- Falcon 5
Infobox rocket
name =Falcon 5
caption =Early Falcon 5 design
function =Man-rated re-usableorbit allaunch vehicle
manufacturer =SpaceX
country-origin =United States
height =47 m
alt-height =154 ft
diameter =3.65 m
alt-diameter =12 ft
mass = 155,000 kg
alt-mass =340,000 lb
stages = 2
LEO-payload = 4,100 kg
alt-LEO =
payload-location =Geosynchronous transfer orbit
payload = 1,050 kg
alt-payload =
status = Cancelled
sites = SLC-3WVandenberg AFB Omelek Island
LC-36 Cape CanaveralKodiak Island Wallops Island
stage1engines =5 Merlin
stage1thrust =1,890 kN
alt-stage1thrust =425,000 lbf
stage1SI =Sea level : 255 sec (2.6 kN/kg)Vacuum : 304 sec (3.0 kN/kg)
stage1time =200 seconds
stage1fuel =LOX /RP-1
stage2engines =1 Merlin
stage2thrust =409 kN
alt-stage2thrust =93,000 lbf
stage2SI =Vacuum : 304 sec (3.0 kN/kg)
stage2time =265 seconds
stage2fuel =LOX /RP-1 The Falcon 5 was a proposed
two stage to orbit partially reusable launch vehicle designed bySpaceX , since canceled and replaced by theFalcon 9 . The first stage was to be powered by five Merlin engines and the upper stage by one Merlin engine, both burningkerosene with aliquid oxygen oxidizer. Along with theFalcon 9 , it would have been the world's only launch vehicle with all stages designed for reuse [ cite news | url= http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=18 | title = SpaceX press release | date = 8 Stptember 2005 | publisher=Space.com]The Falcon 5 would have been the first American rocket since the
Saturn V to haveengine out capability (although theSpace Shuttle also has the capability). Failure of up to three Merlin engines could result in a successful flight, depending on when during flight the engine failure takes place. The Falcon 5 was also have been the first American orbitallaunch vehicle designed to beman-rated ("i.e.", certified for human transportation) since the Shuttle.Proposed Falcon 5 launch sites included:
* Space Launch Complex 3W atVandenberg Air Force Base
* Launch Complex 36 atCape Canaveral Air Force Station
*Omelek Island in theMarshall Islands
* Kodiak Island
* Wallops Island.Launcher versions
[ cite news | url=http://www.geocities.com/launchreport/falcon.html#config | title=SpaceX Falcon Data Sheet | date=
5 July 2007 | publisher=Space Launch Report] [ cite news | url=http://www.spacex.com/updates.php#Falcon9Update081507 | title=Monster Progress Update (Mostly Falcon 9) | date=17 August 2007 | publisher=SpaceX] [ cite news | url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon1.php | title=Falcon 1 Overview | date=28 September 2007 | publisher=SpaceX] [ cite news | url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php | title=Falcon 9 Overview | date=28 September 2007 | publisher=SpaceX] [ cite news | url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9_heavy.php | title=Falcon 9 Heavy Overview | date=28 September 2007 | publisher=SpaceX]Falcon 9 derivative redesign
The original Falcon 5 design evolved in 2005 and 2006 into the new, larger Falcon 9, with 9 engines on the first stage, compared to the Falcon 5's five.
Payload capabilities
*200 km, 28 degrees: 4,100 kg
*GTO, 9 degrees: 1,050 kgReferences
See also
*
Falcon 1
*Falcon 9
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