Session
Technical Session V: Getting There
Abstract
SpaceX is committed to revolutionizing access to space for the small-satellite community. With over 40 missions on our manifest, Falcon 9 is poised to become the industry workhorse for space launch services. The Dragon spacecraft, developed in part to resupply the International Space Station, is capable of hosting missions for up to 2 years on orbit. In short, SpaceX offers highly reliable, cost-effective launch services and payload hosting opportunities. This paper defines the company’s secondary launch services and options, and how they will impact the small-satellite community. Secondary payloads, by definition, must accompany and minimally impact the primary payload. Despite this unobtrusive position, small-satellite missions continue to demonstrate incredible capability at reasonable prices. SpaceX recognizes this tremendous asset, which is why as the company continues to reduce the time from build to launch, it is prepared to meet market demand and support future developments with Falcon and Dragon products. Establishing expectations and success criteria for secondary payloads, and making these guidelines available for future mission planning will enable sustainable space access for secondary payloads. This paper describes the SpaceX approach to secondary payloads, standardized services provided to multiple payload types, and provides a current list of secondary launch opportunities. The small-satellite community is critical to the future of our industry, and SpaceX is committed to providing reliable, timely, and cost-effective launch services to enable current and future missions. SpaceX looks forward to offering launch services to this innovative marketplace and to continue decreasing the cost to space.
Presentation Slides
Secondary Launch Services and Payload Hosting Aboard the Falcon and Dragon Product Lines
SpaceX is committed to revolutionizing access to space for the small-satellite community. With over 40 missions on our manifest, Falcon 9 is poised to become the industry workhorse for space launch services. The Dragon spacecraft, developed in part to resupply the International Space Station, is capable of hosting missions for up to 2 years on orbit. In short, SpaceX offers highly reliable, cost-effective launch services and payload hosting opportunities. This paper defines the company’s secondary launch services and options, and how they will impact the small-satellite community. Secondary payloads, by definition, must accompany and minimally impact the primary payload. Despite this unobtrusive position, small-satellite missions continue to demonstrate incredible capability at reasonable prices. SpaceX recognizes this tremendous asset, which is why as the company continues to reduce the time from build to launch, it is prepared to meet market demand and support future developments with Falcon and Dragon products. Establishing expectations and success criteria for secondary payloads, and making these guidelines available for future mission planning will enable sustainable space access for secondary payloads. This paper describes the SpaceX approach to secondary payloads, standardized services provided to multiple payload types, and provides a current list of secondary launch opportunities. The small-satellite community is critical to the future of our industry, and SpaceX is committed to providing reliable, timely, and cost-effective launch services to enable current and future missions. SpaceX looks forward to offering launch services to this innovative marketplace and to continue decreasing the cost to space.
