Falcon 9 – an engineering feat of modern astronautics

This article presents the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Particular attention is paid to its technical specifications and the technologies employed. The components of the Falcon 9 are described, with a particular focus on the rocket’s design – including the first and second stages – as well as the Merlin engines and their characteristics and performance. The rest of the article analyses the profiles of typical missions carried out using the Falcon 9, both in the configuration with the Dragon crewed spacecraft and in the transport version for satellites and cargo. Selected innovative solutions are also presented, including the recovery of the launch vehicle’s first stage.