The Falcon 9 is a partially reusable two-stage rocket developed by SpaceX.
The rockets are a first of their kind, being at least partially reusable and a key asset for NASA in servicing the International Space Station since the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011
Since 2012, SpaceX has been working with NASA to develop a space capsule to replace the Space Shuttle program. SpaceX accomplished this with the Crew Dragon spaceship and has also been working simultaneously on making equipment reusable.
Previously, the majority of spacefaring equipment was single-use, needing to be replaced after each mission. While the single-use pattern was initially broken by the Space Shuttles, SpaceX continued working toward reusability with its Falcon series of rockets.
Unfortunately, it is unclear how many Falcon 9 rockets exist. What we do know is that the family of rockets has been involved in 316 launches and that failures are rare. In 2015, one rocket exploded during flight, and the next year another Falcon 9 exploded during tests.
The Falcon 9 family of rockets is still in active use today. According to SpaceX, the Falcon 9 is the "world's first orbital class reusable rocket."
The Falcon 9 Block 5 is 229.6 feet tall and weighs 38,000 pounds by the time it touches down on an Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS) at the end of a mission. With a mass of more than 1.2 million pounds fully loaded, it is fueled by rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen.
Its engines give it in excess of 1.7 million pounds of thrust at sea level, which creates the capability of lifting 50,265 pounds into low Earth orbit and could lift, according to SpaceX, 18,300 pounds to Mars.
SpaceX publishes a list of launches on its website.
