Falcon 9 prototypes

Last updated
Grasshopper in September 2012 Spx Grasshopper 03.jpg
Grasshopper in September 2012

Falcon 9 prototypes were experimental flight test reusable rockets that performed vertical takeoffs and landings. [1] The project was privately funded by SpaceX, with no funds provided by any government until later on. [2] Two prototypes were built, and both were launched from the ground. [3]

Contents

The earliest prototype was Grasshopper. It was announced in 2011 [4] and began low-altitude, low-velocity hover/landing testing in 2012. Grasshopper was 106 ft (32 m) tall and made eight successful test flights in 2012 and 2013 before being retired. A second prototype of Falcon 9 was the larger and more capable Falcon 9 Reusable Development Vehicle (F9R Dev, also known as F9R Dev1) based on the Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle. It was tested at higher altitudes and was capable of much higher velocity but was never tested at high velocity. The F9R Dev1 vehicle was built in 2013–2014 and made its first low-altitude flight test on 17 April 2014; it was lost during a three-engine test at the McGregor test site on 22 August 2014, [5] which ended the low-velocity test program. Further expansion of the flight test envelope for the reusable rocket was moved to descending Falcon 9 boosters that had been used on orbital flight trajectories on commercial orbital flights of the Falcon 9.

The Grasshopper and F9R Dev tests were fundamental to the development of the reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, which require vertical landings of the near-empty Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy first-stage booster tanks and engine assemblies. The Grasshopper and the F9R Dev tests led into a series of high-altitude, high-speed controlled-descent tests of post-mission (spent) Falcon 9 booster stages that accompanied the commercial Falcon 9 missions since September 2013. The latter eventually resulted in the first successful booster landing on 21 December 2015.

History

Grasshopper performing a 325-meter flight followed by a soft propulsive landing in an attempt to develop technologies for a reusable launch vehicle. SpaceX Grasshopper rocket midflight.png
Grasshopper performing a 325-meter flight followed by a soft propulsive landing in an attempt to develop technologies for a reusable launch vehicle.

Grasshopper first became known publicly in the third quarter of 2011, when space journalists first wrote about it after analyzing space launch regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration. [1]

Shortly thereafter, SpaceX confirmed the existence of the test vehicle development program, and projected it would begin the Grasshopper flight test program in 2012. [4] [6]

Releases of public information in 2011 indicated that the subsonic tests would occur in McGregor, Texas in three phases, at maximum flight altitudes of 670 to 11,500 ft (200 to 3,510 m), for durations of 45 to 160 s (0.75 to 2.67 min). At the time, testing was expected to take up to three years and the initial FAA permit allows up to 70 suborbital launches per year. [1] [7] A half-acre concrete launch facility was constructed to support the test flight program. [6] In September 2012, SpaceX announced that they have requested FAA approval to increase the altitude of some of the initial test flights. [8] Looking forward to the next year, CEO Musk said in November 2012: "Over the next few months, we'll gradually increase the altitude and speed. ... I do think there probably will be some craters along the way; we'll be very lucky if there are no craters. Vertical landing is an extremely important breakthrough — extreme, rapid reusability." [9]

In May 2013, SpaceX announced that the higher-altitude, higher-velocity part of the Grasshopper flight test program would be done at Spaceport America near Las Cruces, New Mexico—and not at the Federal Government's adjacent White Sands Missile Range facility as previously planned [3] [10] [11] [12] —and signed a three-year lease for land and facilities at the recently operational spaceport. [11] SpaceX indicated in May 2013 that they did not yet know how many jobs might move from Texas to New Mexico. [13]

SpaceX began constructing a 30 m × 30 m (98 ft × 98 ft) pad at Spaceport America in May 2013, 7 km (4.3 mi) southwest of the spaceport's main campus, planning to lease the pad for US$6,600 per month plus US$25,000 per test flight. [14]

Description

Grasshopper

Grasshopper consisted of "a Falcon 9 [v1.0] first-stage tank, a single Merlin-1D engine" with a height of 32 m (106 ft). [1] The landing gear was fixed.

