SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 6-4 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 4 June 2023 (09:56 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink 6-4 group launch.

NSF Threads for Starlink 6-4: Discussion

Launch June 4, 2023 at 09:56 UTC (5:56 am EDT), from Canaveral SLC-40, on booster 1078-3.  First stage landing aboard Just Read the Instructions is expected.

Payload 22 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to 43 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 344 x 353 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]

Cross-post:

0623-EX-ST-2023
Mission 1891 Starlink Group 6-4 from Cape Canaveral FL at LC-40 CCAFS or LC-39a at KSC
NET mid-April [April 18]
ASDS North  25  38  18   West  74  59  6

This launch could go in the final days of May, following Badr-8.

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight, updated May 11:
Launch NET June 3.

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight, updated May 17:
Launch NET May (again).

Launch would be NET the last days of May, allowing time to turn around both SLC-40 and ASOG.  (May 29? 30? 31?)

Edit/add:
Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated May 18:

<snip BADR-8 launch>
A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on TBD.
<snip SpX-28 launch>

[GewoonLukas_]

NextSpaceflight (Updated May 18th)
Launch NET May 30th
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7151

[zubenelgenubi]

Which first stage will be used for this launch?

The May 16 press briefing revealed Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to twenty times for Starlink launches. 1058.16 and 1060.16 are assumedly back in the rotation for such launches.

1076.6 and 1073.9 will eventually undergo modifications to become the Falcon Heavy side boosters for Jupiter 3 (NET August), and will therefore not be available while that work is in progress.

Available first stages, with date of most recent recovery:
1058.16  Dec 17, 2022
1060.16  Jan 3
1073.9    Apr 19
1078.3    Apr 28 (might be held back for Crew-7?)
1069.8    May 4

Edit May 24: It's 1078.3.

[zubenelgenubi]

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated May 22:

A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on late May, just after sunrise EDT.

NextSpaceflight, updated May 23:
Launch May 30 10:42 UTC = 6:42 am EDT

(Launch time statement should have been NET 10:42 UTC.  Or ~10:45 UTC?)

[Martin_G]

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

SPACE X STARLINK 6-4, CAPE CANAVERAL SFS, FL
PRIMARY:   05/30/23   1042-1501Z
BACKUP:      05/31/23   1017-1436Z
      06/01/23   0952-1411Z
      06/02/23   0926-1346Z
      06/03/23   0901-1321Z
      06/04/23   0836-1255Z
      06/05/23   0811-1230Z

[GewoonLukas_]

B1078-3 arriving at SLC-40 for this launch?

https://twitter.com/AirbusSpace/status/1661321839942029312?s=20

[zubenelgenubi]

Launch would be NET the last days of May, allowing time to turn around both SLC-40 and ASOG.  (May 29? 30? 31?)

B1078-3 arriving at SLC-40 for this launch?

Yes.
NextSpaceflight, updated May 24:
B1078.3, ASOG

[zubenelgenubi]

BADR-8 launch is now scheduled for May 27 03:25 to 05:22 UTC, a three day turnaround at SLC-40.

I suspect that this launch will be delayed by at least one day.  May 31?

Edit: Apparently not.

Edit 2:  Yes, two days delay.  Assuming BADR-8 successfully launches tonight, it's a five day turnaround.

Edit:
Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated May 25:

A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on TBD around sunrise EDT.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

260345Z MAY 23
NAVAREA IV 570/23(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   301042Z TO 301501Z MAY, ALTERNATE
   311017Z TO 311436Z MAY, 010952Z TO 011411Z,
   020926Z TO 021346Z, 030901Z TO 031321Z,
   040836Z TO 041255Z AND 050811Z TO 051230Z JUN
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.84N 080-37.57W, 28-38.00N 080-30.00W,
      28-24.00N 080-07.00W, 28-20.00N 080-08.00W,
      28-29.69N 080-32.65W.
   B. 26-19.00N 076-00.00W, 25-36.00N 074-03.00W,
      25-23.00N 073-53.00W, 25-09.00N 074-01.00W,
      25-06.00N 074-16.00W, 25-08.00N 074-38.00W,
      25-18.00N 075-00.00W, 26-02.00N 076-00.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 051330Z JUN 23.//

[OneSpeed]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

Launch Hazard Area map from the NGA notice. ASDS 642km downrange.

[Ken the Bin]

Per this cancel-and-replace NGA Rocket Launching notice, as expected, this launch is delayed. Primary Day is now June 1.

261613Z MAY 23
NAVAREA IV 573/23(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   011104Z TO 011443Z JUN, ALTERNATE
   021039Z TO 021418Z, 031013Z TO 031353Z,
   040948Z TO 041328Z, 050923Z TO 051302Z,
   060858Z TO 061237Z AND 070832Z TO 071212Z JUN
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.84N 080-37.57W, 28-38.00N 080-30.00W,
      28-24.00N 080-07.00W, 28-20.00N 080-08.00W,
      28-29.69N 080-32.65W.
   B. 26-19.00N 076-00.00W, 25-36.00N 074-03.00W,
      25-23.00N 073-53.00W, 25-09.00N 074-01.00W,
      25-06.00N 074-16.00W, 25-08.00N 074-38.00W,
      25-18.00N 075-00.00W, 26-02.00N 076-00.00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 570/23.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 071312Z JUN 23.

[zubenelgenubi]

Per this cancel-and-replace NGA Rocket Launching notice, as expected, this launch is delayed. Primary Day is now June 1.

261613Z MAY 23
NAVAREA IV 573/23(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   011104Z TO 011443Z JUN, ALTERNATE
   021039Z TO 021418Z, 031013Z TO 031353Z,
   040948Z TO 041328Z, 050923Z TO 051302Z,
   060858Z TO 061237Z AND 070832Z TO 071212Z JUN
<snip>

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

PRIMARY:   06/01/23   1104-1415Z
BACKUP:   06/02/23   1039-1350Z
      06/03/23   1013-1325Z
      06/04/23   0948-1300Z
      06/05/23   0923-1234Z
      06/06/23   0858-1209Z
      06/07/23   0832-1144Z

NET 11:04 UTC.  Or ~11:15 UTC?

NextSpaceflight, updated May 26:
Launch June 1 [circa] 11:04 UTC


Will there be 21 or 22 satellites? 🛰 🤔

[zubenelgenubi]

Further clarification re: launch time:

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated May 26:

A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on June 1 at 7:09 a.m. EDT.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notices. (The same notice for two different navigational areas.)

272023Z MAY 23
HYDROLANT 1189/23(57,61).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   1032Z TO 1618Z DAILY 01 THRU 07 JUN
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   41-12.00S 039-51.00E, 39-19S 039-54.00E,
   41-02.00S 001-29.00W, 42-56S 001-32.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 071718Z JUN 23.

272023Z MAY 23
HYDROPAC 1772/23(57,61).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   1032Z TO 1618Z DAILY 01 THRU 07 JUN
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   41-12.00S 039-51.00E, 39-19S 039-54.00E,
   41-02.00S 001-29.00W, 42-56S 001-32.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 071718Z JUN 23.

[OneSpeed]

NGA Space Debris notices. (The same notice for two different navigational areas.)

Map from the NGA notices.

[Ken the Bin]

L-3 weather forecast. 45% 'Go' for June 1. 30% 'Go' for June 2. All Additional Risk Criteria are Low for both days.

[realnouns]

Doug + ASOG depart PC on May 28 @ 8:27am ET