Thaicom 8 will be launched into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) on a Falcon 9 Full Trust for a 30 days testing phase following a in orbit burn of the satellite propulsion system to put the spacecraft into a geosynchronous orbit (GSO)at 78.5 degrees east longitude. Where Thaicom 8 will provide broadcast and data services for up to 15 years. The Falcon 9 first stage will test a experimental ballistic landing off the coast where it is schedule to land on the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS). Even if the landing fails the knowledge learned from the attempt will help for future missions.
The Full Thrust variants first stage includes all systems necessary for an operational re-use of stages while the second stage is operated as an expendable rocket stage.
See DetailsThe first stage of the Falcon 9 landed on the ASDS, OCISLY, stationed of the east coast.
Result: Successful Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship landing at Of Course I Still Love You.Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.
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