DRAGON

FALCON HEAVY

Falcon Heavy features three nine-core merlin engines. The thrust it produces is equivalent to 15 Boeing 747s at full power

Landing legs

deploy as the rocket’s first stage returns to earth. The engines fire, slowing the descent before touching down vertically atop a landing pad.

Flight profile

Second stage: to orbit

Separation

The first-stage engine cuts off.

Flip maneuver

Entry burn

Earth’s stratosphere

Aerodynamic guidance

Ascent

Legs deployed

Launch

First stage lands on a floating platform

solar arrays

Unpressurized

cargo trunk

FALCON HEAVY

DRAGON

Pressurized

cargo or

crew capsule

Falcon9

SpaceX already uses the Falcon 9 to launch commercial satellites to orbit and cargo to the International Space Station. It has one engine core as opposed to Falcon Heavy's three, and would also be used to fly astronauts to the station by late 2017 or 2018.

Hypersonic grid fins

manipulate the direction of the

stage’s lift during reentry.

Landing legs

deploy as the rocket’s first stage returns to earth. The engines fire, slowing the descent before touching down vertically atop a landing pad.

Propulsive landing using thrusters

Falcon Heavy features three nine-core merlin engines. The thrust it produces is equivalent to 15 Boeing 747s at full power

Second stage

Flight profile

The payload continues to orbit.

Separation

Flip maneuver

Using nitrogen boosters, the first stage flips on its axis.

At an altitude of 50 miles, the second stage ignites and leaves the atmosphere.

The first-stage engine cuts off.

Entry burn

The engines light again to slow the first stage from hypersonic speeds.

Earth’s stratosphere

Ascent

Aerodynamic guidance

Grid fins steer the first stage toward the landing site.

Legs

The landing legs are deployed.

Launch

First stage lands

Floating platform: 300 by 170 feet.

The first stage sets down on the drone barge at a maximum vertical speed of 20 feet per second.

solar arrays

FALCON HEAVY

DRAGON

Pressurized cargo or crew capsule

Unpressurized cargo trunk

Propulsive landing using thrusters

Falcon9

SpaceX already uses the Falcon 9 to launch commercial satellites to orbit and cargo to the International Space Station. It has one engine core as opposed to Falcon Heavy's three, and would also be used to fly astronauts to the station by late 2017 or 2018.

Hypersonic grid fins

manipulate the direction of the

stage’s lift during reentry.

Falcon Heavy features three nine-core merlin engines. The thrust it produces is equivalent to 15 Boeing 747s at full power

Landing legs

deploy as the rocket’s first stage returns to earth. The engines fire, slowing the descent before touching down vertically atop a landing pad.

Second stage

The payload continues to orbit.

Flight profile

Flip maneuver

Using nitrogen boosters, the first stage flips on its axis.

Separation

At an altitude of 50 miles, the second stage ignites and leaves the atmosphere.

The first-stage engine cuts off.

Entry burn

The engines light again to slow the first stage from hypersonic speeds.

Earth’s stratosphere

Ascent

Aerodynamic guidance

Grid fins steer the first stage toward the landing site.

Legs

The landing legs are deployed.

Launch

First stage lands

Floating platform: 300 by 170 feet.

The first stage sets down on the drone barge at a maximum vertical speed of 20 feet per second.

3.9 meter fairing accommodates large payloads

CYGNUS CAPSULE

Selected by NASA to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.

Cygnus has no heatshields, so after it has rendezvoused with the International Space Station, it is loaded with garbage and released. It eventually burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

5

Payload

separation

Flight profile

4

Second stage

ignition

3

Fairing

separation

2

First stage

separation

1

Launch

3.9 meter fairing accommodates large payloads

4

Flight profile

Second stage

ignition

5

Payload

separation

3

Fairing

separation

2

First stage

separation

CYGNUS CAPSULE

Selected by NASA to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.

