Topic overview
In brief
- The FALCON 9 R/B was launched on January 15, 2025, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- It orbits in Medium Earth Orbit at an average altitude of 272,047 km and travels at 4,307 km/h.
- As a significant piece of space debris, it raises concerns for collision avoidance and future debris removal efforts.
Summary
On January 15, 2025, the United States successfully launched the FALCON 9 R/B rocket body from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as part of the BG-1/Hakuto-R M2 mission. This spent rocket body is now in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), where it orbits at an average altitude of approximately 272,047 kilometers. The FALCON 9 R/B travels at a speed of about 4,307 kilometers per hour, completing one full orbit every 406.1 hours. Its orbital path is characterized by a significant eccentricity of 0.4539, resulting in a notably elliptical trajectory with considerable altitude variation between perigee and apogee.
The FALCON 9 R/B is classified as a significant piece of space debris, contributing to the growing population of uncontrolled objects in orbit. As a spent rocket body, it remains in orbit after delivering its payload, which raises concerns regarding collision risks with other satellites and space debris. The United States operates approximately 12,671 active satellites, and the presence of such large debris necessitates ongoing efforts for collision avoidance and future active debris removal initiatives.