|
#RINVIA [[Falcon 1#Lanci]]
{{T|lingua=inglese|argomento=Ingegneria|data=settembre 2009}}
[[File:Falcon 1 Flight 5 rises over Omelek Island.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Foto del quinto lancio del Falcon 1 sull'isola di Omelek]]
{{Torna a|Falcon_1{{!}}Falcon 1}}
Questa è una '''lista dei lanci effettuati dal razzo [[Falcon 1]]''', contenente i loro dettagli ed i risultati. Falcon 1 è un piccolo razzo vettore orbitale, parzialmente riutilizzabile, sviluppato dalla [[SpaceX]]. Volò per la prima volta nel 2006 e, al 2009, ha già compiuto cinque lanci. I primi tre sono falliti, gli ultimi due invece hanno avuto successo. Finora tutti i lanci sono stati effettuati dall'isola di [[Omelek]], parte dell'atollo di [[Kwajalein]] nelle [[Isole Marshall]].
==Primo lancio==
Il volo inaugurale del Falcon 1 fu effettuato il 24 marzo 2006 alle 22:30 [[Tempo_coordinato_universale|UTC]] (9:30 ora locale). Fallì dopo appena un minuto di volo a causa di una perdita in un condotto di carburante ed al conseguente incendio. Il lancio fu eseguito nella base di lancio della SpaceX sull'isola di [[Omelek]], nelle [[Isole Marshall]].
Il lancio fu rinviato diverse volte a causa di vari inconvenienti tecnici. Problemi di pianificazione, a causa del lancio nella base aerea di [[Vandenberg Air Force Base|Vandenberg]] del missile [[Titan]] IV, causarono ulteriori ritardi e lo spostamento del sito al [[Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site|Reagan Test Site]] nell'atollo di [[Kwajalein]]. Il primo volo, programmato per il 19 dicembre 2005, fu annullato quando una valvola difettosa causò una depressurizzazione nel serbatoio del carburante del primo stadio ed un conseguente danno strutturale. Dopo la sostituzione del primo stadio, il Falcon 1 potè essere lanciato. Il carico, trasportato per conto della [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency|DARPA]], era un [[FalconSat]]-2 della [[United States Air Force Academy]], il cui compito era di misurare i fenomeni che riguardavano il [[Fisica_del_plasma|plasma]] nello spazio.
Il veicolo iniziò un movimento di [[rollio]] dopo il decollo, come si vede dai video, sussultando leggermente, e dopo 26 secondi dalla partenza andò rapidamente in picchiata. Quindici secondi dopo il razzo si schiantò su una scogliera deserta a circa 75 metri dalla zona di lancio. Il carico si separò dal vettore e atterrò sull'isola, con danni, secondo i rapporti, che vanno da ''leggero'' a ''significativo''<ref>{{cita news|lingua=en|url=http://kwajrockets.blogspot.com/2006/03/someones-looking-out-for-that.html|titolo=Someone's looking out for that satellite… |anno=2006|mese=03|giorno=25 |pubblicazione=Kwajalein Atoll and Rockets}}</ref>.
SpaceX inizialmente attribuì l'incendio a un dado avvitato male nel condotto del carburante. Una successiva analisi da parte della DARPA scoprì invece che il dado era avvitato correttamente, dal momento che il suo filo di bloccaggio era ancora a posto, ma si era rotto a causa della corrosione.
SpaceX implementò numerose modifiche al progetto del razzo ed al software, in modo da prevenire il verificarsi di nuovo di questi malfunzionamenti. Ciò comprese la sostituzione dei componenti meccanici in [[alluminio]] con altri in [[acciaio inossidabile]] (più economici ma meno leggeri) e trenta volte più controlli pre-lancio del computer rispetto a prima<ref>{{cita news|lingua=en|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/060719_falcon1_update.html|titolo=Falcon 1 Failure Traced to a Busted Nut|anno=2006|mese=07|giorno=19|pubblicazione=Space.com}}</ref><ref>{{cita news|lingua=en|url=http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php?page=0107-0707#demoflight_2_launch_update_9 |titolo=Demo flight two update |anno=2007|mese=01|giorno=19|pubblicazione=Space.com}}</ref>.
==Secondo lancio==
{{S}}
<!--
The second test flight was originally scheduled for January 2007, but was delayed due to problems with the second stage. Before the January launch date, SpaceX had stated earlier potential launch dates, moving from September 2006 to November and December. In December the launch was rescheduled for 9 March, but delayed because of range availability issues caused by a [[Minuteman III]] test flight which would re-enter over Kwajelein. The launch attempt on 19 March was delayed 45 minutes from 23:00 GMT due to a data relay issue, and then scrubbed one minute and two seconds before launch at 23:45 due to a computer issue, whereby the safety computer incorrectly detected a transmission failure due to a hardware delay of a few [[millisecond]]s in the process. The 20 March attempt was delayed 65 minutes, from an originally planned time of 23:00 due to a problem with communications between one of the NASA experiments in the payload, and the [[TDRS]] system.
