SpaceX Products-Advancing the Use of Space
The Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles and the Dragon spacecraft are each poised to reduce the price point by a factor of five to ten compared to vehicles with equivalent capabilities, paving the way for dramatic changes in the authors' use of space.
Abstract
If there is to be a quantum leap forward in the way space is accessed, utilized and explored, a system of low-cost, reliable and generic launch vehicles and spacecraft is needed to support an increased number and variety of missions. SpaceX is continuing to develop and test vehicles that will make this a reality. The Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles and the Dragon spacecraft are each poised to reduce the price point by a factor of five to ten compared to vehicles with equivalent capabilities, paving the way for dramatic changes in our use of space. The Falcon 1 launch vehicle not only provides launch opportunities for small LEO payloads (with small budgets), but has also served to help SpaceX develop the tools, skill sets and capabilities to facilitate development of the much larger Falcon 9 vehicle, which is scheduled to debut in early 2009. The Dragon spacecraft, under development by SpaceX to provide cargo (and ultimately crew) services to the ISS, is on-track to fly in mid 2009, with all three Demonstration missions, including ISS berthing, to be completed before retirement of the Shuttle in 2010. Other capabilities of Dragon include its use as a long duration free-flyer for scientific, commercial and government payloads. The total cost of a typical Dragon mission, including the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, will be less than the cost of competitors' expendable launch vehicles alone. This paper will provide a brief status update on Falcon 1, Falcon 9, and Dragon along with their associated support systems, and also some examples of how SpaceX is achieving such dramatic cost savings over historical systems.