As Elon Musk stated, Grasshopper could land on Earth with the accuracy of a helicopter. [15]

F9R Dev1

F9R Dev1 was constructed out of the used first-stage tank of the Falcon 9 v1.1, [16] so it was 160-foot tall, [17] nearly 50% longer than the first Grasshopper. [18] The landing legs were retractable by design, with a telescoping piston mounted on an A-frame. The total span of the four legs was approximately 18 m (60 ft) and the weight less than 2,100 kg (4,600 lb); the deployment system used high-pressure helium. [19] The legs had less weight than on the first Grasshopper. The F9R Dev1 had a different engine bay than the first Grasshopper vehicle. [18]

The F9R Dev1 vehicle in Texas was intended to take off and accelerate with three engines—as the test flight never needs the full thrust to take off a fully loaded Falcon 9 with an orbital payload—while completing the descent and landing with only one engine. [20] The original Grasshopper had flown exclusively with only a single Merlin 1D engine in place, the center engine which is now used to complete the last phase of the deceleration and vertical landing on full-scale Falcon 9 rockets.

F9R Dev2 (never flown)

A third flight test vehicle—F9R Dev2—was initially planned to be flown only at the high-altitude test range at Spaceport America [11] [2] and at altitudes of up to 91,000 meters (300,000 ft). [17] [21] [16] In September 2014, following the destruction of the F9R Dev1, SpaceX changed the plans, so the F9R Dev2 vehicle would fly first in McGregor for low-altitude testing. The initial FAA permit to fly the Falcon 9 Reusable Development Vehicle at McGregor in Texas was open until February 2015. [22]

On 19 February 2015 SpaceX announced that the F9R Dev2 would be discontinued. [23]

During April 2015, SpaceX performed tanking tests on the In-Flight Abort rocket on the Vandenberg Air Force Base SLC-4E. Since this rocket only had three Merlin 1D engines, and the New Mexico site was to have been used for testing the returned first stages, it was speculated that the discontinued F9R Dev2 was re-purposed as the launch vehicle in the In-Flight Abort Test. [24]

In May 2015, a press article stated that due to the technical success of many aspects of the booster rocket landing attempts on the sea and on the ASDS, SpaceX was planning on using the New Mexico site for testing the returned stages. [25] [26]

Flight testing

Grasshopper flight tests

The first Falcon 9 prototype, Grasshopper, made a total of eight test flights between September 2012 and October 2013. [27] All eight flights were from the McGregor, Texas test facility.

Grasshopper began flight testing in September 2012 with a brief, three-second hop, followed by a second hop in November 2012 with an 8-second flight that took the testbed approximately 5.4 m (18 ft) off the ground, and a third flight in December 2012 of 29 seconds duration, with extended hover under rocket engine power, in which it ascended to an altitude of 40 m (130 ft) before descending under rocket power to come to a successful vertical landing. [28] Grasshopper made its eighth, and final, test flight on October 7, 2013, flying to an altitude of 744 m (2,441 ft) before making its eighth successful vertical landing. [29] The Grasshopper test vehicle is now retired. [27]

Flight tests at the Texas facility were limited to a maximum altitude of 2,500 ft (760 m) by the initial FAA regulatory permit. [30]

#Date (y-m-d)Highest altitudeDurationVideoRemarks
12012-09-21 [10] 1.8 m (6 ft) [10] 3s [10] [31] A "brief hop" [32] with a near-empty tank.
22012-11-01 [33] 5.4 m (17.7 ft) [33] 8s [33] [34]
32012-12-17 [35] 40 m (131 ft) [35] 29s [35] [36] First flight to include the cowboy mannequin
42013-03-07 [37] 80 m (262 ft) [38] 34s [38] [39] Touchdown thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one [40]
52013-04-17 [41] 250 m (820 ft) [41] 58s [42] Demonstrated ability to maintain stability in wind [43]
62013-06-14 [44] 325 m (1,070 ft) [44] 68s [45] [46] New navigation sensor suite tested; needed on the F9-R for precision landing [47]
72013-08-13 [48] 250 m (820 ft) [48] 60s [49] Successfully completed a "divert test" performing 100 m (330 ft) lateral maneuver before returning to the pad. [48]
82013-10-07 [50] 744 m (2,440 ft) [51] 79s [52] [51] Final flight of Grasshopper. Vehicle retired after the flight. [27]

