Falcon 9 Block 5
| Function | Orbital launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SpaceX |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Mass | Unknown |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch history | |
| Status | In Development |
| Launch sites |
|
| Total launches | 0 |
| Successes | 0 |
| Failures | 0 |
| Partial failures | 0 |
| Landings | 0/0 attempts |
| First stage | |
| Engines | Merlin 1D++ (maximum thrust) |
| Thrust | 8,451 kN (1,900,000 lbf) |
| Fuel | LOX / RP-1 |
| Second stage | |
| Engines | 1 Merlin 1D++ Vacuum (Maximum thrust) |
| Fuel | LOX / RP-1 |
The Falcon 9 Block 5 is the final version of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The largest changes between this version and the Falcon 9 Full Thrust are higher thrust on all of the engines and landing leg improvements. There are also a number of small changes to streamline recovery and reusability of first stage boosters. Alterations to the launch vehicle are primarily focused on increasing the speed of production and efficiency of reusability.
On 17 Feb 2017, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell stated that the Block 5 changes are mainly driven by upgrades needed for the Commercial Crew program and National Security Space Launch requirements. They include a performance upgrade, manufacturing improvements, and "probably 100 or so changes" to increase the margin for demanding customers.
In early April 2017, after the first reflight of a Falcon 9 first stage booster, Elon Musk said that Block 5 will feature:
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