1

Launch

Cygnus has no heatshields, so after it has rendezvoused with the International Space Station, it is loaded with garbage and released. It eventually burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

3.9 meter fairing accommodates large payloads

4

Flight profile

Second stage

ignition

5

Payload

separation

3

Fairing

separation

2

First stage

separation

CYGNUS CAPSULE

Selected by NASA to deliver cargo to the International Space Station.

1

Launch

Cygnus has no heatshields, so after it has rendezvoused with the International Space Station, it is loaded with garbage and released. It eventually burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

SpaceShipTwo

WhiteKnightTwo

Flight profile

3

2

4

1

5

Release: At 50,000 feet, the WhiteKnightTwo releases SpaceShipTwo.

1

2

Boost: After release, SpaceShipTwo activates its rocket and climbs at three times the speed of sound to an altitude of 62 miles, outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

3

Reentry: SpaceShipTwo’s

wings are “feathered” to slow the craft’s descent.

Glide: The wings return to their original position to allow SpaceShipTwo to glide to a landing.

4

5

Land: SpaceShipTwo lands at the spaceport

SpaceShipTwo

WhiteKnightTwo

Flight profile

3

2

Wings are “feathered” to slow the craft’s descent.

After release, SpaceShipTwo activates its rocket and climbs at three times the speed of sound to an altitude of 62 miles, outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

The wings return to their original position to allow SpaceShipTwo to glide to a landing.

4

At 50,000 feet,

the WhiteKnightTwo releases SpaceShipTwo.

1

5

SpaceShipTwo lands at the spaceport

SpaceShipTwo

WhiteKnightTwo

Flight profile

Thermosphere

(53 miles)

3

2

Wings are “feathered” to slow the craft’s descent.

After release, SpaceShipTwo activates its rocket and climbs at three times the speed of sound to an altitude of 62 miles, outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

4

The wings return to their original position to allow SpaceShipTwo to glide to a landing.

At 50,000 feet,

the WhiteKnightTwo releases SpaceShipTwo.

1

5

SpaceShipTwo lands at the spaceport

Windows

Legs deploy during booster’s vertical landing

New Shepard’s windows are about five times larger than a 747’s

42.7

in.

Boeing

747

28.6 in.

What’s the deal with the feather?

The feather on the side of the booster is a symbol of flight with grace and power in its functionality and design.

Flight profile

3

2

4

1

5

6

(1) It takes Blue Origin’s New Shepard about 150 seconds to reach the outer bounds of Earth’s atmosphere. At this point, 100 km above ground, (2) the capsule separates and (3) enters four minutes of free flight. (4) The main booster stabilizes and reignites its engine before (5) landing vertically on four landing legs. (6) The capsule returns to the ground with three large parachutes.

Windows

Door

What’s the deal with the feather?

The feather on the side of the booster is a symbol of flight with grace and power in its functionality and design.

New Shepard’s windows are about five times larger than a 747’s

42.7

in.

Boeing

747

28.6 in.

Legs deploy during booster’s vertical landing

3

Capsule free flight

Flight profile

2

4

Brakes

deploy

and engine

reignites

Separation

6

Capsule landing

1

Launch

5

Booster

landing

It takes Blue Origin’s New Shepard about 150 seconds to reach the outer bounds of Earth’s atmosphere. At this point, 100 km above ground, the capsule separates and enters four minutes of free flight. The main booster stabilizes and reignites its engine before landing vertically on four landing legs. The capsule returns to the ground with three large parachutes.

What’s the deal with the feather?

The feather on the side of the booster is a symbol of flight with grace and power in its functionality and design.

Parachutes

New Shepard’s windows are about five times larger than a 747’s

42.7

in.

Boeing

747

28.6 in.