From the announcement in 2011 until 2014, SpaceX has achieved each of the schedule milestones that they publicly announced. SpaceX said in February 2012 that they were planning several vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing (VTVL) test flights during 2012, [3] and confirmed in June 2012 that they continued to plan to make the first test flight within the next couple of months. [6]

F9R Dev1 flight tests

The Falcon 9 Reusable Development Vehicle, or F9R Dev, was announced in October 2012. F9R Dev1 was initially named, since late 2012 until early 2014, as Grasshopper v1.1. [17] [29] In March 2013 Musk said that SpaceX hoped to reach hypersonic speed before the end of 2013. [53] In March 2013, it was announced that the second Grasshopper-class suborbital flight vehicle would be constructed out of the Falcon 9 v1.1 first-stage tank that had been used for qualification testing in Texas at the SpaceX Rocket Development and Test Facility prior to March. [16]

In 2014, the FAA permit was increased to 10,000 ft (3,000 m) for the F9R Dev testing at McGregor, [21] when the first Grasshopper was limited to an altitude of 2,500 ft (760 m).

The F9R Dev1 was built on the much longer Falcon 9 v1.1 first stage tanks, and with retractable landing legs.

SpaceX performed a short-duration ground test (static test) of F9R Dev1 on March 28, 2014, at their McGregor, Texas test site, [54] and made their maiden test flight of the new vehicle, to an altitude of 250 meters (820 ft), on April 17, 2014. [21] [20] The F9R Dev1 flew for the fifth and last time on August 22, 2014. [17] [55] During this flight, anomalous sensor data from the vehicle during its ascent caused the rocket to deviate from nominal flight trajectory, prompting its flight termination system to end the mission by neutralizing the vehicle. No injuries or near-injuries were reported following the breakup of F9R Dev1 and an FAA representative was present during the test. Video from the accident was released by CBS and multiple images from the accident were posted on social media. [5] [56]

Test #Date (year-month-day)Test vehicleLocationHighest altitudeVideoRemarks
12014-04-17 [17] F9R Dev1 McGregor 250 m (820 ft) [17] [57] Hovered, moved sideways, landed successfully. [20]
22014-05-01 [58] F9R Dev1McGregor1,000 m (3,280 ft) [59] [59] Hovered, moved sideways, landed. [58]
32014-06-17F9R Dev1McGregor1,000 m (3,280 ft) [60] [60] First test flight with steerable grid fins. [60]
42014-08-01 [61] F9R Dev1McGregorNo public information was provided by SpaceX about this flight. [62]
52014-08-22 [61] F9R Dev1McGregor [63] [64] Vehicle was destroyed following a flight anomaly that began to take F9R Dev1 off of its planned flight path. No injuries. [55] [65] A blocked sensor was the cause of the anomaly. The sensor had no backup in the prototype F9R Dev vehicle but flight-rated Falcon 9 rockets do have a redundant backup. [66] First activation of an autonomous flight termination system on a US rocket. [67]

Falcon 9 post-mission landing tests

Falcon 9 first stage attempts landing on ASDS after second stage with CRS-6 continued onto orbit. Landing legs are in the midst of deploying. Falcon 9 first stage attempts landing on ASDS after CRS-6 (17170624412).jpg
Falcon 9 first stage attempts landing on ASDS after second stage with CRS-6 continued onto orbit. Landing legs are in the midst of deploying.

In 2013, SpaceX moved to using their mainstream Falcon 9 vehicles for VTVL testing, in addition to their existing tests with flying test vehicles. In March 2013, SpaceX announced that, beginning with the first flight of the stretch version of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle—the sixth flight overall of Falcon 9 (then anticipated for summer 2013), every first stage would be instrumented and equipped as a controlled descent test vehicle. [68] SpaceX attempted numerous over-water landings, both over the sea, resulting in soft landings into the water, and onto specialized Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ships, barges modified to be landing platforms. None were completely successful.

