https://spacenews.com/spacex-l3harris-win-space-development-agency-contracts-to-build-missile-warning-satellites/This reminds me of SpaceX winning part of the DoD Space Development Agency Tracking Layer Tranche 0 LEO missile warning satellite contracts (along with L3 Harris) using the Starlink satellite bus. These aren't supposed to launch until September 2022 at the earliest (also on Falcon 9 along with LEO communication Transport Layer Tranche 0 satellites, by Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems, but to polar orbit from Vandenberg), but I can see SpaceX sending some test satellites up to orbit either at their own plans or by some unique US Government requirements earlier to mid-inclination LEO.
Liftoff!
SpaceX Falcon 9 B1061-9 launches Globalstar FM-15 from SLC-40.Overview:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/06/spacex-globalstar-falcon-9/Livestream:youtube.com/watch?v=W40YFNse9TE…
Staging 1-2. Thunderstorms below!
Falcon 9 B1061-9 lands on SpaceX Drone Ship "Just Read the Instructions".Three Falcon 9 launches, three recoveries, in 36 hours!Now up to 126 successful Falcon booster recoveries.
SES-2 is complete and that's an interesting setup on the front end of the Second Stage.
S/C Sep for Globalstar FM-15 (the other passenger is a mystery). Three successful missions in under two days.
Falcon 9 streaks to orbit at 12:27 a.m. EDT this morning with the Globalstar FM15 satellite
Just after midnight #SpaceX launches a spare #GlobalStar satellite towards orbit from launch complex 40!📸 by me for @SpaceflightNow
Congrats to SpaceX Falcon team for executing 3 flawless launches in 2 days!
Quote from: gongora on 06/19/2022 04:45 amAnyone want to explain what this "parking orbit" has to do with launching a Globalstar sat? Looks like the mission profile could be:1. Direct injection into a 533 x 533km orbit (1:34:51 period)2. Release payload 'X'3. SES2 to raise apogee to a 533 x 1200km (ΔV about 174 m/s)4. SES3 to circularise at 1200 x 1200km (ΔV about 170 m/s)5. Release Globalstar.
Anyone want to explain what this "parking orbit" has to do with launching a Globalstar sat?
There was a 4th second stage burn for disposal, since a debris zone was specified in the Pacific. This burn would be required, since a 1200 km circular orbit will take forever to decay naturally, much more than the 25 years that is the standard limit for space debris minimization
Quote from: LouScheffer on 06/19/2022 12:37 pmThere was a 4th second stage burn for disposal, since a debris zone was specified in the Pacific. This burn would be required, since a 1200 km circular orbit will take forever to decay naturally, much more than the 25 years that is the standard limit for space debris minimizationLooks like that burn, or related fuel dump, has been seen from New Zealand around 07:30 UTC: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300617139/whats-behind-the-bizarre-lights-seen-across-new-zealands-sky