[Satellite Today 11-24-08] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) conducted a full mission-length firing of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle’s first stage at its McGregor Test Facility in Texas, SpaceX announced Nov. 22.
    The rocket’s first stage Merlin fired for nearly three minutes — simulating the length of time it would need to operate during a mission. All nine engines fired for 160 seconds, then two engines were shut down to limit the acceleration and the remaining seven engines continued firing for 18 more seconds, as would occur in a typical climb to orbit. At full power, the rocket generated 855,000 pounds of force at sea level. The test consumed more than half-a-million pounds of propellant.
    SpaceX said the test firing aimed to validate the design of SpaceX’s use of nine engines on the first stage, as well as the ability to shut down engines without affecting the functioning of the remaining engines. The Falcon 9 will be the first vehicle since the Saturn 5 and Saturn 1 to have the ability to lose any engine or motor and still be able to complete its mission without loss of crew or spacecraft.
    "In the past month, we performed significant upgrades to the test stand and flame trench in preparation for this test," Tom Mueller, vice president of propulsion for SpaceX, said in a statement. "We added the flight base heat shields around the engines to protect the bottom of the rocket from the prolonged blast of heat and vibration."
    The first Falcon 9 launch is scheduled to take place at Cape Canaveral, Fla., in 2009.