SpaceX eventually succeeded in landing a production vertical-landing rocket on land in late 2015. The first attempt to land the first stage of the Falcon 9 on land, near its launch site, occurred on Falcon 9 Flight 20, on 21 December 2015. The landing was successful, and the first stage of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust vehicle was recovered. [69] [70] [71] By May 27, 2016, SpaceX had successfully completed three first-stage landings on a drone ship at sea. [72]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reusable launch vehicle</span> Vehicles that can go to space and return

A reusable launch vehicle has parts that can be recovered and reflown, while carrying payloads from the surface to outer space. Rocket stages are the most common launch vehicle parts aimed for reuse. Smaller parts such as rocket engines and boosters can also be reused, though reusable spacecraft may be launched on top of an expendable launch vehicle. Reusable launch vehicles do not need to make these parts for each launch, therefore reducing its launch cost significantly. However, these benefits are diminished by the cost of recovery and refurbishment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX</span> American private space company

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., doing business as SpaceX, is an American spacecraft manufacturer, launch service provider and satellite communications company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and to colonize Mars. The company manufactures the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and Starship heavy-lift launch vehicles, the Cargo Dragon and Crew Dragon spacecraft, the Starlink mega-constellation satellite and rocket engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon 9</span> Partially reusable orbital launch vehicle by SpaceX

Falcon 9 is a partially reusable medium-lift launch vehicle that can carry cargo and crew into Earth orbit, designed, manufactured and launched by American aerospace company SpaceX. It can also be used as an expendable heavy-lift launch vehicle. The first Falcon 9 launch was in June 2010. The first Falcon 9 ISS commercial resupply mission to the ISS launched on 8 October 2012. In 2020 it became the first commercial rocket to ever launch humans to orbit and is currently the only such vehicle capable of doing so. It is the only U.S. rocket currently certified for transporting humans to the International Space Station. In 2020, it became the U.S. rocket with the most launches in history and with the best safety record, having suffered just one flight failure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spaceport America</span> Spaceport located in New Mexico, U.S.

Spaceport America, formerly the Southwest Regional Spaceport, is an FAA-licensed spaceport located on 18,000 acres (7,300 ha) of State Trust Land in the Jornada del Muerto desert basin 45 miles (72 km) north of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Truth or Consequences. With Virgin Galactic's launch of the VSS Unity, with three people aboard, on May 22, 2021, New Mexico became the third US state to launch humans into space after California and Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VTVL</span> Method of takeoff and landing used by rockets; Vertical Takeoff, Vertical Landing

Vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) is a form of takeoff and landing for rockets. Multiple VTVL craft have flown. The most widely known and commercially successful VTVL rocket is SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grid fin</span> Type of flight control surface used on rockets and bombs

Grid fins are a type of flight control surface used on rockets and bombs, sometimes in place of more conventional control surfaces, such as planar fins. They were developed in the 1950s by a team led by Sergey Belotserkovskiy and used since the 1970s in various Soviet ballistic missile designs such as the SS-12 Scaleboard, SS-20 Saber, SS-21 Scarab, SS-23 Spider, and SS-25 Sickle, as well as the N-1. In Russia, they are thus often referred to as Belotserkovskiy grid fins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon Heavy</span> Partially reusable orbital launch vehicle made by SpaceX

Falcon Heavy is a partially reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle that can carry cargo into Earth orbit, and beyond. It is designed, manufactured and launched by American aerospace company SpaceX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX launch vehicles</span> Launch vehicles developed and operated by SpaceX

SpaceX manufactures launch vehicles to operate its launch provider services and to execute its various exploration goals. SpaceX currently manufactures and operates the Falcon 9 Full Thrust family of medium-lift launch vehicles and the Falcon Heavy family of heavy-lift launch vehicles – both of which powered by SpaceX Merlin engines and employing VTVL technologies to reuse the first stage. As of 2020, the company is also developing the fully reusable Starship launch system, which will replace the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX reusable launch system development program</span> Effort by SpaceX to make rockets that can fly multiple times

