SpaceX Launches More Than 60 Small Satellites Into Orbit (bloomberg.com)

SpaceX notched its 19th launch of the year Monday, lofting 64 small spacecraft from 34 organizations into low Earth orbit. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base on California's central coast at about 10:34 a.m. local time. The customer was Spaceflight Industries, a Seattle-based company that organized the launch on behalf of several clients. From a report: The Spaceflight SSO-A: SmallSat Express mission includes 15 microsats and 49 cubesats from commercial and government entities, including universities, startups and a middle school, according to the SpaceX press kit. The payloads -- which vary from technology demonstrations and imaging satellites to educational-research endeavors -- are from 17 countries, including the U.S., Brazil, India and South Korea.

SpaceX said a series of six deployments would occur about 13 to 43 minutes after takeoff, then Spaceflight would command its own deployment sequences over a period of six hours. The Falcon 9's first stage has flown twice before: in May 2018 and again in August. SpaceX recovered it Monday on "Just Read the Instructions," a droneship in the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX also attempted to recover the rocket's fairing, which encloses the payload, with Mr. Steven, a boat designed to capture it in a massive net.

Comments

Lofted into orbit

[lgw]

"I heard Musk was arrested!"
"What for?"
"SpaceX launched a boat into orbit as a stunt."
"And?"
"He was arrested for shiplofting."

More than 60?

[fahrbot-bot]

You couldn't just say 64? It's right there in TFS and TFA -- and "Launches 64" is shorter (and more accurate) than "Launches More Than 60". Yes, I realize that's the actual title of TFA (I checked), but seriously editors, you can edit stuff.

3rd Launch for that booster.

[Harlequin80]

Most interesting, for me anyway, is that this was the 3rd launch for this booster. It was also recovered so conceivably it could be used again. Be very very interesting to know how the boosters structure is holding up to the stresses.

Re:3rd Launch for that booster.

[jfdavis668]

SpaceX is very interested in that, too.

Re:3rd Launch for that booster.

[Kjella]

Well Musk described the Block 5 as the final version and the plan is ten launches before any major rework/disposal, so big problems after three would be underwhelming. It's probably more a question of figuring out how much is enough, what inspections and refurbishment is necessary. I hope they've now found some kind of protocol for it though, you'd think what they do between 3rd and 4th launch should be very similar to what they did between 2nd and 3rd launch. He doesn't have to rush one booster but I hope he does so we'll see if 4th-5th-6th-7th go just as smooth. Also it's the first time I've seen SpaceX give the fairing recovery attempt so much coverage, it probably means they're getting close.

And if they finally get their crew certification then 2019 might become a very interesting year in spaceflight. Well actually they all are, recently.

Re:3rd Launch for that booster.

[RhettLivingston]

As to the fairing recovery... I gathered from Musk's statement that reuse is imminent but catching it has become a nicety. I guess they've been simultaneously working on making sure it lands softly and making it reusable after a soft landing in seawater.

Re:3rd Launch for that booster.

[Harlequin80]

While the design aim is 10 launches SpaceX is operating in essentially uncharted territory. I wouldn't be surprised at all if there are some components that are wearing faster than expected and or aren't living up to design specifications.

Given they had a bracket fail on a launch way below its rated load and wreck a launch, I think having all components living up to their design tolerances under stresses previously never tried before would be downright amazing.

Re:Why are we letting this continue?

[sirsnork]

Cube Sat's deorbit by themselves in weeks. These things won't be up there cluttering up anything