Falcon I

The Falcon I is a Falcon family two stage to orbit RP-1 kerosene/liquid oxygen mostly reusable launch vehicle designed and manufactured by SpaceX. The lower stage includes one Merlin engine and the upper stage includes one Kestrel engine. The Falcon I is designed to minimize price per launch and to prove the components to be used in the larger Falcon V rocket. The Falcon I is launched from Pad 3W at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Marshall Islands, Kodiak Island, and Wallops Island. The maiden flight of the Falcon I is planned for September, 2004, from Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tacsat and Celestis space burial payload. Pricing starts at US$5.9 million plus range fees per launch.

Table of contents

1 Payload Capabilities 2 Vehicle Details 3 Sources and External Links

Payload Capabilities

• 200 km, 28 degrees: 670 kg\n*400 km, 51 degrees (International Space Station): 580 kg\n*700 km, sun synchronous: 430 kg

Please note that these capabilities are subject to change, based upon further testing.

Vehicle Details

• Length: 70 feet (21.3 meters)\n*Diameter: 5.5 feet (1.7 meters)\n*Weight/Mass: 60,000 pounds (27,200 kg)\n*Thrust on Liftoff: 71,500 pounds (318 kN)\n*Engines: 1 lower stage Merlin engine; 1 upper stage Kestrel engine\n*Fuel: RP-1 rocket grade kerosene\n*Oxidizer: Liquid oxygen

Sources and External Links

• SpaceX Falcon I details page

Category:Space launch vehicles