Spacex completes qualification of falcon 9 first stage tank and interstage

[Rhyshaelkan]

Emily Shanklin | Director, Marketing and Communications
media@SpaceX.com

SPACEX COMPLETES QUALIFICATION OF FALCON 9 FIRST STAGE TANK AND INTERSTAGE

McGregor, TX (July 29, 2009) – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announces the successful completion of qualification testing for the Falcon 9 launch vehicle first stage tank and interstage. Testing took place at SpaceX's Texas Test Site, a 300 acre structural and propulsion testing facility, located just outside of Waco, Texas.

The first stage tank and interstage hardware were subjected to a proof test of 1.1 times the maximum expected operating pressure (MEOP), and a burst pressure proof test of 1.4 MEOP; qualifying both articles with a 1.4 factor of safety. The 1.4 factor of safety designation means that the first stage tank and the interstage can withstand 140 percent the maximum internal pressure expected during flight, and qualifies both pieces of hardware to meet human rating safety requirements, as defined by NASA. The first stage also passed this human rating milestone when subjected to structural bending tests.

The testing regimen included over 150 pressurization cycles, exceeding the number of required life cycles by more than 100. In addition, the first stage and interstage were subjected to stiffness tests, maximum dynamic pressure loading and main engine cutoff conditions; all at expected values, as well as ultimate loads.

"Falcon 9 continues to pass qualification testing in preparation for its first flight, scheduled for 2009," said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "All hardware was designed to be man-rated, and these tests confirm that SpaceX is one step closer to flying humans on the Falcon 9/Dragon system."

Falcon 9's first stage and interstage also passed ground wind qualification tests, critical for when the vehicle is vertical on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Both components were designed, built and tested by SpaceX.

[Boxy]

I was skeptical (but hopeful) that they would be able to launch the first Falcon 9 this year, what with their five-year delay for the Falcon 1. However, it looks like they're right on track for launch later this fall.

Too bad the launch is from Cape Canaveral. Their fuel budget is 25% higher just because of that. All Falcon 9 and Falcon 9 Heavy launches are slated to be taken out from Canaveral instead of their Pacific Ocean site at Omelek in the Kwajalein Atoll.

With any luck they won't need 4 launches to get the gist of it. The basic engine component is the same as the Falcon 1, and since they've already worked the kinks out of that it should go along pretty well.

I hope the success of COTS makes NASA retire its launch vehicles altogether. Wouldn't that be phenomenal? NASA could waste its money in a reasonable way that fits along with its institutional charter -- exploring and planting flags on bigger and better rocks!

[Bluesteel]

[...]

I hope the success of COTS makes NASA retire its launch vehicles altogether. Wouldn't that be phenomenal? NASA could waste its money in a reasonable way that fits along with its institutional charter -- exploring and planting flags on bigger and better rocks!
Yes, Falcon 9 is looking good and with the addition of Dragon, finally commercial organsiations can get on with what they should be good at, namely BDBs hefting ever increasing payloads at ever reducing prices. NASA can then get back into what it's good at - exploring the solar system.

I'll also be interested in how, going forward, this might impact the ESA and Vega.

Julian

[Rhyshaelkan]

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/07/28/330186/spacex-faces-crucial-falcon-9-test.html

SpaceX faces crucial Falcon 9 test
By Rob Coppinger

The consecutive successes of Space Exploration Technologies' Falcon 1 rocket in September 2008 and on 15 July sets the seven-year-old company on a course for the fourth quarter maiden flight of its much larger Falcon 9 booster, which is scheduled to fly 23 times before 2016.

If successfully launched, the Falcon 9 - and its planned 30,000kg (66,000lb) to low Earth orbit heavy version -- will be competitive threats to international launch providers. SpaceX is offering $30 million launches when the worldwide market price is closer to $100 million, although SpaceX's competitors say that its prices are unsustainable.


Even if SpaceX had to raise their F9 launch price to $50M it would be a bargain at $758/lb raised to LEO