Falcon 9 rocket has completed a total of 83 launches, 44 landings, and 31 re-flow missions.
A single Merlin Vacuum engine powers Falcon 9’s second-stage using a 165:1 expansion nozzle (large exhaust section and significantly larger nozzle to maximize efficiency in space vacuum) and can be restarted multiple times using dual redundant triethylaluminum-triethylborane pyrophoric igniters to place different payloads to multiple orbits. Cold Nitrogen thrusters are used for attitude control (pointing and roll functions).
Merlin Vacuum Engine Specifications
Number of Engines – 1 vacuum
Total thrust generation time – 397 seconds
Thrust – 981 kN / 220,500 lbf
Falcon 9 incorporates an intermediate stage between first and second stage. Four hyper-sonic grid fins are placed at the base of inter-stage used to re-orient (by moving the center of pressure) the rocket at the time of re-entry.
Falcon 9 Dragon crew/cargo capsule is designed to carry seven people and/or payload in a pressurized cabin to and from Earth orbit and beyond deep space. The fairing of Dragon capsule is constructed from carbon composite, primarily used for protection of satellites en-route to Earth orbit. The fairing is discarded during flight for reuse on SpaceX subsequent missions.
Dragon spaceship has completed 22 launches, 21 visits to the International Space Station and 9 re-flown missions.
Fairing Specifications
Height – 13.1 meter / 43 feet
Diameter – 5.2 meter / 17.1 feet
Dragon Specifications
Height – 8.1 meter / 26.6 feet
Diameter – 3.7 meter / 12 feet