SpaceX has privately funded the development of orbital launch systems that can be reused many times, similar to the reusability of aircraft. SpaceX has developed technologies over the last decade to facilitate full and rapid reuse of space launch vehicles. The project's long-term objectives include returning a launch vehicle first stage to the launch site within minutes and to return a second stage to the launch pad following orbital realignment with the launch site and atmospheric reentry in up to 24 hours. SpaceX's long term goal would have been reusability of both stages of their orbital launch vehicle, and the first stage would be designed to allow reuse a few hours after return. Development of reusable second stages for Falcon 9 was later abandoned in favor of the development of Starship, however, SpaceX has been developing reusable payload fairings for the Falcon 9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX facilities</span> Launch facilities used by SpaceX

As of 2023, SpaceX operates four launch facilities: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), Vandenberg Space Force Base Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E), Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A), and Brownsville South Texas Launch Site (Starbase). Space Launch Complex 40 was damaged in the AMOS-6 accident in September 2016 and repair work was completed by December 2017. SpaceX believes that they can optimize their launch operations, and reduce launch costs, by dividing their launch missions amongst these four launch facilities: LC-39A for NASA launches, SLC-40 for United States Space Force national security launches, SLC-4E for polar launches, and South Texas Launch Site for commercial launches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon 9 v1.1</span> Second version of SpaceXs Falcon 9 orbital launch vehicle

Falcon 9 v1.1 was the second version of SpaceX's Falcon 9 orbital launch vehicle. The rocket was developed in 2011–2013, made its maiden launch in September 2013, and its final flight in January 2016. The Falcon 9 rocket was fully designed, manufactured, and operated by SpaceX. Following the second Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) launch, the initial version Falcon 9 v1.0 was retired from use and replaced by the v1.1 version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon 9 v1.0</span> First member of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle family

The Falcon 9 v1.0 was the first member of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle family, designed and manufactured by SpaceX in Hawthorne, California. Development of the medium-lift launcher began in 2005, and it first flew on June 4, 2010. The Falcon 9 v1.0 then launched four Dragon cargo spacecraft: one on an orbital test flight, then one demonstration and two operational resupply missions to the International Space Station under a Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA.

Dragon 2 <i>DragonFly</i> SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft prototype

The Dragon 2 DragonFly was a prototype suborbital rocket-powered test vehicle for a propulsively-landed version of the SpaceX Dragon 2. DragonFly underwent testing in Texas at the McGregor Rocket Test Facility in October 2015. However, the development eventually ceased as the verification burden imposed by NASA was too great to justify it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon 9 first-stage landing tests</span> Proofs of the SpaceX boosters reusability

The Falcon 9 first-stage landing tests were a series of controlled-descent flight tests conducted by SpaceX between 2013 and 2016. Since 2017, the first stage of Falcon 9 missions has been routinely landed if the rocket performance allowed it, and if SpaceX chose to recover the stage.

Autonomous spaceport drone ship Floating landing platform operated by SpaceX

An autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) is an ocean-going vessel derived from a deck barge, outfitted with station-keeping engines and a large landing platform, and is autonomously positioned when on station for a landing. Construction of the drone ships was commissioned by aerospace company SpaceX to allow recovery of launch vehicle boosters at sea for missions that do not carry sufficient fuel to return to the launch site after boosting spacecraft onto an orbital or interplanetary trajectory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falcon 9 Full Thrust</span> Third major version of the SpaceX Falcon 9 orbital launch vehicle

Falcon 9 Full Thrust is a partially reusable medium-lift launch vehicle, designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Designed in 2014–2015, Falcon 9 Full Thrust began launch operations in December 2015. As of 3 August 2023, Falcon 9 Full Thrust had performed 223 launches without any failures. Based on the Lewis point estimate of reliability, this rocket is the most reliable orbital launch vehicle currently in operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of SpaceX</span> History of a space corporation

This is a corporate history of SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer and spacetransport services company founded by Elon Musk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX Starship</span> Super heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle

Starship is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. At 120 metres in height and with a liftoff mass of 5,000 metric tons, Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever flown, surpassing the thrust of NASA's Space Launch System and Saturn V, as well as the Soviet N1, which had previously held the record.

