spacex

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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art SpaceX Red Dragon at Mars

My rendition of the Red Dragon capsule as it deploys its trunk in preparation for atmospheric entry, just minutes away.

Launching on a Falcon Heavy from LC-39A at Cape Canaveral no earlier than 2020, the Red Dragon missions will demonstrate powered landings on the Red Planet.

article SpaceX's Journey to Mars: 2018

This article is outdated; things have changed since it was written and it is no longer accurate. It is being kept online for reference purposes only.

It’s mid-April 2018, and SpaceX is getting ready to launch a Falcon Heavy, the world’s most powerful rocket since Energia. This time, though, its payload isn’t another communications or reconnaissance satellite; instead, SpaceX is preparing to launch their first unmanned mission to Mars: the Red Dragon.

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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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