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The payload on Flight 20 was 11 [[Orbcomm-OG2]] second-generation satellites<ref name=sn20151016/> that provided enhanced ORBCOMM messaging capabilities, increased data capacity, and [[Automatic Identification System|automatic identification systems]] (AIS) service.<ref name=pa20121227>
The payload on Flight 20 was 11 [[Orbcomm-OG2]] second-generation satellites<ref name=sn20151016/> that provided enhanced ORBCOMM messaging capabilities, increased data capacity, and [[Automatic Identification System|automatic identification systems]] (AIS) service.<ref name=pa20121227>
{{cite web |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/12/27/orbcomm-spacex-reach-new-agreement-on-og2-satellite-launches/ |publisher=parabolicArc |last=Messier |first=Doug |title=Orbcomm, SpaceX Reach New Launch Agreement on OG2 Satellite Launch|date=December 27, 2012 |deadurl=no |accessdate=February 1, 2013}}</ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/12/27/orbcomm-spacex-reach-new-agreement-on-og2-satellite-launches/ |publisher=parabolicArc |last=Messier |first=Doug |title=Orbcomm, SpaceX Reach New Launch Agreement on OG2 Satellite Launch|date=December 27, 2012 |deadurl=no |accessdate=February 1, 2013}}</ref>
All 11 satellites were successfully deployed by the Falcon 9 second stage, beginning approximately 14 minutes after takeoff. All 11 sats have checked in with ground control stations.<ref name=sn20151221/>
All 11 satellites were successfully deployed by the Falcon 9 second stage, beginning approximately 14 minutes after takeoff. All 11 satellites have checked in with ground control stations.<ref name=sn20151221/>
<!-- The payload on Flight 21 had originally planned to be the [[SES-9]] [[communication satellite]] planned for orbit in the [[Clarke belt|geosynchronous belt]].<ref name=sn20150915/> but by mid-October, the launch payload had been changed to be the ORBCOMM OG2 11-satellite second flight, and no earlier than late-December 2015.<ref name=sn20151016/> -->
<!-- The payload on Flight 21 had originally planned to be the [[SES-9]] [[communication satellite]] planned for orbit in the [[Clarke belt|geosynchronous belt]].<ref name=sn20150915/> but by mid-October, the launch payload had been changed to be the ORBCOMM OG2 11-satellite second flight, and no earlier than late-December 2015.<ref name=sn20151016/> -->


Revision as of 00:44, 23 December 2015

launch

Falcon 9 Flight 20 (also known as Orbcomm OG2 M2[1]) was a Falcon 9 space launch that occurred on December 21, 2015, the first time that the first stage of an orbital rocket made a successful return and vertical landing.[2][3][4]

Falcon 9 Flight 20 was the first launch of the substantially upgraded Falcon 9 v1.1 Full Thrust launch vehicle and carried 11 Orbcomm-OG2 satellites to Earth orbit.

The launch was also notable as it was the first SpaceX launch following the catastrophic failure of the Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle's second stage on Falcon 9 Flight 19 in June 2015.

The successful landing of the first stage at Landing Zone 1, near the launch site, was the end result of a flight test that followed the primary launch mission. Following orbital insertion of the second stage and payload, SpaceX conducted the eighth of its controlled booster descent tests of the spent first stage and its first over land.

Launch schedule history

SES originally committed to provide the payload on the first launch of the revised-design rocket and announced that plan in February 2015.[5] After the loss of the launch vehicle and payload on another SpaceX launch in June 2015, SES reviewed the data from the Falcon 9 failure review and by September had recommitted to launch SES-9 on the late-2015 launch, then scheduled for no earlier than November 17, 2015.[6]

However, after considering all options, SpaceX announced a change on October 16, 2015: Orbcomm's 11 OG2 satellites would be the payload on the return-to-flight launch of the redesigned Falcon 9.[7] The launch date was delayed to no earlier than mid-December, while the SES-9 communications satellite was scheduled to launch into its higher orbit in late December 2015.[7] The Orbcomm payload with its lower orbit would allow SpaceX to test relighting the second-stage engine, a capability required to successfully complete the SES-9 mission.[7]

