article, September 2005)
- Space X, with video interviews (ScienCentral News, August 12, 2005)
- SpaceX Private Rocket Shifts to Island Launch (Space.com, August 12, 2005)
- Privately-made Falcon 1 rocket roars on the pad (Spaceflight Now, May 27, 2005)
- Private rocketeer looks to August flight (Space.com, May 23, 2005)
- Small firm fired up to test new rocket (Santa Maria Times, April 27, 2005)
- Hondas in Space (Fast Company, February 2005)
- SpaceX starting small as it dreams of grand plans (Spaceflight Now, January 20, 2005)
- Broadcast interviews with Elon Musk about SpaceX (The Space Show)
Notes
- ^ Jeff Foust (14 November 2005). "Big plans for SpaceX". The Space Review.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "SpaceX Updates: [[July 25]], [[2006]]". SpaceX.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ a b Chris Bergin (24 March 2007). "Falcon I flight - preliminary assessment positive for SpaceX". nasaspaceflight.com.
- ^ Malik, Tariq (2007-03-20). "SpaceX's Second Falcon 1 Rocket Fails to Reach Orbit". Spaceflight. Space.com. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ SpaceFlightNow Mission Status Centre - Falcon 1 Flight 2
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://spacex.com/launch_manifest.php
- ^ "SpaceX Awarded $100 Million Contract From U.S. Air Force for Falcon I". SpaceRef.com. 2 May 2005.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Cite error: The named reference
space.com-2006-05-04was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ SpaceX press release on Falcon 9
- ^ Selenian Boondocks on Falcon IX
- ^ Keith Cowing (6 March 2006). "The SpaceX Dragon: America's First Privately Financed Manned Orbital Spacecraft?". SpaceRef.com.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "NASA selects crew, cargo launch partners". Spaceflight Now. August 18, 2006.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "NASA Selects Crew and Cargo Transportation to Orbit Partners". SpaceRef. August 18, 2006.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Alan Boyle (August 18, 2006). "SpaceX, Rocketplane win spaceship contest". MSNBC.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)