infographic SpaceX Falcon 9 Reaching Orbit Direct link
This is a visualization of how much velocity the SpaceX Dragon capsule gains from the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster during a launch to the ISS.
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This is a visualization of how much velocity the SpaceX Dragon capsule gains from the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster during a launch to the ISS.
Read more (1 min)This is the approximate trajectory of the SpaceX Dragon 2 as it lands on Earth after a trip to the ISS.
This is an overview of the operations the SpaceX ITS will take when it departs from Earth for its #JourneyToMars.
Read more (1 min)This is an overview of the engine locations of the SpaceX ITS Mars lander.
Read more (1 min)This infographic demonstrates the three methods of control used by the SpaceX Falcon 9 during its flight.
Read more (1 min)The SpaceX ITS is huge. This is only the smaller upper stage.
This is the approximate trajectory of the SpaceX ITS Mars lander during its approach, entry, descent, and landing phases. SpaceX has not released the Earth reentry trajectory, but it will probably be similar, albeit with lower speeds and a far denser atmosphere (which translates to a far shorter and more vertical glide.)
Read more (1 min)This infographic outlines the manufacturing and testing procedures for the SpaceX Falcon 9.
This is the approximate trajectory of the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster during a downrange propulsive landing (i.e. ocean landing) on the ASDS.
Note that this is the trajectory of a booster during a high-performance mission, and does not include a boostback burn. The approximate trajectory of a Falcon 9 landing with a boostback burn can be seen here.
Read more (2 min)The SpaceX Falcon 9 is designed to fit on public roads in the US. Here’s how SpaceX transports the different components.
Read more (1 min)The SpaceX Falcon 9 is big. Really big. Mindboggling big.
(But it’s peanuts compared to the SpaceX ITS.)
This is a high-level, overly simplified explanation of the “hoverslam” maneuver the SpaceX Falcon 9 performs during landing.
This is a high-level overview of the components of the SpaceX Dragon 1.
This is a high-level overview of the components of the SpaceX Dragon 2 in its crew configuration. (SpaceX’s Red Dragon capsule is an unmanned, stripped-down variant of the Dragon 2.)
This is a high-level view of the engines and thrusters in the SpaceX Dragon 2.
Read more (1 min)This is a brief overview of the components of the SpaceX Falcon 9 in its fairing configuration (as opposed to the Dragon 1 or Dragon 2 configurations.)
This is the approximate trajectory of the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster during a “return to launch site” landing (i.e. landing on land).
Read more (2 min)This is the approximate trajectory of the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster during a downrange propulsive landing (i.e. ocean landing) on the ASDS.
Note that this profile includes a boostback burn; this profile was used during the launch of CRS-8, among others. It’s not used with heavy payloads, such as some of the larger GTO missions; instead, the booster does not perform a boostback burn and ends up much farther downrange, requiring the ASDS to position itself much farther from shore. The approximate trajectory of a Falcon 9 landing without a boostback burn can be seen here.
Read more (2 min)This is the approximate trajectory of the SpaceX Red Dragon capsule during its landing on Mars.
Read more (1 min)This is a high-level overview of the United Launch Alliance Vulcan launch vehicle.
Read more (1 min)This is the predicted trajectory of the engine block on a launch vehicle implementing ULA’s SMART Reuse technology, such as the ULA Vulcan.