For the majority of Americans, 2017 has not been a year to celebrate, nor a year that would warrant much optimism for our future.
That is why it's crucial to highlight successes and technological advances - especially those that are space-related - lest they get lost or drowned out by the horrifying events that define our current political landscape.
Based on the first six months of the year, SpaceX is having its most successful year to date, with an impressive line-up of nine (!) launches and seven landings, all of which have been a resounding success. The month of June alone saw three SpaceX missions - two of them this past weekend launched from opposite coasts within 48 hours of each other.
Almost every one of these nine missions included historic milestone achievements for SpaceX as well as spaceflight in general. Below is a list of the nine SpaceX missions through the month of June, with information about them and historic milestones marked as these missions achieved their objectives, one after the other.
SpaceX's 10th mission of the year, the launch of an Intelsat satellite from Cape Canaveral, is currently scheduled for no earlier than July 2.
1. January 14, 2017
From: Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, Space Launch Complex 4E
Payload: First of multiple missions to deploy Iridium NEXT satellites
Client: Iridium Communications, McLean, VA
Landing: Drone ship in the Pacific, Just Read The Instructions
Historic milestones:
1. Return-to-flight mission after the loss of the Amos-6 payload in September 2016
2. First successful drone ship landing in the Pacific
Image credit: SpaceX
Iridium-1 mission, January 14, 2107
Image credit: SpaceX
Iridium-1 mission, January 14, 2107
2. February 19, 2017
From: Kennedy Space Center, FL, Launch Complex 39A
Payload: CRS-10, 10th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station
Client: NASA, Houston, TX
Landing: Ground pad at Kennedy Space Center
SpaceX's technical webcast for the CRS-10 mission
February 19, 2017
3. March 16, 2107
From: Kennedy Space Center, FL, Launch Complex 39A
Payload: EchoStar 23 communications satellite
Client: EchoStar, Englewood, CO
Landing: No attempt made
Image credit: SpaceX
Iridium mission, March 16, 2107
4. March 30, 2017
From: Kennedy Space Center, FL, Launch Complex 39A
Payload: SES-10 communications satellite
Client: SES, Luxembourg
Landing: Drone ship in the Atlantic, Of Course I Still Love You
Historic milestones:
1. First re-use of a recovered Stage 1 rocket (B1021), which also landed again. The rocket was first flown during the CRS-8 mission to the ISS in April, 2016.
2. The payload fairing also remained intact, as SpaceX began testing reusable fairings during missions. The fairing was equipped with thrusters and parachutes for landing maneuvers.
World's First Reflight of an Orbital Class Rocket Hosted Webcast
March 30, 2017
5. May 1, 2017
From: Kennedy Space Center, FL, Launch Complex 39A
Payload: NROL-76 (classified)
Client: National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Chantilly, VA
Landing: Ground pad at Kennedy Space Center
Historic milestone:
SpaceX's first launch under its certification for national security missions.
Image credit: SpaceX
NROL-76 mission, May 1, 2017
6. May 15, 2017
From: Kennedy Space Center, FL, Launch Complex 39A
Payload: Inmarsat-5 communications satellite
Client: Inmarsat, London
Landing: No attempt made
Historic milestone:
Heaviest payload (6,070 kg) launched to geostationary transfer orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket to date.
Image credit: SpaceX
Inmarsat-5 mission, May 15, 2015
7. June 3, 2017
From: Kennedy Space Center, FL, Launch Complex 39A
Payload: CRS-11, 11th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. Delivery of NICER, MUSES and ROSA science instruments to the ISS.
Client: NASA, Houston, TX
Landing: Ground pad at Kennedy Space Center
Historic milestone:
First re-use of a refurbished Dragon capsule (C106), which first flew as part of the CRS-4 mission in September 2014.
Image credit: SpaceX
CRS-11 mission, June 3, 2017
Image credit: SpaceX
CRS-11 mission, June 3, 2017
8. June 23, 2017
From: Kennedy Space Center, FL, Launch Complex 39A
Payload: BulgariaSat communications satellite
Client: Bulsatcom, Sofia, Bulgaria
Landing: Drone ship in the Atlantic, Of Course I Still Love You
Historic milestones:
1. Second re-use of a booster (B1029) that initially flew five months earlier in January 2017 during the first Iridium NEXT mission.
2. Launch of the first Bulgarian-owned commercial communications satellite.
Image credit: SpaceX
BulgariaSat mission, June 23, 2017
9. June 25, 2017
From: Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, Space Launch Complex 4E
Payload: Second of multiple missions to deploy Iridium NEXT satellites
Client: Iridium Communications, McLean, VA
Landing: Drone ship in the Pacific, Just Read The Instructions
Historic milestones:
1. Third successful Falcon 9 launch and landing in a single month and the first to launch within 48 hours of a previous mission.
2. First use of new titanium landing grid fins during a mission. The titanium fins are much more durable than previously used aluminum fins and require almost no maintenance.
Image credit: SpaceX
New titanium grid fins used to land Falcon 9 rockets
Image credit: SpaceX
Iridium-2 mission, June 25, 2017
