Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 15-13 : VSFB SLC-4E : 17 December 2025 (15:27 UTC) (Read 5011 times)

Galactic Penguin SST · « **on:** 12/08/2025 01:47 pm »

Thread for the Starlink Group 15-13 launch.

Launch 17 December 2025, at 15:27:50 UTC (7:27 am PST), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1063-30. The first stage successfully landed aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 27 Starlink V2.0 Mini satellites, to a 70.01 degrees inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory. Initial orbit 254 x 271 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

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #1 on:** 12/08/2025 01:48 pm »

From CADENA OIS:

Primary Launch Day 16 DEC 1524Z-1947Z Backup Launch Day 17 DEC 1510Z-1933Z Backup Launch Day 18 DEC 1456Z-1919Z Backup Launch Day 19 DEC 1442Z-1905Z Backup Launch Day 20 DEC 1428Z-1851Z Backup Launch Day 21 DEC 1415Z-1838Z Backup Launch Day 22 DEC 1401Z-1824Z

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #2 on:** 12/10/2025 05:05 pm »

https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-15-13

Quote

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 27 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app.

This is the 30th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, SDA-0B, NROL-113, NROL-167, NROL-149, NAOS, and 20 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #3 on:** 12/13/2025 07:41 pm »

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2025 Dec 13 20:16:45 UTC (Day 347)

Quote

Starlink G15-13 Pre-Launch
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-13 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-12-16 15:24:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-16 16:25:30.920 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-16 15:24:00 UTC to 2025-12-16 19:24:00 UTC.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g15-13&FORMAT=tle
Pre-Launch Derived Orbit:
254 km x 271 km x 70.01 deg

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #4 on:** 12/15/2025 05:54 am »

PDF of online press kit.

catdlr · « **Reply #5 on:** 12/15/2025 06:03 am »

Here is a consolidated post of available video links for this launch:

SpaceX's direct live broadcast on
Website: https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-15-13
Twitter: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1BdGYZoZzjXJX

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube:
Space Affairs: https://youtube.com/watch?v=n4MU_0ATGOw

There is no planned NSF Live coverage. Alternate Pre-Launch Coverage: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceflightNowVideo/streams

Replay supplied by The Space Devs (15 min after the broadcast end): https://youtube.com/@thespacedevs/videos

Summary Video provided by SciNews (15 min after the broadcast ends): https://youtube.com/@SciNewsRo/videos

Launch Ground Video: https://bensweather.com/

Fleet Booster Number: https://twitter.com/BoosterSpX

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #6 on:** 12/15/2025 08:44 pm »

SpaceX's launches page hasn't shown it yet, but per FAA ATC and Celestrak, it looks like this launch has slipped to December 17 at 7:10-11:10 am PST.

EDIT: Now confirmed.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #7 on:** 12/15/2025 11:34 pm »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 12/15/2025 08:44 pm

SpaceX's launches page hasn't shown it yet, but per FAA ATC and Celestrak, it looks like this launch has slipped to December 17 at 7:10-11:10 am PST.

EDIT: Now confirmed.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2025 Dec 15 22:17:56 UTC (Day 349)

Quote

Starlink G15-13 Pre-Launch
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-13 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-12-17 15:16:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-17 16:17:40.920 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-17 15:16:10 UTC to 2025-12-17 15:17:49 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1
Launch: 2025-12-17 15:19:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-17 16:20:50.920 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-17 15:19:20 UTC to 2025-12-17 15:33:39 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2
Launch: 2025-12-17 15:40:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-17 16:42:10.920 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-17 15:40:40 UTC to 2025-12-17 15:48:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #3
Launch: 2025-12-17 17:58:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-17 18:59:40.920 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-17 17:58:10 UTC to 2025-12-17 18:09:59 UTC.

raptorx2 · « **Reply #8 on:** 12/16/2025 01:20 am »

STA Received.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #9 on:** 12/16/2025 08:47 pm »

https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-15-13
Countdown clock T-0 is 17 December 15:16:10 UTC = 10:16:10 EST.
Launch: 2025-12-17 15:16:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-17 16:17:40.920 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-17 15:16:10 UTC to 2025-12-17 15:17:49 UTC.

Edit/add: This launch currently follows Starlink 6-99 by 1 hour, 34 minutes, no seconds.

catdlr · « **Reply #10 on:** 12/17/2025 02:25 am »

Update: Link for alternative live coverage site:

Here is a consolidated post of available video links for this launch:

SpaceX's direct live broadcast on
Website: https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-15-13
Twitter: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1BdGYZoZzjXJX

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube:
Space Affairs: https://youtube.com/watch?v=n4MU_0ATGOw

There is no planned NSF Live coverage. Alternate Pre-Launch Coverage: https://youtube.com/watch?v=zlSB4POamOU

Replay supplied by The Space Devs (15 min after the broadcast end): https://youtube.com/@thespacedevs/videos

Summary Video provided by SciNews (15 min after the broadcast ends): https://youtube.com/@SciNewsRo/videos

Launch Ground Video: https://bensweather.com/

Fleet Booster Number: https://twitter.com/BoosterSpX

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #11 on:** 12/17/2025 02:55 am »

New launch opportunities, new launch time.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2025 Dec 17 03:22:19 UTC (Day 351)

Quote

Starlink G15-13 Pre-Launch
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-13 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-12-17 15:22:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-17 16:24:20.920 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-17 15:22:50 UTC to 2025-12-17 15:33:39 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1
Launch: 2025-12-17 15:44:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-17 16:46:20.920 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-17 15:44:50 UTC to 2025-12-17 15:47:29 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2
Launch: 2025-12-17 17:58:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-17 18:59:40.920 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-17 17:58:10 UTC to 2025-12-17 18:09:59 UTC.

SpaceX countdown clock has not yet been updated.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-15-13

Edit/add: SpaceX countdown clock now updated.

catdlr · « **Reply #12 on:** 12/17/2025 02:15 pm »

launch and landing trajectory

catdlr · « **Reply #13 on:** 12/17/2025 02:20 pm »

https://x.com/cbs_spacenews/status/2001308860099825826

Quote

William Harwood
@cbs_spacenews

F9/Starlink 15-13: Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base northwest of Los Angeles is targeted for 10:27am EST (1527 UTC); this will be the 165th F9 launch this year, the 582nd overall and the 13th so far this month

catdlr · « **Reply #14 on:** 12/17/2025 02:22 pm »

Booster history

catdlr · « **Reply #15 on:** 12/17/2025 02:23 pm »

Transporter Erector retraction started

catdlr · « **Reply #16 on:** 12/17/2025 02:25 pm »

Stage 1 LOX Load Complete

catdlr · « **Reply #17 on:** 12/17/2025 02:26 pm »

Stage 2 LOX Load Complete

catdlr · « **Reply #18 on:** 12/17/2025 02:26 pm »

GSE closeout

catdlr · « **Reply #19 on:** 12/17/2025 02:27 pm »

F9 On Startup