Falcon 9
Workhorse orbital launch vehicle
Falcon 9 is the vehicle that made reuse routine. The first stage lands itself back on a droneship or landing zone within minutes of stage separation, is inspected, and flies again — some boosters have now flown more than 20 missions. It carries crew to the ISS, deploys the Starlink constellation, and handles the bulk of the world's commercial and national-security launch manifest.
9 Merlin engines
Nine engines on the first stage give Falcon 9 engine-out capability — it can lose one and still complete the mission.
Autonomous landing
Grid fins and cold-gas thrusters steer the booster back to a precise, six-meter landing zone with no human at the controls.
Rapid reuse
The fastest booster has turned around from landing to next launch in three weeks flat, on the same airframe.
Specifications
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