The launch attempt on March 21, 2007 was aborted at 00:05 GMT at the last second before launch and after the engine had ignited. It was however decided that another launch should be made the same day. The rocket was launched successfully at 01:10 GMT on 21 March 2007 with a [[DemoSat]] payload for [[DARPA]] and [[NASA]]. The rocket performed well during the first stage burn. However, during staging, the interstage fairing on the top of the first stage bumped the second stage engine bell.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/SpaceX_Confirms_Stage_Bump_On_Demoflight_2_999.html |title=SpaceX Confirms Stage Bump On Demoflight 2}}</ref> The bump occurred as the second stage nozzle exited the interstage, with the first stage rotating much higher than expected (a rotation rate of about 2.5 deg/s vs. expected rate of 0.5 deg/s maximum), thereby making contact with the [[niobium]] nozzle of the second stage. Elon Musk reported that the bump did not appear to have caused damage, and that the reason why they chose a niobium skirt instead of [[Reinforced carbon-carbon|carbon-carbon]] was to prevent problematic damage in the event of such incidents. Shortly after second stage ignition, a stabilization ring detached from the engine bell as designed.<ref name="falconf2status">{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon/f2/status.html |title=Mission Status Center |date=2007-03-20 |publisher=Space Flight Now }}</ref> At around T+4:20, a circular coning oscillation began that increased in amplitude until video was lost. At T+5:01, the vehicle started to roll and telemetry ended. According to [[Elon Musk]], the second stage engine shut down at T+7.5 minutes due to a roll control issue. Sloshing of propellant in the LOX tank increased oscillation. This oscillation would normally have been dampened by the Thrust Vector Control system in the second stage, but the bump to the second nozzle during separation caused an overcompensation in the correction.<ref name="falconf2status"/> The rocket continued to within one minute of its desired ___location, and also managed to deploy the satellite mass simulator ring. While the webcast video ended prematurely, SpaceX was able to retrieve telemetry for the entire flight.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5056 |title=Falcon I flight - preliminary assessment positive for SpaceX |publisher=[[NASAspaceflight.com]] |date=2007-03-24}}</ref> The status of the first stage is unknown; it was not recovered due to problems with a nonfunctioning GPS tracking device. The rocket reached a final altitude of 289 km (156 miles) and a final velocity of 5.1 km/s, compared to 7.5 km/s needed for orbit.
SpaceX characterized the test flight as a success, having [[Technology readiness level|flight proven]] over 95% of Falcon 1's systems. Their primary objectives for this launch were to test responsive launch procedures and gather data.<ref name="demoflight_2_launch_update_12"/> According to Musk, the SpaceX team intends to have both a diagnosis and solution vetted by third party experts. Musk believes the slosh issue can be corrected by adding baffles to the second stage LOX tank and adjusting the control logic. Furthermore, the Merlin shutdown transient can be addressed by initiating shutdown at a much lower thrust level, albeit at some risk to engine reusability. The SpaceX team intends to work the problem to avoid a recurrence as they change over into the operational phase for Falcon 1.<ref name="Space28">{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/news/070328_spacex_falc1test_updt.html |publisher=space.com |title=SpaceX Declares Falcon 1 Rocket Operational Despite Less than Perfect Test |date=2007-03-28}}</ref>
-->
==Terzo lancio==
{{S}}
<!--
SpaceX attempted the third Falcon 1 launch on August 3, 2008 (GMT) from [[Kwajalein]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_SpaceX_Falcon_1s_Third_Launch_Ends_In_Failure_21401.html |title=SpaceX Falcon 1's Third Launch Ends In Failure|accessdate=2008-08-03
|date=2008-08-03}}</ref>
This flight carried the [[Trailblazer (satellite)|Trailblazer]] (Jumpstart-1) satellite for the [[US Air Force]],<ref name="launchwindow">{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=43|title=SpaceX conducts static test firing of next Falcon 1 rocket|publisher=SpaceX|accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref> the [[NanoSail-D]] and [[PREsat]] nanosatellites for NASA and a [[space burial]] payload for [[Celestis]].<ref name="Celestis">{{cite web|url=http://www.memorialspaceflights.com/explorers.asp|title=The Explorers Flight|publisher=Space Services Incorporated (Celestis)|accessdate=2008-06-05}}</ref>
The rocket did not reach orbit. However, the first stage, with the new Merlin 1C engine, performed perfectly.<ref>[http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2008/08/falcon_launch_v.html Falcon Launch Video and Message from Elon Musk | NASA Watch]</ref>
When preparing for launch, an earlier launch attempt was delayed by the unexpected slow loading of helium onto the Falcon 1; thus exposing the fuel and oxidizer to the cryogenic helium, rendering the vehicle in a premature launch state. Still within the specified window, the launch attempt was recycled, but aborted half a second before lift-off due to a sensor misreading. The problem was resolved, and the launch was again recycled. With twenty-five minutes left in the launch window, the Falcon 1 lifted off from Omelek Island at 03:35 UTC. During the launch, small vehicle roll oscillations were visible.