The static-fire test was scheduled for December 16. It was successfully carried out on December 18 and resulted in a launch delay of one day.[8] The launch was delayed an additional day after statistical analysis indicated a higher probability of recovering the booster.[9]

Following successful launch and deployment of the OG2 satellites, the Merlin Vacuum (1D) second-stage engine successfully re-ignited, demonstrating its capability to launch SES-9 into geostationary transfer orbit. The engine burn de-orbited the second stage as planned for a destructive re-entry.[10]

Payload

The payload on Flight 20 was 11 Orbcomm-OG2 second-generation satellites[7] that provided enhanced ORBCOMM messaging capabilities, increased data capacity, and automatic identification systems (AIS) service.[11] All 11 satellites were successfully deployed by the Falcon 9 second stage, beginning approximately 14 minutes after takeoff. All 11 satellites have checked in with ground control stations.[2]

New launch vehicle

Falcon 9 Flight 20 first stage's successful landing on dry land in December 2015

The Falcon 9 full thrust launch vehicle used on Flight 20 had a number of significant modifications from the previous Falcon 9 v1.1 vehicle. These included:[6]

  • increased second stage tank length and propellant volume
  • larger Merlin 1D vacuum engine nozzle
  • larger and stronger interstage with revised stage-separation mechanism
  • revised grid fin design to support the continuation of the Falcon 9 recovery tests, and ultimately, the operational Reusable Falcon 9 launch system
  • upgraded structure in the landing legs, also to support the reusable development program and objectives
  • upgraded first stage structure and octaweb engine support structure
  • denser liquid oxygen and RP-1 propellants through the use of subcooling, refrigeration below the typical temperature of previous Falcon 9 launch conditions.

Post-mission launch vehicle testing

Main article: SpaceX reusable launch system development program

This was the first time that SpaceX was able to successfully land the first stage of any of its rockets.

In an arrangement unusual for other launch vehicles, the first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket conducted another propulsive-return test,[12] the eighth test of the series and the first over land.[13] The flight test was planned for the twentieth Falcon 9 launch, even after the manifested payload was switched from SES-9 to the 11-satellite Orbcomm OG-2 payload.[14] The test was scheduled for and successfully carried out on December 21, 2015 when the first stage landed intact at Landing Zone 1.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "2015 U.S. Space Launch Manifest". americaspace.com. AmericaSpace, LLC. December 21, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Jeff Foust (December 21, 2015). "Falcon 9 Launches Orbcomm Satellites, Lands First Stage". SpaceNews. Retrieved December 22, 2015. the first time SpaceX had successfully landed the rocket's first stage.
  3. ^ a b Stephen Clark (December 10, 2015). "SpaceX eyes Dec. 19 for first launch since June". Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  4. ^ "SpaceX Shooting for a Dec. 19 Falcon Return-to-flight Launch". SpaceNews. December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  5. ^ Clark, Stephen (February 20, 2015). "SES signs up for launch with more powerful Falcon 9 engines". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Foust, Jeff (September 15, 2015). "SES Betting on SpaceX, Falcon 9 Upgrade as Debut Approaches". Space News. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d de Selding, Peter B. (October 16, 2015). "SpaceX Changes its Falcon 9 Return-to-flight Plans". SpaceNews. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  8. ^ "No Dec. 19 launch for SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.2". SpaceFlight Insider. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  9. ^ "SpaceX Now Planning Monday Launch and Landing - SpaceNews.com". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  10. ^ Clark, Stephen. "Round-trip rocket flight gives SpaceX a trifecta of successes | Spaceflight Now". Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  11. ^ Messier, Doug (December 27, 2012). "Orbcomm, SpaceX Reach New Launch Agreement on OG2 Satellite Launch". parabolicArc. Retrieved February 1, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "SpaceX ORBCOMM-2 Mission" (PDF). press kit. SpaceX. December 21, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015. This mission also marks SpaceX's return-to-flight as well as its first attempt to land a first stage on land. The landing of the first stage is a secondary test objective.
  13. ^ "SpaceX wants to land next booster at Cape Canaveral". Florida Today. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  14. ^ SpaceX preparing for Static Fire test on first Full Thrust Falcon 9 First Stage, October 24, 2015, accessed October 26, 2015.
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