SpaceX Update 2
Falcon 9 Flight 1
First Stage Engines
Engine testing for the inaugural Falcon 9 flight proceeds at a rapid pace with no major problems or concerns. Six of the nine first stage flight engines have completed acceptance testing and all nine flight engines are on schedule to complete acceptance testing by mid July.
Merlin 1C first stage engine firing on the stand at our Texas testing facility.
Second Stage Engines
Our Merlin Vacuum engine (MVac), which powers the Falcon 9 second stage, entered development with a skirt temperature too hot for flight, but we have since tuned down the engine and brought the nozzle temperature within flight specifications. The MVac will complete development by month's end, with qualification testing to follow in July.
Merlin Vacuum (MVac) engine firing on the test stand in Texas. Like the smaller engine on our Falcon 1 second stage, during flight the MVac engine will also have a large radiatively cooled expansion nozzle to increase its performance in the vacuum of space.
Launch Operations
A key objective of taking Falcon 9 vertical at the Cape earlier this year was to validate ground systems interfaces and operations with the vehicle in its final flight configuration, prior to executing the launch campaign.
First Falcon 9 vehicle at Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 40, former launch site of the Titan IV rocket.
The successful operation allowed us to validate several key interfaces and operations including:
- Mechanical functionality of the erector and its physical fit with the vehicle
- Integration tooling interfaces and function
- Ground system control interfaces
- Environments testing
- Hydraulic systems testing
- Logistics, shipping and equipment handling
- Vehicle integration/mating operations (fairing, stages, erector)
- Vehicle lifting operations
- Launch mount operations
Since that time, our RP-1 system has become operational, the cryogenic liquid oxygen handling system is nearing completion, and we have completed construction of our horizontal vehicle integration hangar. The Transporter Erector is getting reassembled into flight configuration and will be back into system level testing in mid July.
Exterior view of the vehicle integration building, located to the south of the launch pad.
Interior of the vehicle integration building showing the massive overhead crane system, each with a 20 ton lifting capacity.
Our 125,000 gallon liquid oxygen storage sphere (shown below) and supporting pumping station are nearing completion and will undergo cryo shock testing in early July. Next up for completion at the launch site will be auxiliary systems like TEA-TEB handling, spin start support systems, engine purge and launch pad water deluge systems, and helium chill systems.
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