Windows

Door

Flight profile

3

Capsule free flight

2

4

Brakes

deploy

and engine

reignites

Separation

6

Capsule landing

1

Launch

5

Booster

landing

Legs deploy during booster’s vertical landing

It takes Blue Origin’s New Shepard about 150 seconds to reach the outer bounds of Earth’s atmosphere. At this point, 100 km above ground, the capsule separates and enters four minutes of free flight. The main booster stabilizes and reignites its engine before landing vertically on four landing legs. The capsule returns to the ground with three large parachutes.

Wings fold for launching

inside rocket fairing

Dream Chaser comes in an un-manned cargo variant, which trades windows for extra heat shields.

Windows for

crew visibility

Heat shields

To launch, Dream Chaser is placed atop a rocket. It can be packed inside a fairing.

Flight profile

3

Dock with

International

Space Station

2

Dream Chaser

and upper stage

separate

4

Reentry at

1.5 g

1

Launch atop a

ULA Atlas V rocket

or other human-rated

launch vehicle

5

Runway landing

on any compatible

commercial runway

Dream Chaser is about

1/4 the size of the Shuttle

Wings fold for

launching inside

rocket fairing

Heat shields

Dream Chaser also comes in an un-manned cargo variant, which trades windows for extra heat shields.

To launch, Dream Chaser is placed atop a rocket. It can be packed inside a fairing.

Flight profile

3

Dream Chaser docks

with International Space Station

2

Dream Chaser

and upper stage

separate

4

Reentry at

1.5 g

5

1

Runway landing

on any

compatible

commercial

runway

Launch atop a

ULA Atlas V rocket

or other human-rated

launch vehicle

Wings fold for

launching inside

rocket fairing

Dream Chaser is about

1/4 the size of the Shuttle

Flight profile

3

Dream Chaser docks

with International Space Station

Heat shields

2

Dream Chaser

and upper stage

separate

4

Reentry at

1.5 g

Dream Chaser also comes in an un-manned cargo variant, which trades windows for extra heat shields.

5

1

Runway landing

on any

compatible

commercial

runway

Launch atop a

ULA Atlas V rocket

or other human-rated

launch vehicle

To launch, Dream Chaser is placed atop a rocket. It can be packed inside a fairing.

Heat protection

system

4 XR-5K18

engines,

good for

5,000 flights

Lynx is about

1/4 the size of the shuttle

XCOR XR-5K18

The XCOR XR-5K18 is fueled by high-grade jet fuel and liquid oxygen. The engine is able to stop and restart using a proprietary spark torch ignition system. Its cooling system allows it to run for indefinite periods without maintenance or disassembly. Each engine produces about 2,900 lbf thrust.

Flight profile

Each flight lasts 30-45 minutes, and each plane can fly up to four times each day.

3

4

2

5

1

1

Horizontal takeoff from a runway

2

Rocket assisted ascent for three

minutes

3

Four-to-six minutes of microgravity,

100 km above Earth

Reentry at 4G, followed by large

circular glide-paths

4

5

Horizontal landing

Heat protection system

A highly modified

version of Lynx

can also carry a payload

atop the fuselage

Composite body

4 XR-5K18 engines,

good for 5,000 flights

Lynx is about

1/4 the size of the shuttle

XCOR XR-5K18

The XCOR XR-5K18 is fueled by high-grade jet fuel and liquid oxygen. The engine is able to stop and restart using a proprietary spark torch ignition system. Its cooling system allows it to run for indefinite periods without maintenance or disassembly. Each engine produces about 2,900 lbf thrust.

Flight profile

4

3

Each flight lasts 30-45 minutes, and each plane can fly up to four times each day.

Reentry at 4G,

followed by

large circular

glide-paths

Four-to-six minutes

of microgravity, 100 km

above Earth

2

Rocket assisted ascent

for three minutes

Horizontal

takeoff from

a runway

5

Horizontal landing

1

Payload capacity

One pilot and

one passenger

()

Heat protection system

A highly modified

version of Lynx

can also carry a payload

atop the fuselage

Composite body

Lynx is about

1/4 the size of the shuttle

4 XR-5K18 engines,

good for 5,000 flights

Flight profile

4

3

Each flight lasts 30-45 minutes, and each plane can fly up to four times each day.

