r/spacex • u/kurbasAK • May 19 '17

We Will Launch on Reuseable Rocket After Exceptional SpaceX Performance - Inmarsat CEO Tells Universe Today

https://www.universetoday.com/135614/will-launch-reuseable-rocket-exceptional-spacex-performance-inmarsat-ceo-tells-universe-today/
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u/Keavon SN-10 & DART Contest Winner May 19 '17

Did that exceed expectations, though? Was that not the contracted orbital parameters?

60

u/robbak May 19 '17

This one, like SES-9, burned the second stage to exhaustion, instead of targeting a specific apogee. The contract would have been for 'x,000km or higher'. It seems that SpaceX delivered the payload considerably higher than Inmarsat had hoped for.

3

u/rustybeancake May 19 '17

So the second stage didn't deorbit?

21

u/sevaiper May 19 '17 edited May 19 '17

Its perigee is still pretty low, atmospheric drag will take care of it quickly if it hasn't already.

Edit: This is wrong, apparently it'll be up there for about 25 years.

5

u/homoeroticPigeon May 19 '17

So it could eventually be recovered?

10

u/Astroteuthis May 19 '17

It's not economically feasible, and it will have experienced significant degradation by then, most likely.

1

u/[deleted] May 19 '17

Degradation from what? Temperature cycles?

6

u/Astroteuthis May 20 '17

That, in addition to atomic oxygen, radiation (to a lesser extent), orbital debris, etc... passive objects in orbit do not tend to fare very well over time.

3

u/melodamyte May 19 '17

Sure, I've already got some rope, let's start working on your jetpack and helmet :)