A floating launch vehicle operations platform is a marine vessel used for launch or landing operations of an orbital launch vehicle by a launch service provider: putting satellites into orbit around Earth or another celestial body, or recovering first-stage boosters from orbital-class flights by making a propulsive landing on the platform.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mohney, Doug (2011-09-26). "SpaceX Plans to Test Reusable Suborbital VTVL Rocket in Texas". Satellite Spotlight. Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  2. 1 2 Shotwell, Gwynne (June 4, 2014). Discussion with Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX. Atlantic Council. Event occurs at 22:35–26:20. Archived from the original on January 25, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2014. This technology element [reusable launch vehicle technology] all this innovation is being done by SpaceX alone, no one is paying us to do it. The government is very interested in the data we are collecting on this test series. ... This is the kind of thing that entrepreneurial investment and new entrants/innovators can do for an industry: fund their own improvements, both in the quality of their programs and the quality of their hardware, and the speed and cadence of their operations.
  3. 1 2 3 Simberg, Rand (2012-02-08). "Elon Musk on SpaceX's Reusable Rocket Plans". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  4. 1 2 Lindsey, Clark (2011-10-12). "Grasshopper news". RLV and Space Transport News. Archived from the original on 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  5. 1 2 Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (23 August 2014). "Three engine F9R Dev1 vehicle auto-terminated during test flight. No injuries or near injuries. Rockets are tricky …" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via Twitter.
  6. 1 2 3 "Reusable rocket prototype almost ready for first liftoff". Spaceflight Now. 2012-07-09. Archived from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2012-07-13. SpaceX has constructed a half-acre concrete launch facility in McGregor, and the Grasshopper rocket is already standing on the pad, outfitted with four insect-like silver landing legs.
  7. ↑ "Draft Environmental Assessment for Issuing an Experimental Permit to SpaceX for Operation of the Grasshopper Vehicle at the McGregor Test Site, Texas" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-01-12. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  8. ↑ Lindsey, Clark (2012-09-17). "SpaceX Grasshopper tests aim to quickly move up in altitude" . NewSpace Watch. Archived from the original on 2014-09-28. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
  9. ↑ Coppinger, Rod (2012-11-23). "Huge Mars Colony Eyed by SpaceX Founder Elon Musk". Space.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-28. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Clark, Stephen (2012-09-24). "SpaceX's reusable rocket testbed takes first hop". Spaceflightnow. Archived from the original on 2012-09-27. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  11. 1 2 3 Lindsey, Clark (2013-05-07). "SpaceX to test Grasshopper reusable booster at Spaceport America in NM" . NewSpace Watch. Archived from the original on 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
  12. ↑ "Reusable rocket prototype almost ready for first liftoff". Spaceflightnow.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  13. ↑ Abbot, Joseph (2013-05-07). "SpaceX moving Grasshopper testing to New Mexico". Waco Tribune. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
  14. ↑ Leone, Dan (2013-05-13). "SpaceX Leases Pad in New Mexico for Next Grasshopper Tests". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
  15. ↑ "Musk's Space Talk Wows Crowd at South by Southwest". Moon and Back. 2013-03-11. Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  16. 1 2 3 "Spacex May try to land or recover the first stage of it next Falcon 9 v1.1 launch this summer". Next Big Future. 2013-03-23. Archived from the original on 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bergin, Chris (2014-04-22). "Rockets that return home – SpaceX pushing the boundaries". NASAspaceflight.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-25. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  18. 1 2 "A 2nd-gen Grasshopper + A new video of first hop" . NewSpace Watch. 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2012-11-04.[ dead link ]
  19. ↑ Lindsey, Clark (2013-05-02). "SpaceX shows a leg for the "F-niner"" . Archived from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2013-05-02. F9R (pronounced F-niner) shows a little leg. Design is a nested, telescoping piston w A frame... High pressure helium. Needs to be ultra light.
