SpaceX developed the two-stage Falcon 9, a family of launch vehicles that consists of the Falcon 9 v1.0, Falcon 9 v1.1, and the partially-reusable Falcon 9-R.

Both stages of each vehicle employ liquid oxygen (LOX) and RP-1 propellants. The Falcon 9 v1.1 can lift payloads of up to 13,150 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO), and 4,850 kg to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

The initial version, Falcon 9 v1.0, made five flights before this design was retired in 2013. SpaceX is now flying an improved version, Falcon 9 v1.1, that is 60% heavier. Sometime in the near future, the Falcon 9 will be human-rated for transporting NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

In addition to serving NASA, SpaceX is working toward certification of the Falcon 9 v1.1 in order to launch sensitive government payloads. The current projection for completing this process is mid-2015. This vehicle is already launching some commercial payloads.

SpaceX is continuing to upgrade the falcon 9 and hopes to introduce the improved Falcon 9 v1.1 this year. According to reports, this one will boast at least a 15% increase in thrust for the nine Merlin 1D core-stage engines, and a 10% increase in the upper-stage tank volume.

Such an increase in thrust may require significant design modifications to the engine and vehicle, which may lead to additional certification work, including a series of successful flights to prove the vehicle.

SpaceX is also pursuing reusable Falcon 9 stages. Short term objectives include the intact return and reuse of the first stage to a downrange platform. Currently, this platform is an ocean-based, floating platform. The first successful controlled return to an ocean surface splashdown of a stage was achieved in April 2014.

A January 2015 launch included a first stage return test to a floating landing platform. Although the stage was properly guided to the platform, steering vanes failed to maintain proper terminal dynamics and orientation, resulting in a crash onto the platform. Further testing is planned for the coming months. In the long term, SpaceX hopes to return and reuse the Falcon 9 second stage as well.

More information and insight into the Falcon 9 family and on launch vehicle systems and technology are available from Launchspace through its very popular Launch Vehicle Systems Design and Engineering short course that can be presented at your facility.