50
51
53
52
55
56
54
57
58
59
60
61
62
64
63
65
67
66
69
68
71
72
70
73
74
75
76
79
77
78
81
80
83
82
85
84
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
95
94
96
97
99
98
01
00
02
03
04
05
06
07
09
08
11
10
13
12
15
14
17
16
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Variant
All variants
v1.0
v1.1
v1.2 FT
Launches
113
5
15
93
Failures
4
1
1
2
Realized
0.96
0.80
0.93
0.98
Predicted
0.96
0.71
0.88
0.97
FALCON 9 (v1.0, v1.1, v1.2 FT) - Vehicle use: Satellite, Dragon, Dragon 2(Future)
American orbital launch vehicle. Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for the transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. Falcon 9 is the first orbital class rocket capable of reflight. Falcon 9's first stage incorporates nine Merlin engines and aluminum-lithium alloy tanks containing liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) propellant. The second stage, powered by a single Merlin vacuum engine, delivers Falcon 9's payload to the desired orbit.
source: http://www.spacex.com/falcon9
10/8/2012 - Falcon 9 v1.0
INFLIGHT MAIN ENGINE FAILURE AND SHUTDOWN
4th Falcon 9 launch
4th Falcon 9 v1.0 launch
1st SpaceX cargo resupply mission to ISS
Approximately 1 minute 19 seconds into flight, one of the nine Merlin 1C engines (engine # 1) experienced a rapid loss of pressure and was commanded to shut down by the onboard flight computer. The inflight main engine anomaly resulted in debris being ejected from the engine compartment, but the remaining eight engines performed nominally and the primary payload (Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft) was successfully placed into orbit. The engine failure was attributed to an undetected material flaw in the engine chamber jacket. The material flaw, introduced during manufacturing, resulted in a breach in the main combustion chamber, loss of pressure, and subsequent shutdown.
Improvements were made to existing engine inspection techniques, and this process vulnerability was reportedly addressed on the upgraded Merlin 1D engine.
SOURCES:
SpaceX Press Release - SpaceX CRS-1 Mission Update
Space Launch Report Falcon 9 Data Sheet
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
6/28/2015 - Falcon 9 v1.1
SECOND STAGE OVER PRESSURIZATION AND BREAKUP
19th Falcon 9 launch
6th Falcon 9 v1.1 launch
The second stage liquid oxygen (LOX) tank experienced an overpressure event at approximately 139 seconds into flight, followed quickly by structural failure and breakup of the second stage launch vehicle, resulting in the loss of the vehicle and payload (Dragon CRS-7 spacecraft). The overpressure event was attributed to the failure of a strut which provides structural support to the high pressure helium system located inside the LOX tank. The strut failure caused a breach in the high pressure helium system, which over pressurized the LOX tank within a second, leading to structural failure of the LOX tank. The suspect struts were replaced with stronger struts from a different manufacturer on all subsequent flights, and enhancements were made to the hardware quality audit process.
SOURCES:
SpaceX Press Release - SpaceX CRS-7 Investigation Update
Space Launch Report Falcon 9 Data Sheet
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:
SpaceX Falcon 9 cargo ship fails mintues after launch
Slow motion video of the Falcon 9 explosion
9/1/2016 - Falcon 9 v1.2
VEHICLE EXPLODED DURING GROUND PROPELLANT LOADING, DURING PREPARATION FOR GROUND TEST FIRING
Would have been the 29th Falcon 9 launch (9th Falcon 9 v1.2 launch)
The launch vehicle blew up on the launch pad during launch vehicle propellant loading in preparation for a hot fire test scheduled two days before launch. The launch vehicle and payload (AMOS 6 satellite) were destroyed. The cause of the accident was attributed to the failure of one of three composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) mounted inside the second stage liquid oxygen tank. Specifically, the investigation team concluded the failure was likely due to the accumulation of liquid and solid oxygen between the COPV liner and overwrap in a void or a buckle in the liner, leading to ignition and the subsequent failure of the COPV. Changes were made to the helium COPV loading procedures for subsequent flights, and a redesign of the COPVs is being pursued as a long-term corrective action."
SOURCES:
SpaceX Press Release - Anomaly Investigation Update
Space Launch Report Falcon 9 Data Sheet
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:
SpaceX - Static Fire Anomaly - AMOS-6
3/18/2020 - Falcon 9 v1.2 Full Thrust (FT)
INFLIGHT MAIN ENGINE FAILURE AND SHUTDOWN
68th Falcon 9 launch
55th Falcon 9 v1.2FT Launch
Approximately 2 minutes 22 seconds into flight, one of the nine Merlin 1D engines shut down prematurely. The other eight engines fired longer to compensate, and the payload was placed into the planned orbit.
SOURCES:
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/falcon-9.htm
https://www.space.com/spacex-launches-starlink-5-satellites-misses-rocket-landing.html
https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-starlink-satellites-misses-booster-landing-for-second-time/
0.90
0.87
0.94
0.92
0.75
0.67
1.00
0.75
0.92
0.87
1.00
0.75
0.90
0.86
0.86
0.78
0.96
0.94
0.96
0.95
0.96
0.95
0.96
0.96
Realized Rate
Predicted Rate