Comments on: It appears that SpaceX and Orbcomm have finalized their launch agreement. https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/it-appears-that-spacex-and-orbcomm-have-finalized-their-launch-agreement/ Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:39:29 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/it-appears-that-spacex-and-orbcomm-have-finalized-their-launch-agreement/#comment-78866 Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:39:29 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=21243#comment-78866 In reply to Pzatchok.

Just to clarify, NASA does not control all launches. It controlled this particular launch because the Dragon capsule was the primary payload and the Orbcomm prototype was a secondary payload. In such a case, the owner of the primary payload always dictates what happens. Orbcomm accepted those conditions when it put its satellite on this Falcon 9 launch.

]]> By: Pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/it-appears-that-spacex-and-orbcomm-have-finalized-their-launch-agreement/#comment-78840 Sat, 29 Dec 2012 10:03:50 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=21243#comment-78840 Actually the engine problem did not stop the satellite from reaching orbit.

NASA still controls all launches and NASA noticed the engine problem and made the call all on their own to abort the orbital insertion of the secondary payload.
The rocket was designed and built to finish its mission with one missing engine. The others would just run longer. NASA does not engineer this way so didn’t trust the design.

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