Falcon I: First Flight Results
- Paper number
IAC-05-D2.1.02
- Author
Mr. Hans Koenigsmann, Space Exploration Technologies, United States
- Coauthor
Mrs. Gwynne Shotwell, Space Exploration Technologies, United States
- Year
2005
- Abstract
Falcon-I is a small launch vehicle developed by Space Exploration Technologies. It is a two-stage vehicle, capable of launching 670 kg into a circular, 200 km altitude orbit with 28.5 degree inclination, or 430 kg into a sun-synchronous, 700 km orbit from Vandenberg AFB. This paper focuses on the results of the first flight, to be performed in early summer 2005; the first mission launches Tacsat-1 into a 510 km circular orbit from Vandenberg. At the time of writing this abstract, engine development and structural qualification has been completed and components are integrated into the vehicle for system tests. The launch site has been refurbished, to accommodate the Falcon-1 vehicle and the ground systems required for vehicle tanking and checkout. The flight vehicle safety certification process is ex-pected to be completed in late March. In addition to Falcon-I flight results, the status of Falcon-V is provided. Falcon-V is the next generation, medium lift launch vehicle developed by Space Explo-ration Technologies; it is based on many components tested with Falcon-I.
- Abstract document