Session
Technical Session VIII: Space Access
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
On 25 June 2019, the Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program (STP) launched the STP-2 mission from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. This groundbreaking mission carried twenty-four space vehicles to three different orbits and achieved many firsts. As might be expected in such a complex rideshare mission, there were many lessons learned. This paper discusses some of those lessons learned, particularly related to managing and working with multiple organizations, performing interface control, sorting through policy and compliance, and conducting mission assurance, fit checks, and launch integration.
STP has a 50+ year history of providing access to space for research and development satellites, most of them small satellites. The STP-2 launch represents the latest in a long line of multi-manifest rideshare missions. Our hope is to enlighten similar mission teams attempting large rideshare efforts across the entire space system development and launch community.
The STP-2 Mission: Rideshare Lessons Learned from the Air Force’s First Falcon Heavy Launch
Utah State University, Logan, UT
On 25 June 2019, the Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program (STP) launched the STP-2 mission from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. This groundbreaking mission carried twenty-four space vehicles to three different orbits and achieved many firsts. As might be expected in such a complex rideshare mission, there were many lessons learned. This paper discusses some of those lessons learned, particularly related to managing and working with multiple organizations, performing interface control, sorting through policy and compliance, and conducting mission assurance, fit checks, and launch integration.
STP has a 50+ year history of providing access to space for research and development satellites, most of them small satellites. The STP-2 launch represents the latest in a long line of multi-manifest rideshare missions. Our hope is to enlighten similar mission teams attempting large rideshare efforts across the entire space system development and launch community.
