Friday, April 12, 1996

Orbcomm FM1

 1995-017A


In 1995 OSC launched the first pair of operational Orbcomm Flight Model satellites using the Microstar bus. FM1 (later F1) was 1.0m in diameter and 0.16m high, with a mass of 40 kg, before deployment of its solar panels and comm boom.

The L-1011 aircraft took off from Vandenberg on 1995 Apr 3, and flew to the Point Arguello Warning Area over the Pacific. At 1348 UT the Pegasus was launched and all three stages fired successfully; FM1 was inserted into a 726 x 756 km x 70.0 deg orbit. OSC breathed a sigh of relief at the return of Pegasus to flight following months of inactivity. Relief turned to concern when FM1 developed a software problem, but the satellite was operational by early June. 


Orbcomm F1 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1995 Apr 3  1250? L-1011 takeoff  
 1348  Pegasus drop 
 1348  Stage 1 burn 
 1349  T+1:35 Stage 2 burn 
 1349  T+1:50 Fairing 
 1350  T+2:48 Stage 2 burnout 
 1357? T+9:50? Stage 2 sep 
 1357  T+9:52? Stage 3 burn 
 1358? T+10:57? Stage 3 burnout 
 1359? FM1/FM2 sep from stack 
 1359? Microlab sep from stack 
1995 Aug 20   726 x 756 x 70.0 

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