Falcon 9 Block 5 facts for kids
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Bangabandhu-1 was the first payload launched by Falcon 9 Block 5
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| Function | Medium-lift launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 69.8 m (229 ft) with payload fairing 65.7 m (216 ft) with Crew Dragon 63.7 m (209 ft) with Dragon |
| Diameter | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
| Mass | 549,000 kg (1,210,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO |
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| Payload to GTO |
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| Payload to TMI | 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Falcon 9 |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites |
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| Total launches | 278 |
| Successes | 278 |
| Failures | [INVALID OR MISSING PARAMETER IN TEMPLATE Falcon 9 Block 5] (Starlink Group 9–3) |
| Landings | 282 / 286 attempts |
| First flight | 11 May 2018 (Bangabandhu-1) |
| Notable payloads | |
| First stage | |
| Length | 41.2 m (135 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
| Engines | 9 × Merlin 1D+ |
| Thrust | 7.6 MN (1,700,000 lbf) |
| Fuel | LOX / RP-1 |
| Second stage (standard) | |
| Length | 13.8 m (45 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
| Engines | 1 × Merlin 1D Vacuum |
| Thrust | 934 kN (210,000 lbf) |
| Fuel | LOX / RP-1 |
| Second stage (short nozzle) | |
| Length | 13.6 m (45 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
| Engines | 1 × Merlin 1D Vacuum |
| Thrust | 840 kN (190,000 lbf) |
| Fuel | LOX / RP-1 |
The Falcon 9 Block 5 is a powerful rocket built by SpaceX in the United States. It is designed to be partly reusable, meaning parts of it can be used again for future missions. This rocket has two main parts, or stages, and is used to launch medium-sized payloads into space. It can even carry astronauts!
This rocket is the fifth main version of the Falcon 9 family. It uses special engines called Merlin 1D. These engines burn rocket fuel (RP-1) and liquid oxygen (LOX).
The Block 5 version has many improvements over older Falcon 9 rockets. Its engines are more powerful. The landing legs are also better, making it easier to land the first stage. These changes help SpaceX reuse the rocket's first stage more often. Each Block 5 first stage can fly about ten times with only small repairs. It might even fly up to 100 times with bigger check-ups!
The first Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket flew on May 11, 2018. It launched the Bangabandhu-1 satellite. By June 29, 2018, all Falcon 9 launches switched to using only the Block 5 version.
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Why Falcon 9 Block 5 is Special
The Block 5 rocket was designed with important upgrades. These changes were needed for NASA's programs. They also met requirements for national security space launches. The upgrades made the rocket perform better. They also made it easier to build.
In 2017, Elon Musk, the head of SpaceX, said the Block 5 would have more powerful engines. This means the rocket can lift heavier things into space. It also has a better flight control system. This helps the rocket land more smoothly, saving fuel.
How the Rocket Can Be Reused
The Falcon 9 Block 5 is built to last. Here are some key features:
- It can fly ten times with only small repairs between flights. This goal was reached in 2021.
- It might fly up to 100 times with bigger check-ups.
- A special heat shield protects the engines when the rocket comes back to Earth.
- Its titanium grid fins are stronger and can handle high temperatures.
- The first stage has a special coating. This protects it from heat damage during reentry.
- The rocket's valves are stronger and last longer.
- New helium tanks (COPV 2.0) prevent problems with oxygen freezing.
Faster Reuse and Building
SpaceX also made changes to speed up how quickly they can reuse rockets:
- Less time is needed for repairs between flights.
- The landing legs can fold away. This makes it easier to recover and move the rocket.
- The main structure (Octaweb) is bolted together instead of welded. This saves time during manufacturing.
Recent Improvements
Since the Block 5 first flew, SpaceX has kept making it better. They improved its design and how it's built. For example, newer Block 5 rockets have improved COPV2 tanks. The first rocket with these new tanks flew in November 2018.
After a landing problem in 2018, a special valve was added to the grid fins. This helps prevent issues during landing. Also, after a rocket was damaged at sea in 2022, the landing legs were upgraded. They can now "self-level," helping the rocket stay stable on recovery ships.
SpaceX also fine-tuned the engine settings. They also adjusted when the stages separate. These small changes help the rocket perform even better.
Mission Extension Kits
Some Falcon 9 second stages have "mission extension kits." These kits add extra features. They include a dark paint band for temperature control. They also have more helium tanks and extra ignition fluid. These kits help the second stage stay in space longer. This allows it to put satellites directly into very high orbits.
Shorter Nozzle for Second Stage
In 2023, a new version of the second stage appeared. It has a Merlin 1D Vacuum engine with a shorter nozzle. This change helps SpaceX build rockets faster and cheaper. The second stage of the Falcon 9 is not reused. This shorter nozzle makes the engine slightly less powerful. But it uses 75% less of a rare metal called niobium. This means SpaceX can launch three times more often using the same amount of this important material. This shorter nozzle is used for missions that don't need maximum power.
Carrying Humans to Space
NASA has strict rules for rockets carrying astronauts. A rocket needs to fly successfully seven times without big design changes. Only then can it be approved for human spaceflight.
The Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket first carried astronauts on May 30, 2020. This was a NASA mission called Crew Dragon Demo-2. It was the first time astronauts launched into orbit from the United States since 2011. It was also the first time a private company launched humans into space.
Rocket Parts and Specs
Here are some details about the Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket:
| Characteristic | First stage | Second stage |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 42.6 m (140 ft) | 12.6 m (41 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.7 m (12 ft) | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
| Empty mass | 22,200 kg (48,900 lb) | 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) |
| Gross mass | 433,100 kg (954,800 lb) | 111,500 kg (245,800 lb) |
| Structure type | LOX tank: monocoque Fuel tank: skin and stringer |
LOX tank: monocoque Fuel tank: skin and stringer |
| Structure material | Aluminum lithium skin; aluminum domes | |
| Engines | 9 × Merlin 1D | 1 × Merlin 1D Vacuum |
| Engine type | Liquid, gas-generator | |
| Fuel | Kerosene (RP-1) | |
| Oxidizer | Subcooled liquid oxygen (LOX) | Liquid oxygen (LOX) |
| LOX tank capacity | 287,400 kg (633,600 lb) | 75,200 kg (165,800 lb) |
| RP-1 tank capacity | 123,500 kg (272,300 lb) | 32,300 kg (71,200 lb) |
| Engine nozzle | Gimbaled, 16:1 expansion | Gimbaled, 165:1 expansion |
| Total thrust | 7,607 kN (1,710,000 lbf) | 934 kN (210,000 lbf) |
| Propellant feed system | Turbopump | |
| Throttle capability | 190,000–108,300 lbf (845–482 kN) | 210,000–81,000 lbf (930–360 kN) |
| Restart capability | Yes (only 3 engines for boostback/reentry/landing burns) | Yes, dual redundant TEA-TEB pyrophoric igniters |
| Tank pressurization | Heated helium | |
| Ascent attitude control (pitch, yaw) |
Gimbaled engines | Gimbaled engine and nitrogen gas thrusters |
| Ascent attitude control (roll) |
Gimbaled engines | Nitrogen gas thrusters |
| Coast/descent attitude control | Nitrogen gas thrusters and grid fins | Nitrogen gas thrusters |
| Shutdown process | Commanded | |
See also
In Spanish: Falcon 9 Block 5 para niños
- List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches
- List of Falcon 9 Block 5 first-stage boosters
