Falcon9

SpaceX current main launcher since 4th June 2010

Falcon 9 version 1 is a simple two-stage design that is currently being Man rated for launch of the Dragon V2 capsule in 2018 (was 2015).

The Falcon 9 core version 1 had a 100% launch success but has experienced problems when orbiting secondary payloads.

To start with SpaceX launches had been from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and on 29 September 2013 from SLC-4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Since the pad mishap while testing a F9 on the 1st of September 2015, since then Complex 40 has be in refurbishment, In the 17th Feb 2017 SpaceX got pad 39A up and running.

SpaceX pricing has lead to strong demand, the challenge being SpaceX's ability to increase production and launch rates from the current 2/3 a year as of July 2014. SpaceX have still pencilled in 11 Falcon 9 launches in the next 5 months left in 2014 and 16 for 2015.

One area of development to ease the situation is that of a private launch complex, currently looking like South Texas around 2016.

also Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A is currently being modified for SpaceX use by 2016.

Including fairing is 224.4 feet (68.4 meters) tall and 12 feet in diameter (the fairing is 17 feet in diameter).

Octaweb showing 9 Merlin 1D Engines.

Its nine first-stage Merlin 1D engines Octaweb configuration generate 1.3 million pounds of thrust at sea level, rising to 1.5 million pounds of thrust as Falcon 9 climbs out of the Earth’s atmosphere.

SpaceX are also working on the F9-R using landing legs that they hope to dry land the first stage for reuse bringing down the total launch cost by around 50%. giving 21,000 lb (9,500 kg) to low Earth orbit for $27 million per flight. ($1286/lb)

CRS8 F9 1st stage being transported after Barge landing back to Cape Canaveral ready for testing and relaunch