SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 11-2 : VSFB SLC-4E : 13 December 2024 (19:29 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink Group 11-2 launch.

Launch NET 13 December 2024, at 19:29:40 UTC (11:29 am PST), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1082-9.  The first stage will land aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 22 Starlink V2.0 Mini satellites, to a 53 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 273 x 283 km.

Please use the Starlink Discussion Thread for all general discussion on Starlink.

Check the Starlink Index Thread for links to more Starlink information.


L2 SpaceX: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0

[zubenelgenubi]

Next Falcon 9 Vandenberg launches:

Sep 30              OneWeb Flight 20   LZ-4

NET early Oct  Starlink 9/11-TBD  OCISLY

OCISLY turnaround does not matter for the launch following OneWeb's.  Launch circa October 5?


Which first stage will be used for this launch?  (semi-rhetorical question)

Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to forty times for non-human spaceflight missions, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon and Cygnus than these other payloads.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1082.7    Aug 4    OneWeb Flight 20
1061.23  Aug 12  (transported to Cape Canaveral for October 7 expendable launch of Hera)
1063.21  Sep 6
1071.19  Sep 13   Starlink 9-7
1075.14   Sep 20
1081.11   Sep 25

Edited

Launch delayed to December 2024.  See here:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=61584.msg2646951#msg2646951

[Galactic Penguin SST]

It looks like per this very cool Vestaboard at SpaceX's Cape Canaveral LCC, the OneWeb launch was supposed to be followed by Starlink Group 11-2 at the West Coast on October 4, 17:00 UTC (the launch times on that board is evidentially EDT compared with what we knew for OneWeb 20 and Starlink Group 10-10).

It's delayed of course given the Crew-9 Falcon 9 S2 de-orbit issue.

https://twitter.com/v_wyche/status/1840167783423672720

[Galactic Penguin SST]

First time this launch shows up on https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp - and it's holding the October 4 17:00 UTC launch time!

SPACEX STARLINK 11-2, VANDENBERG SFB,CA
PRIMARY:   10/04    1700Z-2131Z
BACKUP:   10/05   1700Z-2131Z
      10/06   1300Z-1731Z
      10/07   1200Z-1631Z
      10/08   1200Z-1631Z
      10/09   1200Z-1631Z

[Ken the Bin]

First time this launch shows up on https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp - and it's holding the October 4 17:00 UTC launch time!

SPACEX STARLINK 11-2, VANDENBERG SFB,CA
PRIMARY:   10/04    1700Z-2131Z
BACKUP:   10/05   1700Z-2131Z
      10/06   1300Z-1731Z
      10/07   1200Z-1631Z
      10/08   1200Z-1631Z
      10/09   1200Z-1631Z

And OneWeb has been removed, so 11-2 is the only Vandy launch now listed.

[GewoonLukas_]

This launch has been removed from the FAA Advisory, and given the lack of NOTAMs or NGA Notices, this launch is now TBD.
https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp

[zubenelgenubi]

If I recall correctly, NASA LSP launches and all USA-based crewed launches (not commercial cargo to ISS) require ~48 hours spacing between launches using the same model (ex. Falcon 9/Falcon Heavy) to allow post-flight launch vehicle performance analysis.

So, no Falcon 9 launches within 48 hours before Falcon Heavy/Europa Clipper.

See the Starlink 6-22 launch with respect to Psyche last year.

Seeking correction or clarification.


Perhaps:
Second Vandenberg Falcon 9 launch after Europa Clipper, NET circa October 15?

(Hypothetical) next Falcon 9 Vandenberg launches:

NET Oct 11  OneWeb Flight 20  LZ-4

NET Oct 15  Starlink 11-2           OCISLY

OCISLY turnaround does not matter for the launch following OneWeb's.

Edited

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Starlink 9-7 launched October 15, as the Vandenberg return-to-flight after the September 28 second stage de-orbit over-burn.

SFN Launch Schedule, updated October 14:
(Still) TBD

Next?

Or will SpaceX go next with Starlink 11-2?

Edit: No, OneWeb Flight 20 is next on October 20 UTC.

Edit October 18: Followed on October 24 by the fourth Starshield launch.

Edit/add: How early in "early November" will Transporter-12 launch?  The next Vandenberg Starlink launch could be after Transporter-12.

Edit October 23: Starlink 9-9 is announced to launch on October 29, pushing Starlink 11-2 to NET early November, either before or after Transporter-12, also launching in early November.

[zubenelgenubi]

Starlink 9-10 was announced for launch today, launching November 5 2 from Vandenberg.

V2 Mini not-Direct-to-Cell satellite launches from Vandenberg (Group 11) appear to take the back seat 💺 to Group 9.  And, we haven't had a Group 7 launch in months (last on April 2).

This launch definitely TBD/NET November, but it could pop up anytime.

No further information on the launch date/time of Transporter-12, still listed for early November (as of this posting).

https://twitter.com/longmier/status/1851606262774939789

Only 5 more launches left for @Starlink Direct to Cell in order to complete the first commercial constellation. We will continue to launch and improve the service after that in order to improve the coverage and latency for our partner telcos around the world.

Edited

[zubenelgenubi]

Starlink 9-11 scheduled to launch from SLC-4E on November 14 12 UTC.

No launch date yet announced for Transporter-12.

Edited

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Well guess what? It's finally back!

Primary Launch Day 07 DEC 2124Z-0155Z Backup Launch Day (1) 08 DEC 2101Z-0132Z Backup Launch Day (2) 09 DEC 2039Z-0110Z Backup Launch Day (3) 10 DEC 2017Z-0048Z Backup Launch Day (4) 11 DEC 1955Z-0026Z Backup Launch Day (5) 12 DEC 1933Z-0004Z Backup Launch Day (6) 13 DEC 1910Z-2341Z

[zubenelgenubi]

After SpaceX has completed launching enough V2 Mini Direct-to-Cell satellites to begin said service, then they can return to the Group 11 launches from Vandenberg--launches that do not include V2 Mini Direct-to-Cell.