Stage separation occurred as planned, but due to residual fuel in the new Merlin 1C engine evaporating and providing transient thrust, the first stage recontacted the second stage, preventing successful completion of the mission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2008/08/spacex_telecon.html|title=SpaceX Telecon on Falcon 1 Launch Failure|publisher=NASA Watch|date=6 August 2008}}</ref>
The SpaceX flight 3 mission summary indicated that flight 4 would take place as planned and that the failure of flight 3 did not make any technology upgrades necessary. A longer time between first stage engine shutdown and stage separation was declared to be enough.<ref name="Mission3-Summary" />
The full video of the third launch attempt was made public by SpaceX a few weeks after the launch.<ref>[http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=13&cat=recent The full video of the third launch attempt including separation failure]</ref>
-->
==Quarto lancio==
{{S}}
<!--
[[Image:Spacex 067.jpg|thumb|The second stage [[Kestrel (rocket engine)|Kestrel engine]] glows red hot during Falcon 1's fourth launch and first successful orbital flight.]]
{{Main|Falcon 1 Flight 4}}
The fourth flight of the Falcon 1 rocket successfully flew on September 28, 2008.<ref name="SpaceX Falcon1 Flight4"/> A fifth Falcon 1 vehicle will be ready
for launch by January 2009, with Falcon 1 vehicles currently being produced at the rate of one every four months. By 2010 it is expected that production rate will be increased to one every two or three months.<ref name="MWN">{{cite web | last = Musk | first = Elon | title = Flight 4 Launch Update | work = Updates | publisher = [[SpaceX]] | date = September 19, 2008 | url = http://www.spacex.com/updates.php | accessdate = 2008-09-23 }}</ref>
-->
==Quinto lancio==
{{S}}
<!--
SpaceX announced that it had completed construction of the 5th Falcon 1 rocket and was transporting the vehicle to the Kwajalein Atoll launch complex where it was to be launched on April 21, 2009, which would be April 20, 2009 in the United States.<ref name="MWN">{{cite web | last = Musk | first = Elon | title = Flight 4 Launch Update | work = Updates | publisher = [[SpaceX]] | date = March 17, 2009 | url = http://www.spacex.com/updates.php | accessdate = 2008-09-23 }}</ref> Less than a week before the scheduled launch date, [[Malaysia]]n news reported that unsafe vibration levels had been detected in the rocket and repairs were expected to take about six weeks.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/18/nation/3723070&sec=nation | title=Launch of RazakSAT postponed | publisher=The Star | date= April 18, 2009}}</ref>
On April 20, 2009 SpaceX announced in a press release, that the launch has been postponed due to a potential compatibility issue between the RazakSAT spacecraft and Falcon 1 launch vehicle. A concern has been identified regarding the potential impact of predicted vehicle environments on the satellite.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.spacex.com/updates.php | title=Launch of RazakSAT postponed | publisher=SpaceX | date= April 20, 2009}}</ref>
On June 1, SpaceX announced that the next launch window would open Monday, July 13 and extend through Tuesday, July 14, with a daily window to open at 21:00 UTC (09:00 local time/4:00 p.m. [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2009/06/02/spacex-sets-falcon-1-launch-july-13/ | title=SpaceX sets Falcon 1 Launch for July 13 | publisher=Parabolic Arc | date= June 2, 2009}}</ref>).
The launch on Monday, July 13 was successful, placing RazakSAT into its initial [[parking orbit]]. Thirty-eight minutes later, the rocket's second-stage engine fired again to circularize the orbit. The payload was then successfully deployed.<ref>[http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon/005/status.html]</ref>
-->
==Note==
{{references}}
[[Categoria:Ingegneria_aerospaziale]]
[[en:List_of_Falcon_1_launches]]
| 