On June 28, 2015 at 17:21 (Moscow time), the next launch of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle failed at the Cosmodrome at Cape Canaveral . The Falcon 9 rocket was prepared by the US private company SpaceX, the founder of which is Elon Musk.
Falcon and NASA
Back in 2008, NASA signed a contract with the company to launch the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft. The very idea of producing this type of launch vehicle is dictated by the fact that a series of unsuccessful launches of Space Shuttle followed. And Ilon Musk himself plans to reduce the cost of space flights by 10 times. However, this project at that time was estimated at $ 1.6 billion.
The failed launch of the rocket thwarted a number of tasks that NASA set for itself, except for the launch of the Space Shuttle to the ISS. The Falcon 9 rocket carried 1.8 tons of cargo.
The main task that was planned to be completed by this launch was to replenish the supply of food for ISS members. In addition, the missile also carried the International Docking Adapter (IDA) docking unit, developed by Boeing. This docking unit weighing 526 kg was supposed to facilitate the docking of the Dragon ship to the ISS. For the same purpose, Dragon tried to deliver a spacesuit to go into space. Undoubtedly, the loss of such important components will adversely affect the schedule of scientific work on board the ISS.
But that's not all! The Falcon 9 rocket explosion destroyed 8 Flock 1f satellites, commissioned by Planet Labs. Moreover, each of them carried three CubeSat vehicles, which were supposed to conduct Earth observation in optical mode.
Falcon 9: specifications
The design of the rocket is designed in such a way that avionics devices and on-board computers are installed at each stage, which are designed to control all flight parameters.
All avionics used on board the rocket are manufactured by SpaceX. Also, in addition to its own navigation system, GPS equipment is used to increase the accuracy of orbiting.
In addition, each engine has its own controller, which constantly monitors all engine operation parameters. And each controller is equipped with three processor units to increase system reliability.
The Falcon 9 rocket is two-stage, and this version went through two modifications:
- version 9 v1.0;
- version 9 v1.1.
The difference between the second version and the first is that it has a more advanced engine installed. And also distinguish them by the location of the engines in the lower stage.
And although in both versions the engines run on kerosene with an oxidizer of liquid oxygen, the Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket is already releasing 4.85 tons of payload into space, while the US Falcon 9 v1.0 rocket is only 3, 4 t
The length of version 1.1 is 68.4 meters with a starting weight of 506 tons.
To understand these parameters - the Russian Proton-M rocket is shorter by 10 meters (58.2 m), the launch weight is more - 705 tons. But Proton-M is launching 6.74 tons of payload into orbit.
According to NASA, the cost of launching the Falcon 9 is $ 60 million, while Proton-M has $ 30 million more.
So what is the first step?
The Falcon 9 rocket is launched by NASA from two launch sites. They are located one in Florida, the second in California. Also, work is underway to deploy two more launch pads.
SpaceX has been constantly working since 2013 to create technology for the reusable use of Falcon 9 v1.1 components. The first attempt to save the Falcon 9 took place in January 2015. According to calculations, the step was supposed to land in the area of the floating platform. But the weather at sea did not allow to pick up the rocket stage.
And to date, these efforts have not been successful. None of the launches did not let the company to maintain the stage.
Expert opinion
Although the media reports that the last successful launch of the Falcon 9 (in December 2015) made it possible to maintain the lower stage of the rocket, experts doubt the further use of the first stage. Experts believe that, given the temperature of the rocket’s body warm-up both at launch and during descent, after it passes through the atmosphere there is very little chance of reusing this element of the rocket.
But that is not all. For reusable use, additional elements are needed - these are landing racks, and the necessary fuel supply. And this, in turn, reduces the payload by up to 30%.
Reliable rocket?
From 2010 to 2013, five launches were made, of which four were fully operational.
But the launch of Falcon 9 in October 2012 was recognized by experts as "partially successful." Then the Falcon 9 rocket for the first time sent equipment to Dragon on the ISS. But during the launch of the Orbcomm-G2 satellite into the geostationary orbit, a failure occurred, as a result, the satellite was put into a lower orbit than was planned.
The outcome of this "partially successful operation" is deplorable. Orbcomm-G2 did not stay in orbit for a short time and on October 12 of that year burned up without a trace in the Earth’s atmosphere.
In this regard, it is interesting how SpaceX explained the failure. According to experts, there was a break in part of the skin from the fairing of the first-stage engine.
Causes of the disaster
The Falcon 9 rocket explosion in June 2015 did not add credibility. She did not stay in flight for long - 2 minutes 19 seconds. As soon as the rocket entered hypersonic mode, an explosion occurred, and after 8 seconds, the Falcon 9 fell apart. NASA, together with SpaceX, launched an investigation into the cause of the disaster.
The head of SpaceX put forward his version. According to his theory, the accident occurred as a result of excessive pressure in the tanks with an oxidizing agent on the upper stage. This happened at a time when the first step had not yet separated.
Other accidents
Of course, accidents in the space industry are not so rare. So, only in the USA this year there were three incidents (taking into account the catastrophe that the Falcon 9 booster suffered).
In October 2014, after launching from the cosmodrome on Wallops Island, a private Antares launch vehicle exploded. It was expected that he would put into orbit to the ISS a Cygnus truck (both manufactured by Orbital Sciences).
Also in 2014, another SpaceShipTwo ship crashed. It was assumed that suborbital tourist flights would be carried out on it. And Virgin Galactic is still trying to fix the crash.
The first launch of the Proton-M launch vehicle took place on April 7, 2001. Then the Breeze-M booster rocket successfully launched the Ekran-M satellite into orbit. An improved version of the control system was installed on this missile, which made it possible to improve the development of heptyl-based rocket fuel , which, as you know, is a toxic substance for both humans and the environment. Also, the new system made it possible to increase the mass of payload being launched into orbit.
Since then, 90 Proton-M launches have passed, but only 80 of them were fully staffed. The main cause of emergency situations is caused by malfunctions in the upper stage.
Undoubtedly, such statistics are not a successful indicator for missiles with such a rich history. In any case, the explosion of the Falcon 9 rocket will help to better study its malfunctions and take them into account at the next launch.
What's next?
At present, delivering cargo to the ISS is able to:
- Russian "Progress";
- Japanese HTV;
- Dragon
- Cygnus
NASA has high hopes for Dragon as an apparatus that is able to return cargo from the ISS to Earth. The contract with this company was extended until 2017, and another 15 starts are planned.
The last time the Falcon 9 booster with the Dragon transporter successfully completed its mission on December 22, 2015.
NASA has no doubt that the accident with the Falcon 9 will in no way prevent the creation of manned spacecraft. As part of this program, SpaceX intends to launch the Falcon Heavy. This launch is able to compete with both the Russian "Proton" and the European Ariane 5.
The accident that the American Falcon 9 rocket crashed showed once again that no one was safe from the catastrophe during space exploration.