SPACEX Live launch

                                                           22 December 2015

                                               SPACEX live launch

·         11 total deployments

·         Missed first 3 deployments

·         It’s first time watching live from space

·         Falcon 9

·         Date ·         Tue, Dec 22 2015 6:59 AM IST — Tue, Dec 22 2015 7:35 AM IST

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·         With this mission, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver 11 satellites to low-Earth orbit for ORBCOMM, a leading global provider of Machine-to-Machine communication and Internet of Things solutions. The ORBCOMM launch is targeted for an evening launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. If all goes as planned, the 11 satellites will be deployed approximately 20 minutes after liftoff, completing a 17-satellite, low Earth orbit constellation for ORBCOMM. 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.

Ø  Shell-contains satellites, made up of carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb structure.

Ø  2 stages, second at 100km

Ø  Liquid oxygen needs to be vented to protect from over pressurizing

Ø  Began loading oxygen T -35 minutes unlike previous missions where loading was done 3 hrs ago, this time it’s colder as it provides denser propellant, so ultimately more propellant can be put. So better performance, more weight can be put.

Ø  Launching 2G satellites into lower earth orbit

Ø  282 ft dia. Launch pad area

Ø  6-10 minutes after launch re-landing

Ø  Goal – reduce cost of space travel

Ø  Rocket reaches maximum aerodynamic pressure