Reentry at 4G,

followed by

large circular

glide-paths

Four-to-six minutes

of microgravity, 100 km

above Earth

2

Rocket assisted ascent

for three minutes

XCOR XR-5K18

The XCOR XR-5K18 is fueled by high-grade jet fuel and liquid oxygen. The engine is able to stop and restart using a proprietary spark torch ignition system. Its cooling system allows it to run for indefinite periods without maintenance or disassembly. Each engine produces about 2,900 lbf thrust.

5

Horizontal

takeoff from

a runway

Horizontal landing

1

Heat shield

Parachutes

The Starliner features

a completely

autonomous

docking system

Flight profile

3

2

4

5

1

6

1

Launch in a ULA Atlas V rocket

or other human-rated launch vehicle

2

Starliner and upper stage separate

from first stage

3

Dock with International Space Station

4

Reentry

5

Parachutes deploy

6

Airbags deploy for landing

Heat shield

Parachutes

Service module

The Starliner features

a completely

autonomous

docking system

Weldless design

eliminates structural

risks of traditional welds

and reduces mass

and production time.

Flight profile

3

Docks with International

Space Station

2

Starliner and

upper stage

separate from

first stage

4

Reentry

5

1

Parachutes

deploy

Launch in a

ULA Atlas V rocket

or other human-rated

launch vehicle

6

Airbags

deploy for

landing

Heat shield

Parachutes

Flight profile

3

Docks with International

Space Station

2

Starliner and

upper stage

separate from

first stage

4

Reentry

Service module

The Starliner features

a completely

autonomous

docking system

5

1

Parachutes

deploy

Launch in a

ULA Atlas V rocket

or other human-rated

launch vehicle

Weldless design eliminates

structural risks of traditional

welds and reduces mass

and production time.

6

Airbags

deploy for

landing

Launch abort system jettisons the crew to safety in the event of a launchpad failure.

SPACE

LAUNCH

SYSTEM

Two boosters, derived from those of the shuttle, each provide an additional 3.6 million pounds of thrust.

The core stage features four RS-25 engines, each capable of 418,000 lbs of thrust.

ORION CAPSULE

In 2014, Lockheed's Orion capsule flew further than any other spacecraft designed for humans since 1972 when it hit an altitude of 3,600 miles. It is scheduled to fly around the moon in 2018 in an unmanned mission that would last three weeks.

Launch configurations

A

B

C

D

A. An initial mission will take an unmanned crew vehicle around the moon and back to demonstrate the capabilities of the vehicle and ground support crew.

B. A second mission will also travel around the moon, but this time with a crew of four.

C. More ambitious missions to Mars and beyond will require a vehicle capable of carrying a crew along with other systems like a deep-space habitat and or science spacecraft.

D. A cargo configuration will also be necessary for missions to Mars.

Planned missions

3

1

2

4

’18

’20

’22

’24

’26

2016

1. By 2018, an unmanned mission around the moon

2. 2021–2023, manned mission around the moon

3. 2021–2025, send an unmanned probe and lander to Jupiter

4. 2026, manned mission to an asteroid that has been robotically captured and placed in lunar orbit.

The core stage features four RS-25 engines, each capable of 418,000 lbs of thrust.

Launch abort system jettisons the crew to safety in the event of a launchpad failure.

The core stage of the rocket is orange because that is the natural color of the insulation that will cover it.

SPACE

LAUNCH

SYSTEM

Two boosters, derived from those of the shuttle, each provide an additional 3.6 million pounds of thrust.

ORION CAPSULE

In 2014, Lockheed's Orion capsule flew further than any other spacecraft designed for humans since 1972 when it hit an altitude of 3,600 miles. It is scheduled to fly around the moon in 2018 in an unmanned mission that would last three weeks.

