Science

The Falcon 1's Rocket Science, From Its Avionics to Its Engines

The Falcon 1's Rocket Science From Its Avionics to Its Engines

Illustration by Dan Marsiglio

The 70-foot-tall Falcon 1 is designed to fly to low Earth orbit, 200 miles up. And it's supposed to do it cheaply, over and over.

1. Payload The Falcon 1 can carry 1,400 pounds — a small satellite. The next iteration, Falcon 9, will be able to haul 22,000 pounds into space, enough to transport a crew of seven.

2. Avionics Tray Onboard computers monitor the rocket's status before launch and separate the stages in flight.

3. Second-Stage Fuel Tanks Liquid oxygen and kerosene flow into the engine combustion chamber, where they combine and ignite.

4. Second-Stage Engine Capable of 7,000 pounds of thrust, the second stage engine carries the cargo into orbit; on Falcon 9, it will be reusable.

5. First-Stage Recovery Parachute Explosive bolts separate the stages. A parachute carries the first stage back to Earth for recovery and reuse.

6. First-Stage Fuel Tanks Liquid oxygen is in the upper tank, kerosene in the bottom.

7. First-Stage Engine Called the Merlin, this engine pushes the rocket to escape velocity.

Space Flight Startups Pit Themselves Against Government-Contract Giants

These startups hope to join Elon Musk in a private space race to compete with government-contract giants like Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

| SpaceShipOne Company: Scaled Composites Liftoff: 2004 Backers: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen and aerospace engineer Burt Rutan Launches: 3 Max Altitude: 70 miles Crew: 3 Length: 27.8 feet Weight: 2,645 pounds Record: 3 for 3 | SpaceLoft XL Company: UP Aerospace Liftoff: 2006 Payload: A planned April 28 mission will include the cremated remains of James "Scotty" Doohan of Star Trek and astronaut L. Gordon Cooper Launches: 1* Max Altitude: 140 miles Crew: 0 Length: 20 feet Weight: 775 pounds Record: 0 for 1 | New Shepard Company: Blue Origin Liftoff: Pending Backer: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Launches: 0 Max Altitude: Unknown; test version "Goddard" flew 285 feet high and landed Crew: 3 Length: 49 feet Weight: 154,000 pounds

Note: Some figures are estimates. *As of April 26.

See Also: Elon Musk Is Betting His Fortune on a Mission Beyond Earth's Orbit Burt Rutan and Richard Branson Want You to Hit Space in High Style How NASA Screwed Up (And Four Ways to Fix It)