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SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

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Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#191

In the video of the fairing adapter deploying the satellites, there's some kind of white highlight or light-source in the upper-left part of the frame. What was that? Also, what happens to the mass-adapter (i.e. the balancing 12th non-satellite)?

The entire second stage, including the payload adapter, did a deorbit burn after deployment, to avoid creating space debris.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#193

In the video of the fairing adapter deploying the satellites, there's some kind of white highlight or light-source in the upper-left part of the frame. What was that? Also, what happens to the mass-adapter (i.e. the balancing 12th non-satellite)?

I think that was some sort of reflection on the camera housing. And I think the mass-adapter would stay with the 2nd stage for deorbit, they would rather not add to the space junk problem.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#196
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A follow-up question to that would be - how much $$ do you save per launch by reusing the first stage?

Lots. There's really not a lot of costs that can add up for reuse of these stages. It'll require a bit of cleaning up, a few new bits and pieces replaced and added, and a lot of inspection work. But most of the cost of the stage is in manufacturing the engines and tanks, so it should add up to enormous savings, even if it's relatively costly to reuse each stage compared to the theoretical limits. Edit: the flip-side…

Good point. Orbcomm already paid off the booster. Now SpaceX can take it up for a joy ride for only a few hundred grand of gas and really fly the fins off it.

I bet they relaunch this booster on their own dime as a demo.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#197
post #97

Trying to land a Rocket — the SpaceX Reusable Rocket Story https://medium.com/lazy-collections/trying-to-land-a-rocket-...

This also shows several other attempts (and successs): Armadillo in 2010, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Orgin, plus rocket planes much earlier.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#199
post #10

What's with all the fluff videos? Can we have a channel with just a comms feed? T-4 minutes and still zero actual mission audio...

I watched it with my four year old daughter on my lap, and then we made a rocket out of a paper towel roll. So it's good outreach and great to see a variety of faces of people who put such an amazing accomplishment together.

Re: SpaceX launch webcast: Orbcomm-2 Mission [video]

#200

I guess now the question is whether they can do it the majority of the time.

yeah.. the beauty of the rocket cost asymmetry means they only need to do it 'sometimes' and not all the time to drastically reduce launch costs. (75% of cost is in the first stage, fuel costs are 0.3%)
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