Falcon

Mission Integration and Services

CONTRACTING

Falcon launch services are available via direct contract with SpaceX and through certain managed procurement services. To begin your direct contract relationship with SpaceX, please the SpaceX Sales department. The Sales department will work with you to develop a launch services contract.

MISSION MANAGEMENT

To streamline communication and ensure customer satisfaction, SpaceX provides each Falcon launch services customer with a single technical point of contact from contract award through launch (Figure 7-1). Your mission manager will be responsible for coordinating mission integration analysis and documentation deliverables, planning integration meetings and reports, conducting mission-unique design reviews (as required) and coordinating all integration and test activities associated with the mission. The mission manager also coordinates all aspects of launch vehicle production, range and range safety integration, and all mission-required licensing leading up to the launch campaign. The mission manager works closely with the customer, SpaceX technical execution staff and all associated licensing agencies in order to achieve a successful mission.

Figure 7-1: Mission management organization

The mission manager will work with the customer to create a spacecraft-to-launch vehicle interface control document (ICD)—the master document for a Falcon launch vehicle mission. Following signature approval of the ICD, SpaceX maintains configuration control of the document.

Once the payload arrives at the launch site, physical accommodation of customer hardware and associated ground support equipment is managed by the payload integration manager—part of the launch operations team. However, the mission manager continues to be the customer’s primary SpaceX point of contact at the launch site and coordinates all launch site activities to ensure customer satisfaction during this critical phase.

STANDARD SERVICES

As part of any Falcon launch service, SpaceX will:

• Provide personnel, services, hardware, equipment, documentation, analyses and facilities to support mission planning, launch vehicle production and acceptance, payload integration, and launch.
• Secure required launch licensing, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and State Department licenses, with input from the payload customer. (Note: Customers are responsible for any launch licenses specific to payload operation).
• Secure third-party liability insurance for the launch (Note: Customer retains responsibility for satellite insurance at all times).
• Provide all range and safety documents for the payload provider to complete (per AFSPCMAN 91-710 and 14 CFR Part 400).
• Facilitate the range and range safety integration process.
• Provide up to three sets of 37- or 61-pin satellite-to-launch vehicle in-flight disconnect electrical connectors, or integrate customer-provided mission-unique connectors.
• Provide a 1575-mm bolted interface compatible with the 62.01-in. diameter Medium Payload Class mechanical interface defined in the EELV Standard Interface Specification.
• Provide one 937-mm or 1194-mm (36.89-in. or 47.01-in.) adapter and low-shock clampband separation system, or integrate a customer-provided mission-unique separation system.
• Provide an adapter and technical support for a mechanical interface compatibility verification test at a facility of the customer’s choosing.
• Provide transportation for the customer’s spacecraft container and all ground support equipment (GSE) from the launch site landing location to the spacecraft processing location, if necessary.
• Provide ISO Class 8 (Class 100,000 cleanroom) integration space for the payload and GSE prior to the scheduled launch date, including facilities and support to customer’s hazardous operations.
• Provide certified mechanical GSE to support physical mating of the payload to the payload adapter, perform fairing encapsulation, and integrate the encapsulated system with the launch vehicle.
• Process the launch vehicle, integrate and encapsulate the payload within the fairing, and test electrical interfaces with the payload.
• Provide conditioned air into the fairing during encapsulated ground processing.
• Provide one payload access door in the fairing at pre-designed locations.
• Produce a customer logo and install it on the launch vehicle.
• Conduct a countdown dress rehearsal for customer launch team members supported by SpaceX Mission Management.
• Launch the payload into the specified orbit within the specified environmental constraints.
• Perform 3-axis attitude control or spin-stabilized spacecraft separation.
• Perform a collision avoidance maneuver (as required).
• Verify spacecraft separation from the launch vehicle and provide an orbit injection report.
• Deliver a final post-flight report, which will include payload separation confirmation, ephemeris, payload environment, significant events and any mission-impacting anomalies.

A detailed statement of work and deliverables list, including these standard services, will be developed during contract negotiation.

SCHEDULE

Table 7-1 provides a standard launch integration schedule, starting at contract signature and proceeding through the post-flight summary. A detailed schedule, including required customer deliverables, is developed during contract negotiation.

Table 7-1: Standard launch integration schedule

CUSTOMER DELIVERABLES

Table 7-2 and Table 7-3 provide an overview of standard documentation and information required from the customer. Note: these lists are not all-inclusive but, rather, represent minimum requirements. Depending on the specific payload, additional customer requirements may apply.

Table 7-2: Required documents and data for all payloads

Table 7-3: Additional required documents and data for non-US persons and non-US government payloads