  20. 1 2 3 Abbott, Joseph (2014-04-17). "Grasshopper's successor flies at SpaceX's McGregor site". Waco Tribune. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  21. 1 2 3 Norris, Guy (2014-04-28). "SpaceX Plans For Multiple Reusable Booster Tests: Controlled water landing marks a major stride toward SpaceX's Falcon rapid-reusability goal". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2014-04-26. The April 17 F9R Dev 1 flight, which lasted under 1 min., was the first vertical landing test of a production-representative recoverable Falcon 9 v1.1 first stage, while the April 18 cargo flight to the ISS was the first opportunity for SpaceX to evaluate the design of foldable landing legs and upgraded thrusters that control the stage during its initial descent.
  22. ↑ "Commercial Space Data / Active Permits". FAA Data & Research. U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-23. Permit no. EP 14-010, Company: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, Vehicle: Falcon 9-R, Location: Texas, Expiration: Feb 26, 2015
  23. ↑ Klotz, Irene (19 February 2015). "SpaceX bypassing replacement for lost Falcon 9R landing test vehicle". Portal to the Universe. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018– via SEN.
  24. ↑ Bergin, Chris (2015-04-10). "SpaceX conducts tanking test on In-Flight Abort Falcon 9". nasaspaceflight.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-04. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  25. ↑ Bergin, Chris (2015-03-19). "Spaceport America set for SpaceX reusability testing". nasaspaceflight.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-13. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  26. ↑ Abbott, Joseph (2014-09-12). "SpaceX updates: Launch moved to Sept. 20; new test rocket may arrive in 2 months". Waco Tribune. Archived from the original on 2018-12-31. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
  27. 1 2 3 Klotz, Irene (2013-10-17). "SpaceX Retires Grasshopper, New Test Rig To Fly in December". Space News. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  28. ↑ Boyle, Alan (2012-12-24). "SpaceX launches its Grasshopper rocket on 12-story-high hop in Texas". MSNBC Cosmic Log. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  29. 1 2 "Grasshopper flies to its highest height to date". Social media information release. SpaceX. 12 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2013. WATCH: Grasshopper flies to its highest height to date - 744 m (2441 ft) into the Texas sky. http://youtu.be/9ZDkItO-0a4 This was the last scheduled test for the Grasshopper rig; next up will be low altitude tests of the Falcon 9 Reusable (F9R) development vehicle in Texas followed by high altitude testing in New Mexico.
  30. ↑ Abbott, Joseph (2013-05-08). "SpaceX's Grasshopper leaping to NM spaceport". Waco Tribune. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  31. ↑ Grasshopper Takes Its First Hop / 9-21-12. SpaceX. 24 September 2012. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  32. ↑ Lindsey, Clark (2012-09-22). "SpaceX Grasshopper vertical takeoff/vertical landing rocket first test". NewSpace Watch. Archived from the original on 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  33. 1 2 3 Grasshopper Two-Story Hop 11/1/12. SpaceX. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  34. ↑ Grasshopper Two-Story Hop 11/1/12. SpaceX. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  35. 1 2 3 "Grasshopper hops ever higher". NewSpace Journal. 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  36. ↑ Single Camera: Grasshopper 12-Story Test Flight 12/17/12. SpaceX. 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  37. ↑ "FAA Permitted Launches". Federal Aviation Administration. 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  38. 1 2 "More on Grasshopper's "Johnny Cash hover slam" test". NewSpace Journal. 9 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  39. ↑ Grasshopper 24-Story Hover Slam 3/7/13 | Single Angle. SpaceX. 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  40. ↑ "GRASSHOPPER COMPLETES HIGHEST LEAP TO DATE". 10 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  41. 1 2 Lindsey, Clark (2013-04-13). "SpaceX Grasshopper reaches 250 meters" . NewSpace Watch. Archived from the original on 2013-04-29. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  42. ↑ Grasshopper 250m Test | Single Camera (Hexacopter). SpaceX. 23 April 2013. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  43. ↑ Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (23 April 2013). "Grasshopper rocket flies up 250m, holds against wind and lands. Vid taken from our hexacopter t.co/LXmMCYDD0e" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via Twitter.