Launch configurations

Launch abort system

Orion crew vehicle

Cargo fairing

Exploration upper stage

Core stage

Solid rocket boosters

Advanced boosters

RS-25 engines

A

B

C

D

A. An initial mission will take an unmanned crew vehicle around the moon and back to demonstrate the capabilities of the vehicle and ground support crew.

B. A second mission will also travel around the moon, but this time with a crew of four.

C. More ambitious missions to Mars and beyond will require a vehicle capable of carrying a crew along with other systems like a deep-space habitat and or science spacecraft.

D. A cargo configuration will also be necessary for missions to Mars.

Planned missions

3

1

2

4

’18

’20

’22

’24

’26

2016

1. By 2018, an unmanned mission around the moon

2. 2021–2023, manned mission around the moon

3. 2021–2025, send an unmanned probe and lander to Jupiter

4. 2026, manned mission to an asteroid that has been robotically captured and placed in lunar orbit.

Launch configurations

Launch abort system jettisons the crew to safety in the event of a launchpad failure.

Launch abort system

Orion crew vehicle

Cargo fairing

Exploration upper stage

The core stage of the rocket is orange because that is the natural color of the insulation that will cover it.

Core stage

Solid rocket boosters

Advanced boosters

RS-25 engines

A

B

C

D

A. An initial mission will take an unmanned crew vehicle around the moon and back to demonstrate the capabilities of the vehicle and ground support crew.

B. A second mission will also travel around the moon, but this time with a crew of four.

C. More ambitious missions to Mars and beyond will require a vehicle capable of carrying a crew along with other systems like a deep-space habitat and or science spacecraft.

D. A cargo configuration will also be necessary for missions to Mars.

SPACE

LAUNCH

SYSTEM

Main engines

The core stage features four RS-25 engines, each capable of 418,000 lbs of thrust.

Two boosters, derived from those of the shuttle, each provide an additional 3.6 million pounds of thrust.

ORION CAPSULE

In 2014, Lockheed's Orion capsule flew further than any other spacecraft designed for humans since 1972 when it hit an altitude of 3,600 miles. It is scheduled to fly around the moon in 2018 in an unmanned mission that would last three weeks.

Planned missions

3

1

2

4

2016

’18

’20

’22

’24

’26

1. By 2018, an unmanned mission around the moon

2. 2021–2023, manned mission around the moon

3. 2021–2025, send an unmanned probe and lander to Jupiter

4. 2026, manned mission to an asteroid that has been robotically captured and placed in lunar orbit.

Depending on the mission, Vulcan can be modified. Different sized nose cones or extra boosters can accomodate a wide range of payloads

Vulcan will likely use two Blue Origin BE-4 liquefied natural gas main engines

Flight profile

2

3

4

1

5

6

1

Launch

2

Payload releases and engine

separates from booster

3

Engine shield inflates for reentry

4

Engine parafoil deploys and is

retrieved in midair by helicopter

5

Engine is checked and certified for

future use

6

Engine reattached to a new booster

Depending on the mission, Vulcan can be modified. Different sized nose cones or extra boosters can accomodate a wide range of payloads

Vulcan will likely use two Blue Origin BE-4 liquefied natural gas main engines

Flight profile

2

3

Payload releases and

engine separates

from booster

Engine

shield

inflates

for reentry

1

4

Launch

Engine parafoil

deploys and is

retrieved

in midair by

helicopter

6

5

Engine reattached

to a new booster

Engine is checked

and certified for future use

Depending on the mission, Vulcan can be modified. Different sized nose cones or extra boosters can accomodate a wide range of payloads

Flight profile

2

3

Payload releases and

engine separates

from booster

Engine

shield

inflates

for reentry

1

4

Launch

Engine parafoil

deploys and is

retrieved

in midair by

helicopter

6

5

Engine reattached

to a new booster

Engine is checked

and certified for future use

Vulcan will likely use two Blue Origin BE-4 liquefied natural gas main engines