Falcon 9 flight 10
Falcon 9 flight 10
An elongated hexagon with a thick red border encases an artistic depiction of a Falcon 9 second stage in orbit with a satellite in the payload bay.
Official insignia for the flight
Falcon 9 v1.1 launch
LaunchJuly 14, 2014 (2014-07-14), 15:15 UTC
OperatorSpaceX
PadCape Canaveral SLC-40
PayloadOrbcomm-OG2 × 6
OutcomeSuccess
Components
First stageB1007
Falcon launches

Falcon 9 flight 10 was a Falcon 9 space launch that occurred on July 14, 2014. It was the fifth launch of the Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle and carried six Orbcomm-OG2 telecommunication satellites. All six 172-kilogram-mass (379 lb) satellites were successfully deployed.[1][2]

Following the first stage loft of the second stage and payload on its orbital trajectory, SpaceX conducted a successful flight test on the spent first stage that received considerable news attention. In the event, the first stage successfully decelerated from hypersonic speed in the upper atmosphere, made a successful reentry, landing burn, and deployment of its landing legs and touched down on the ocean surface. The first stage was not recovered however as the hull integrity was breached on landing or on the subsequent "tip over and body slam".[3]

History

This launch schedule was particularly problematic and was delayed several times, with success on the fourth scheduled launch attempt on July 14, 2014.[1][2][4]

Earlier launch attempts were:

  • delayed by SpaceX due to a first stage helium leak[5]
  • delayed by Orbcomm due to a potential defect in one of their satellites.[6] On June 20 a launch attempt was scrubbed due to a fluctuation in pressure readings on the second stage.
  • delayed one day by weather on June 21 when the launch window was closed due to poor weather conditions on the flight trajectory through the lower atmosphere
  • the June 22 attempt was scrubbed by SpaceX to address a potential concern with the launch vehicle identified during pre-flight checks.[7]

Payloads

Payload Operator Function Manufacturer Bus type Mass (kg) Remarks
Orbcomm FM103 Orbcomm Communications Sierra Nevada SN-100A 172 kg (379 lb)
Orbcomm FM104 Orbcomm Communications Sierra Nevada SN-100A 172 kg (379 lb)
Orbcomm FM106 Orbcomm Communications Sierra Nevada SN-100A 172 kg (379 lb)
Orbcomm FM107 Orbcomm Communications Sierra Nevada SN-100A 172 kg (379 lb)
Orbcomm FM109 Orbcomm Communications Sierra Nevada SN-100A 172 kg (379 lb)
Orbcomm FM111 Orbcomm Communications Sierra Nevada SN-100A 172 kg (379 lb)

Post-mission launch vehicle testing

In an arrangement unusual for launch vehicles, the first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket conducted a propulsive-return over-water test after the second stage with the Orbcomm OG2 payload separated from the booster.[3]

This was the third high-altitude post-mission test of this type, after the first test on Falcon 9 Flight 6 in September 2013,[8] and a second test in April 2014. The April test resulted in the first successful controlled ocean soft touchdown of a liquid-rocket-engine orbital booster[9] and included landing legs for the first time which were extended for the simulated "landing".[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Graham, William (July 14, 2014). "SpaceX's Falcon 9 set for fourth attempt to launch Orbcomm OG2 mission". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "OG2 Launch". Orbcomm. June 16, 2014. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "SpaceX Falcon Rocket Sends Up a Six-Pack of Satellites". NBC News. The Associated Press. July 14, 2014. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2014. Musk: 'Rocket booster reentry, landing burn & leg deploy were good, but lost hull integrity right after splashdown (aka kaboom) ... Detailed review of rocket telemetry needed to tell if due to initial splashdown or subsequent tip over and body slam'.
  4. ^ "Spaceflight Now | Tracking Station". 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  5. ^ Clark, Stephen (May 21, 2014). "SpaceX investigating Falcon 9 first stage helium leak". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on July 12, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  6. ^ Dean, James (June 14, 2014). "Delayed SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket fires up its engines". Florida Today. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  7. ^ "Launch update". 21 June 2014. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  8. ^ Messier, Doug (29 September 2013). "Falcon 9 Launches Payloads into Orbit From Vandenberg". Parabolic Arc. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  9. ^ Belfiore, Michael (April 22, 2014). "SpaceX Brings a Booster Safely Back to Earth". MIT Technology Review. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  10. ^ Norris, Guy (April 28, 2014). "SpaceX Plans For Multiple Reusable Booster Tests". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Falcon 9 Flight 10.
  • "Press Kit: Orbcomm OG2 - Misson 1" (PDF). SpaceX. May 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2014.
  • Falcon 9 First Stage Return : ORBCOMM Mission, SpaceX-released video of the controlled descent test (onboard camera), July 2014.
  • Falcon 9 First Stage Reentry Footage from Plane, SpaceX-released video of the controlled descent test, as seen from a chase plane, Aug 2014.
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