  44. 1 2 Bergin, Chris (14 June 2013). "Testing times for SpaceX's new Falcon 9 v.1.1". NASASpaceFlight (not affiliated with NASA). Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  45. ↑ Bergin, Chris (20 June 2013). "Reducing risk via ground testing is a recipe for SpaceX success". NASASpaceFlight (not affiliated with NASA). Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  46. ↑ Grasshopper 325m Test | Single Camera (Hexacopter). SpaceX. 6 July 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  47. ↑ "VIDEO - Grasshopper 325-meter Test". SpaceNews.com. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  48. 1 2 3 Boyle, Alan (2013-08-14). "SpaceX's Grasshopper test rocket flies sideways successfully". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
  49. ↑ Grasshopper Divert | Single Cam (Grasshopper vs. Cows). SpaceX. 8 September 2013. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  50. ↑ Kelly, Mackenzie [@mkelly007] (7 October 2013). "A friend in Mcgregor, Texas sent me this photo of a Space X rocket launch that happened earlier today. #spaceX t.co/B5zX6JIIAh" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via Twitter.
  51. 1 2 Grasshopper 744m Test | Single Camera (Hexacopter). SpaceX. 12 October 2013. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  52. ↑ Post, Hannah (16 October 2013). "Grasshopper Completes Half-Mile Flight in Last Test". Spacex.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  53. ↑ Lindsey, Clark (2013-03-09). "Elon Musk debuted video of latest Grasshopper flight at SXSW". NewSpace Watch. Archived from the original on 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
  54. ↑ Malik, Tariq (2014-04-14). "SpaceX to Attempt Daring Reusable Rocket Test During Dragon Launch Today". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  55. 1 2 Foust, Jeff (2014-08-23). "Falcon 9 test vehicle destroyed in accident". NewSpace Journal. Archived from the original on 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  56. ↑ Stephen Clark (2014-08-22). "SpaceX rocket prototype explodes in test flight". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  57. ↑ F9R First Flight Test | 250m. SpaceX. 18 April 2014. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  58. 1 2 Abbott, Joseph (2014-05-01). "SpaceX's Grasshopper successor flies again". Waco Tribune. Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  59. 1 2 F9R Flight Test | 1,000m. SpaceX. 2 May 2014. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  60. 1 2 3 F9R 1000m Fin Flight | Onboard Cam and Wide Shot. SpaceX. 19 June 2014. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  61. 1 2 "Commercial Space Data - Launches". Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2014-08-02. Dates of Grasshopper launches
  62. ↑ "SpaceX - F9R Development Updates". Spaceflight101. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  63. ↑ SpaceX F9R Auto-termination explosion during test flight. Gunrun. 23 August 2014. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via YouTube.
  64. ↑ How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster , retrieved 2023-05-07
  65. ↑ Harwood, William (August 22, 2014). "SpaceX rocket explodes during test flight in Texas". CBS News. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  66. ↑ Dean, James (2014-08-03). "SpaceX targeting Saturday launch from Cape". Florida Today. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  67. ↑ Bergin, Chris (2014-08-26). "SpaceX makes late call to delay ASIASAT-6 launch". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  68. ↑ Lindsey, Clark (2013-03-28). "SpaceX moving quickly towards fly-back first stage" . NewSpace Watch. Archived from the original on 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  69. ↑ SpaceX [@SpaceX] (22 December 2015). "The Falcon 9 first stage landing is confirmed. Second stage continuing nominally. t.co/RX2QKSl0z7" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023– via Twitter.
  70. ↑ "Wow! SpaceX Lands Orbital Rocket Successfully in Historic First". Space.com. 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  71. ↑ de Selding, Peter B. (2015-10-16). "SpaceX Changes its Falcon 9 Return-to-flight Plans". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  72. ↑ Kramer, Miriam (27 May 2016). "SpaceX does it again: Company lands third rocket on drone ship in the ocean". Mashable . Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.