SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 15-7 : VSFB SLC-4E : 28 June 2025 (17:13 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink Group 15-7 launch.

Launch 28 June 2025, at 17:13:00 UTC (10:13 am PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1088-8. The first stage successfully landed aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 26 Starlink V2.0 Mini satellites, to a 70.01 degrees inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 266 x 278 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]

Near-term SLC-4E schedule, UTC date:

Starlink 11-18    May 31  OCISLY  ✅️

Starlink 11-22    Jun 4     OCISLY  ✅️

Starlink 15-8      Jun 8     OCISLY

Starlink 15-6      Jun 13   OCISLY

Starlink 15-9      Jun 17   OCISLY

Transporter-14  Jun 21    LZ-4


Next Starlink launch as early as ~June 23, after Transporter-14 (no OCISLY turnaround required)?  Following is one more June launch slot, ~30th.

Don't forget: NROL-48 is also pending, NET June.

[zubenelgenubi]

Near-term SLC-4E schedule, UTC date:

Starlink 15-8      Jun 8          OCISLY    ✅️

Starlink 15-6      Jun 13        OCISLY    ✅️

Starlink 15-9      Jun 17        OCISLY    ✅️

Transporter-14  Jun 21 20  LZ-4


Next Starlink launch as early as ~June 23, after Transporter-14, no OCISLY turnaround is required.  Following is one more June launch slot, ~30th.

Don't forget: NROL-48 is also pending, NET June.

Edit Jun 20: It's Starlink 15-7 on the 28th.

Edited

[Galactic Penguin SST]

First stage recovery zone for the launch of Starlink Group 15-7 has shown up on NOTAMs:

B0945/25 NOTAMN
Q) MMFR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) MMFR
B) 2506281643
C) 2506302043
D) 28 1643-2111, 29 1629-2057, 30 1615-2043
E) DANGEROUS AREA FOR REENTRY OF ROCKET SPACEX STARLINK 15-7 STAGE 1
   LATERAL LIMIT AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FLW POINTS:
   29 04N 117 27W
   29 24N 117 48W
   30 25N 117 56W
   29 44N 117 03W
   29 15N 116 59W
   29 04N 117 27W
   MMFR
F) SFC
G) UNL

[randomname]

NGA notices for this launch.

230841Z JUN 25
NAVAREA XII 385/25(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING:
   A. 281643Z TO 282106Z JUN, ALTERNATE
      291629Z TO 292052Z, 301615Z TO 302038Z JUN,
      011601Z TO 012024Z, 021548Z TO 022011Z,
      031534Z TO 031957Z AND
      041520Z TO 041943Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
      32-50.00N 119-08.00W, 32-39.00N 119-11.00W,
      34-35.00N 120-39.00W, 34-40.00N 120-38.00W,
      34-27.00N 120-15.00W.
   B. 281643Z TO 282111Z JUN, ALTERNATE
      291629Z TO 292057Z, 301615Z TO 302043Z JUN,
      011601Z TO 012029Z, 021548Z TO 022016Z,
      031534Z TO 032002Z AND
      041520Z TO 041948Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
      29-04.00N 117-27.00W, 29-24.00N 117-48.00W,
      30-25.00N 117-56.00W, 29-44.00N 117-03.00W,
      29-15.00N 116-59.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 042048Z JUL 25.//

230818Z JUN 25
HYDROPAC 1625/25(22,83).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   281830Z TO 282308Z, 291816Z TO 292254Z,
   301802Z TO 302240Z JUN,
   011748Z TO 012226Z, 021735Z TO 022213Z,
   031721Z TO 032159Z AND
   041707Z TO 042145Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
   59-58.00S 099-05.00W, 59-09.00S 095-34.00W,
   27-09.00S 120-43.00W, 27-59.00S 122-44.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 042245Z JUL 25.//

[zubenelgenubi]

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.

I note B1063, B1071, and B1088 were used for eight of the ten previous NRO Future Proliferated Architecture launches. 📝

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1075.19  May 23
1082.14  May 27
1071.26  May 31  Transporter-14
1063.27  Jun 4
1088.8    Jun 8
1081.16  Jun 13
1093.4    Jun 17

Edit June 27: It's B1088.8, skipping B1075.19, B1082.14, and B1063.27.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2025 Jun 25 18:46:25 UTC (Day 176)

Starlink G15-7 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-7 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-06-28 16:43:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 17:44:35.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 16:43:00 UTC to 2025-06-28 20:43:00 UTC.

