Spacex is Assembling a Falcon 9 and Targeting March 8, 2010 Launch

The preparation of the first Falcon 9 rocket is a big step for the upstart space company, which has become the virtual front-runner in the White House’s new plan to privatize human space flights to low-Earth orbit in the post-shuttle era.

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announces that all flight hardware for the debut launch of the Falcon 9 vehicle has arrived at the SpaceX launch site, Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Final delivery included the Falcon 9 second stage, which recently completed testing at SpaceX’s test facility in McGregor, Texas. SpaceX has now initiated full vehicle integration of the 47 meter (154 feet) tall, 3.6 meter (12 feet) diameter rocket, which will include a Dragon spacecraft qualification unit.

“We expect to launch in one to three months after completing full vehicle integration,” said Brian Mosdell, Director of Florida Launch Operations for SpaceX. “Our primary objective is a successful first launch and we are taking whatever time necessary to work through the data to our satisfaction before moving forward.”

Following full vehicle integration, SpaceX will conduct a static firing to demonstrate flight readiness and confirm operation of ground control systems in preparation for actual launch.

Though designed from the beginning to transport crew, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft will initially be used to transport cargo. Falcon 9 and Dragon were selected by NASA to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) once Shuttle retires. The $1.6B contract represents 12 flights for a minimum of 20 tons to and from the ISS with the first demonstration flights beginning in 2010.

Falcon 9 is a two stage, liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene (RP-1) powered launch vehicle. It uses the same engines, structural architecture (with a wider diameter), avionics and launch system.

Length: 54.9 m (180 ft)
Width: 3.6 m (12 ft)
Mass (LEO, 5.2m fairing): 333,400 kg (735,000 lb)
Mass (GTO, 5.2m fairing): 332,800 kg (733,800 lb)
Thrust (vacuum): 4.94 MN (1,110,000 lbf)

Spacex Launch Plans 2010-2015

2010
NASA COTS – Demo 1  F9/Dragon
NASA COTS – Demo 2  F9/Dragon
NASA COTS – Demo 3  F9/Dragon
Falcon 1e Inaugural Flight

2011
MDA Corp. (Canada)  Falcon 9
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flight 1  F9/Dragon
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 2 F9/Dragon
 
2012
DragonLab Mission 1 F9/Dragon
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 3 F9/Dragon
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 4 F9/Dragon
CONAE (Argentina) Falcon 9 
Spacecom (Israel) Falcon 9 
 
2013
DragonLab Mission 2 F9/Dragon
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 5 F9/Dragon
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 6 F9/Dragon
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 7 F9/Dragon 
CONAE (Argentina) Falcon 9 

2014
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 8 F9/Dragon
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 8
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 9
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 10
Astrium (Europe) Falcon 1e
Bigelow Aerospace Falcon 9

2015
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 11 F9/Dragon
NASA Resupply to ISS – Flt 12 F9/Dragon