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Infographics

SpaceX

SpaceX Falcon 9 Reaching Orbit 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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SpaceX Dragon 2 Landing SpaceX Dragon 2 Landing Direct link

This is the approximate trajectory of the SpaceX Dragon 2 as it lands on Earth after a trip to the ISS.

SpaceX ITS Mars Lander Components SpaceX ITS Mars Lander Components Direct link

This is an overview of the operations the SpaceX ITS will take when it departs from Earth for its #JourneyToMars.

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SpaceX ITS Mars Lander Engine Layout SpaceX ITS Mars Lander Engine Layout Direct link

This is an overview of the engine locations of the SpaceX ITS Mars lander.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Control SpaceX Falcon 9 Control Direct link

This infographic demonstrates the three methods of control used by the SpaceX Falcon 9 during its flight.

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SpaceX ITS Mars Lander EDL SpaceX ITS Mars Lander EDL Direct link

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.)

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Hawthorne to Launch SpaceX Falcon 9 Hawthorne to Launch Direct link

This infographic outlines the manufacturing and testing procedures for the SpaceX Falcon 9.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Downrange Propulsive Landing (No Boostback) SpaceX Falcon 9 Downrange Propulsive Landing (No Boostback) Direct link

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.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Transport SpaceX Falcon 9 Transport Direct link

The SpaceX Falcon 9 is designed to fit on public roads in the US. Here’s how SpaceX transports the different components.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Scale SpaceX Falcon 9 Scale Direct link

The SpaceX Falcon 9 is big. Really big. Mindboggling big.

(But it’s peanuts compared to the SpaceX ITS.)

SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Hoverslam SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Hoverslam Direct link

This is a high-level, overly simplified explanation of the “hoverslam” maneuver the SpaceX Falcon 9 performs during landing.

SpaceX Dragon 1 Components SpaceX Dragon 1 Components Direct link

This is a high-level overview of the components of the SpaceX Dragon 1.

SpaceX Dragon 2 Components SpaceX Dragon 2 Components Direct link

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.)

SpaceX Dragon 2 Engine Layout SpaceX Dragon 2 Engine Layout Direct link

This is a high-level view of the engines and thrusters in the SpaceX Dragon 2.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Components SpaceX Falcon 9 Components Direct link

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.)

SpaceX Falcon 9 Return to Launch Site SpaceX Falcon 9 Return to Launch Site Direct link

This is the approximate trajectory of the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster during a “return to launch site” landing (i.e. landing on land).

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Downrange Propulsive Landing SpaceX Falcon 9 Downrange Propulsive Landing Direct link

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.

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SpaceX Red Dragon Landing SpaceX Red Dragon Landing Direct link

This is the approximate trajectory of the SpaceX Red Dragon capsule during its landing on Mars.

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ULA

ULA Vulcan Overview ULA Vulcan Overview Direct link

This is a high-level overview of the United Launch Alliance Vulcan launch vehicle.

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ULA SMART Reuse Trajectory and Components ULA SMART Reuse Trajectory and Components Direct link

This is the predicted trajectory of the engine block on a launch vehicle implementing ULA’s SMART Reuse technology, such as the ULA Vulcan.