Falcon 9 - SpaceX
Falcon 9 generates more than 1.7 million pounds of thrust at sea level. The nine Merlin engines on the first stage are gradually throttled near the end of first-stage flight to limit launch vehicle acceleration as the rocket’s mass decreases with the burning of fuel.
Falcon Heavy - SpaceX
Falcon Heavy draws upon Falcon 9’s proven design, which minimizes stage separation events and maximizes reliability. The second-stage Merlin Vacuum Engine delivers the rocket’s payload to orbit after the main engines cut off and the first-stage cores separate.
NASA has certified the Falcon 9 / Crew Dragon system for human spaceflight, and SpaceX is providing operational missions to the International Space Station under the Commercial Crew Program, as well providing the capability to launch commercial astronauts to space.
SpaceX has incorporated reusability into the Falcon and Dragon systems, which improves vehicle reliability while reducing cost. The Starship Program now leverages SpaceX’s experience to introduce a next-generation, super heavy-lift space transportation system capable of rapid and reliable reuse. STARSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Mission - SpaceX
By comparison, the liftoff thrust of the Falcon Heavy equals approximately eighteen 747 aircraft at full power. Falcon Heavy can lift the equivalent of a fully loaded 737 jetliner—complete with passengers, luggage and fuel—to orbit.
Dragon - SpaceX
In the unlikely event of an emergency, Dragon’s launch abort system can quickly separate the spacecraft from Falcon 9. Using its SuperDraco engines, Dragon will propel itself away from the launch vehicle.
Starship - SpaceX
The Raptor engine is a reusable methane-oxygen staged-combustion engine that powers the Starship system and has twice the thrust of the Falcon 9 Merlin engine.
Transporter-2 Mission - SpaceX - Updates
On Wednesday, June 30 at 3:31 p.m. EDT, Falcon 9 launched the Transporter-2, SpaceX’s second dedicated SmallSat Rideshare Program mission, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission also marked SpaceX’s second launch to a polar orbit from Florida.
Updates - SpaceX
With Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, SpaceX is capable of performing every type of national security space mission, to every required reference orbit, with significant performance and schedule margin.
For this test, Falcon 9’s ascent trajectory will mimic a Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station to best match the physical environments the rocket and spacecraft will encounter during a normal ascent.