[raptorx2]

A look at Group 11-1 @ 455km

[raptorx2]

It should be noted that both Group 10 and Group 11 have been flying many  satellites in "close proximity pairs" as shown above.

Group 10 @~465km
Group 11 @~485km

Hence they have been testing for months, in-line with the October FCC Modification  SAT-MOD-20241011-00224 to add the 480 km, 485 km, and 475km shells.

"SpaceX now seeks to upgrade its Gen2 satellite system to improve the quality, coverage,
and sustainability of the system and deliver gigabit-speed, low-latency broadband and ubiquitous
mobile connectivity to all Americans and help close the digital divide for the billions of people
around the world who still lack adequate broadband."


Given the amount of resources that SpaceX has put into these "close proximity" testing satellites in both Group 10 and 11, then perhaps, but open to other possibilities, SpaceX is attempting to aggregate the arrays across the two satellites.  Sort of like a VLA in Radio Astronomy? 

[zubenelgenubi]

The launch preceding this launch, Starlink 9-14, has been delayed by one day to December 5 UTC.  The usual turnaround time for SLC-4E launches with OCISLY recovery is approximately 6 days.

I deduce this launch will be delayed as well.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The launch preceding this launch, Starlink 9-14, has been delayed by one day to December 5 UTC.  The usual turnaround time for SLC-4E launches with OCISLY recovery is approximately 6 days.

I deduce this launch will be delayed as well.

Ending up delayed all the way till December 12:

B2115/24 NOTAMR B2059/24
Q) MMFR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) MMFR
B) 2412121933
C) 2412182151
D) 12 1933-13 0004, 13 1910-2341, 14 1848-2319, 15 1826-2257, 16
   1804-2235, 17 1742-2213, 18 1720-2151
E) DANGEROUS AREA FOR REENTRY OF ROCKET STARLINK 11-2 STAGE 1
   LATERAL LIMIT AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FLW POINTS:
   30 51N  117 34W
   30 53N  117 29W
   30 37N  117 04W
   30 05N  116 28W
   29 42N  116 06W
   29 18N  115 56W
   28 58N  116 22W
   29 12N  116 48W
   29 32N  117 06W
   30 27N  117 28W
   30 51N  117 34W
   MMFR
F) SFC
G) UNL

B2114/24 NOTAMR B2052/24
Q) MMFR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) MMFO
B) 2412122109
C) 2412182344
D) 12 2109- 13 0157, 13 2046- 14 0134, 14 2024- 15 0112, 15 2002- 16
   0050, 16 1940- 17 0028, 17 1918- 18 0006, 18 1856- 2344
E) DANGEROUS AREA FOR REENTRY OF ROCKET STARLINK 11-2 STAGE 2
   LATERAL LIMIT AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FLW POINTS:
      06 55N  120 00W
      05 22N  118 57W
      05 00N  120 00W
      06 55N  120 00W
      MMFO
F) SFC
G) UNL

[OneSpeed]

Ending up delayed all the way till December 12:

Maps from the NOTAMs. Identical to Starlink 9-10.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice (expected launch window 19:33-23:33 UTC).

062349Z DEC 24
NAVAREA XII 943/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS:
   A. 121933Z TO 130004Z DEC, ALTERNATE
      131910Z TO 132341Z, 141848Z TO 142319Z, 
      151826Z TO 152257Z, 161804Z TO 162235Z,
      171742Z TO 172213Z, 181720Z TO 182151Z.
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      28-58.00N 116-22.00W, 29-12.00N 116-48.00W,
      29-32.00N 117-06.00W, 29-50.00N 117-02.00W,
      30-00.00N 116-50.00W, 30-04.00N 116-28.00W,
      29-42.00N 116-06.00W, 29-18.00N 115-56.00W.
   B. 121933Z TO 122358Z, DEC, ALTERNATE
      131910Z TO 132335Z, 141848Z TO 142313Z,
      151826Z TO 152251Z, 161804Z TO 162229Z,
      171742Z TO 172207Z, 181720Z TO 182145Z.
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      30-45.00N 117-23.00W, 30-29.00N 116-54.00W,
      30-00.00N 116-51.00W, 30-16.00N 117-19.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 182251Z DEC 24.

Re:

The NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice has not arrived yet, but I received these two NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas).

These run a couple of days longer than the launch period, but not long enough to be multi-launch.
Edit: Actually if this mission and 11-2 both launch at/near the beginning of their launch periods, these notices would cover both.

The prior multi-launch Space Debris notices were cancelled after 9-13 launched. They only ran through December 5 so they would have needed to be replaced anyway.

<snip actual notices>

With the postponement of this launch to December 12, the two notices mentioned in the quote would be ineffective because they would have expired on December 11. They were cancelled on December 5 as "OPERATIONS COMPLETED."

So at new Space Debris notices are needed but have not yet arrived.

[zubenelgenubi]

Which first stage will be used for this launch?  (semi-rhetorical question)

Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to forty times for non-human spaceflight missions, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon and Cygnus than these other payloads.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1063.22  Oct 24
1081.12  Nov 9     Starlink 9-14
1082.9    Nov 14
1071.21  Nov 18

Edit December 12: It's B1082.9, skipping over B1063.22 again.

[Martin_G]

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp:

SPACEX STARLINK 11-2, VANDENBURG, SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   12/12/24   1933Z-0157Z
BA CKUP:      12/13/24   1910Z-0134Z
      12/14/24   1848Z-0112Z