Falcon X
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| Function | Re-usable orbital launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 55 m (180 ft) |
| Diameter | 6.0 m (19.7 ft) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | Normal: 38,000 kg (84,000 lb) Heavy:125,000 kg (276,000 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Proposed |
| Boosters (Falcon X Heavy) | |
| No. boosters | 2 |
| Engines | 3 x Merlin 2 |
| Thrust | 3,600,000 lbf (16,000 kN)(sl) [1] |
| Specific impulse | Sea level: 285 sec (- kN/kg) Vacuum: 321 sec (- kN/kg)[2] |
| Burn time | Unknown |
| Propellant | LOX/RP-1 |
| First stage | |
| Engines | 3 x Merlin 2 |
| Thrust | 3,600,000 lbf (16,000 kN)(sl)[1] |
| Propellant | LOX/RP-1 |
| Second stage | |
| Engines | 1 Raptor |
| Thrust | 150,000 lbf (670 kN) [2] |
| Specific impulse | Vacuum: 470.1 sec (- kN/kg)[3] |
| Burn time | 345 seconds[citation needed] |
| Propellant | LOX/LH2 |
Falcon X is a proposed[4] spaceflight launch system that uses rockets designed and manufactured by Space Exploration Technologies ("SpaceX") Corporation. Like the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 the first stage of this two-stage-to-orbit vehicle uses liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellants and is intended to be reusable.[5] The second stage will use liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid Hydrogen (LH2) and be powered by the Raptor engine which is still in development.
Multiple variants have been proposed[4] with payloads to low Earth orbit of up to 38,000 kilograms (84,000 lb) for the basic version and up to 125,000 kilograms (276,000 lb) for the 3 core heavy, placing the Falcon X design in the heavy-lift to super heavy-lift range of launch systems.[3]
Design
The proposed base Falcon X would be a two stage, LOX/RP-1, LOX/LH2, fueled launch vehicle. Its first stage would be powered by 3 SpaceX Merlin 2 rocket engines with 5.3 MN (1.2M lbf) sea-level thrust per engine for a total thrust on liftoff of approximately 16 MN (3.6 million lbf).[6] The Falcon X first stage would likely use a pyrophoric mixture of triethylaluminum-triethylborane (TEA-TEB) as a first-stage ignitor, as does the Falcon 9.[7]
The proposed Falcon X Heavy configuration consists of a standard Falcon X with two additional Falcon X first stages acting as liquid strap-on boosters,[3] which is conceptually similar to EELV launchers such as the Delta IV Heavy and the future Atlas V HLV, and also to the Russian Angara carrier rocket.
The upper stage would be powered by a single Raptor engine which would use LOX/LH2, with an expansion ratio of 250:1 and throttle range of 50-100%. For added reliability of restart, the engine has dual redundant pyrophoric igniters (TEA-TEB).[6] SpaceX has expressed hopes that both stages will eventually be reusable.[5]
The interstage, which would connect the upper and lower stage for Falcon X, would be a carbon fiber aluminum core composite structure, scaling up designes used for the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9. Stage separation would occur via reusable separation collets and a pneumatic pusher system.[citation needed] The Falcon X tank walls and domes would be made from aluminum lithium alloy.SpaceX uses an all friction stir welded tank, the highest strength and most reliable welding technique available. The second stage tank of Falcon X is simply a shorter version of the first stage tank and uses most of the same tooling, material and manufacturing techniques, however useing a different engine. This results in significant cost savings in vehicle production.
As with the company's smaller Falcon 1 and Falcon 9, the Falcon X launch sequence would include a hold-down feature. After first stage engine start, the launcher would be held down and not released for flight until all propulsion and vehicle systems are confirmed to be operating normally before liftof.[citation needed] An automatic safe shut-down and unloading of propellant occurs if any abnormal conditions are detected.[citation needed] Similar hold-down systems have been used on other launch vehicles such as the Saturn V[8] and Space Shuttle.
Falcon X will have triple redundant flight computers and inertial navigation, with a GPS overlay for additional orbit insertion accuracy.[citation needed]
Launch sites
Musk has expressed the opinion that NASA would be advised to retain SLC-39 for use by vehicles such as this.[citation needed]
Launcher versions
| Version | Falcon X | Falcon X Heavy |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 0 | — | 2 boosters with 3 × Merlin 2 each |
| Stage 1 | 3 × Merlin 2 | 3 × Merlin 2 |
| Stage 2 | 1 × Raptor | 1 × Raptor |
| Height (max; m) |
~55 (large fairing) | ~55 (large fairing) |
| Diameter (m) |
8 | 8 (large fairing) |
| Initial thrust (lb-f) |
3.6M | 10.8M |
| Takeoff weight (tonnes) |
? | ? |
| Fairing diameter (Inner; m) |
6 | 6 |
| Payload (LEO; kg) |
38,000 | 125,000 |
| Success ratio (successful/total) |
- | - |
Initial descriptions
At an appearance in May 2004 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Elon Musk testified, "Long term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. [...] Ultimately, I believe $500 per pound [of payload delivered to orbit] or less is very achievable."[9]
SpaceX formally announced the Falcon X on 2010-07-28. A Falcon X medium was described as being capable of launching approximately 38,000 lb (17,000 kg) to low Earth orbit.
See also
References
- ^ a b http://commercialspace.pbworks.com/f/SpaceX_Overview_TEM%20small.pptx
- ^ a b http://commercialspace.pbworks.com/f/Markusic%20-%20SpaceX%20Propulsion%20small.pptx
- ^ a b c "July 28 SpaceX presentations: Merlin 2, Falcon HLVs, Raptor, methane Merlin, etc". NASA Space Flight. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
- ^ a b Guy Norris, "SpaceX Unveils Heavy-Lift Vehicle Plan," Aviation Week and Space Technology, Aug 5, 2010 (accessed Aug. 29, 2010)
- ^ a b Musk ambition: SpaceX aim for fully reusable Falcon 9, NASAspaceflight.com, 2009-01-12, accessed 2010-06-03. E. Musk Quotation: "By flight six we think it’s highly likely we’ll recover the first stage, and when we get it back we’ll see what survived through re-entry, and what got fried, and carry on with the process. ... That's just to make the first stage reusable, it'll be even harder with the second stage – which has got to have a full heatshield, it'll have to have deorbit propulsion and communication."
- ^ a b "Falcon 9 Overview". SpaceX. 8 May 2010.
- ^ Mission Status Center, June 2, 2010, 1905 GMT, SpaceflightNow, accessed 2010-06-02, Quotation: "The flanges will link the rocket with ground storage tanks containing liquid oxygen, kerosene fuel, helium, gaserous nitrogen and the first stage ignitor source called triethylaluminum-triethylborane, better known as TEA-TAB."
- ^ NASA PAO, Hold-Down Arms and Tail Service Masts, Moonport, SP-4204 (accessed 26 August 2010)
- ^ Testimony of Elon Musk (May 5, 2004). "Space Shuttle and the Future of Space Launch Vehicles". U.S. Senate.
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