And, https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g15-7&FORMAT=tle
Pre-Launch Derived Orbit: 266 km x 278 km x 70.01 deg

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/SpaceX/Starlink%20G15-7.ics
26 satellites

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

Starlink G15-7 Pre-Launch
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-7 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-06-28 16:47:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 17:48:35.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 16:47:00 UTC to 2025-06-28 16:50:09 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1
Launch: 2025-06-28 17:07:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 18:08:55.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 17:07:20 UTC to 2025-06-28 17:14:29 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2
Launch: 2025-06-28 17:27:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 18:28:55.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 17:27:20 UTC to 2025-06-28 17:28:29 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #3
Launch: 2025-06-28 17:30:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 18:32:25.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 17:30:50 UTC to 2025-06-28 17:33:09 UTC.

[zubenelgenubi]

What is the weather forecast for the launch window?

[catdlr]

What is the weather forecast for the launch window?

Nice weather, some evening and early morning marine layer that disappears as the temperature rises and the relative humidity drops. Otherwise, I don't see weather as an excuse for a delay.

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
855 AM PDT Fri Jun 27 2025

.SYNOPSIS...27/1204 AM.

Night and morning low clouds and fog will affect the coasts and
some valleys, otherwise mostly clear skies are expected across
the area with gusty onshore winds each afternoon. Temperatures
will change little over the weekend and into early next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM (TDY-SUN)...27/855 AM.

***UPDATE***

Latest satellite and surface observations indicate blanket of
stratus/fog across the coasts and coastal valleys with clear skies
elsewhere. Current sounding data indicates marine inversion
ranging in depth from 1200 to 1700 feet. No significant winds are
currently observed.

Forecast-wise for the immediate short term, another benign day is
expected. Stratus/fog will dissipate through the morning although
stratus is likely to linger at the beaches through the afternoon
hours. Otherwise, sunny skies will prevail. Morning TEMP STUDY
database indicates temperatures today will be within a couple
degrees of Thursday`s highs. As for winds, the moderate onshore
gradients will generate gusty southwesterly winds across interior
sections this afternoon. Also, there will likely be some weak
Sundowner winds this evening across the western half of the Santa
Ynez Range. However, wind speeds for all areas will remain below
advisory levels.

Overall, current forecast has good handle on the immediate short
term. So, no significant updates are expected.

[GewoonLukas_]

Booster B1088-8

SpaceX is targeting Saturday, June 28 for a Falcon 9 launch of 26 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 9:47 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 10:46 a.m. PT. If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available on Sunday, June 29 starting at 9:47 a.m. PT.

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 new X TV app.

This will be the eighth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57 and three 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.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-15-7

[zubenelgenubi]

Revised launch windows:
https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2025 Jun 27 23:42:31 UTC (Day 178)

Starlink G15-7 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-7 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-06-28 16:47:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 17:48:35.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 16:47:00 UTC to 2025-06-28 17:02:09 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1   
Launch: 2025-06-28 17:02:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 18:03:45.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 17:02:10 UTC to 2025-06-28 17:03:49 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2   
Launch: 2025-06-28 17:08:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 18:09:35.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 17:08:00 UTC to 2025-06-28 17:14:49 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #3   
Launch: 2025-06-28 17:27:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 18:29:15.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 17:27:40 UTC to 2025-06-28 17:28:29 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #4   
Launch: 2025-06-28 17:31:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 18:32:35.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 17:31:00 UTC to 2025-06-28 17:32:59 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #5   
Launch: 2025-06-28 17:46:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-06-28 18:48:25.400 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-06-28 17:46:50 UTC to 2025-06-28 17:48:09 UTC.

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit and link to X livestream.

https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yNGaLQBrzVKj

[catdlr]

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

SpaceX direct live broadcast on Twitter:  https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yNGaLQBrzVKj

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube: 
Space Affairs:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=OxxQZIyGk1c

There is no planned NSF Live coverage. Alternate Pre-Launch Coverage:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=jQU6JJU0KA8

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 (from local resident in Santa Barbara - I'll post if available)

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

[zubenelgenubi]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-15-7

SpaceX is targeting Saturday, June 28 for a Falcon 9 launch of 26 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 10:13 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 10:46 a.m. PT. If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available on Sunday, June 29 starting at 9:47 a.m. PT.

17:13 UTC = Launch mid-window

Wow! Fog =pea soup 🍲

I'm on a chore, but can backfill soon.

[zubenelgenubi]

Launch!

[zubenelgenubi]

First stage ascent
MaxQ

[zubenelgenubi]

MECO
Stage 1/2 separation
SEI-1

Fairing separation

[zubenelgenubi]

Second stage acceleration to orbital velocity
First stage ballistic flight

[zubenelgenubi]

Entry burn 🔥
Second stage acceleration to orbital velocity