SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 15-12 : VSFB SLC-4E : 13/14 December 2025 (05:49 UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Thread for the Starlink Group 15-12 launch.

Launch 14 December 2025, at 05:49:00 UTC (13 December 9:49 pm PST), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1093-9. The first stage has 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 255 x 269 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]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-15-12

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 ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SDA T1TL-B, SDA T1TL-C, and six 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.

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2025 Dec 11 16:46:24 UTC (Day 345)

Starlink G15-12 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-12 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-12-14 05:20:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 06:21:43.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 05:20:00 UTC to 2025-12-14 09:20:00 UTC.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g15-12&FORMAT=tle
Pre-Launch Derived Orbit:
255 km x 269 km x 70.01 deg

[zubenelgenubi]

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2025 Dec 13 05:59:08 UTC (Day 347)

Starlink G15-12 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-12 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-12-14 05:35:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 06:36:43.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 05:35:00 UTC to 2025-12-14 05:37:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1   
Launch: 2025-12-14 05:43:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 06:45:03.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 05:43:20 UTC to 2025-12-14 05:51:39 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2   
Launch: 2025-12-14 06:03:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 07:05:23.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 06:03:40 UTC to 2025-12-14 06:27:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #3   
Launch: 2025-12-14 06:35:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 07:37:03.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 06:35:20 UTC to 2025-12-14 06:38:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #4   
Launch: 2025-12-14 08:00:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 09:02:03.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 08:00:20 UTC to 2025-12-14 08:01:49 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #5   
Launch: 2025-12-14 08:07:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 09:09:23.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 08:07:40 UTC to 2025-12-14 08:15:49 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #6   
Launch: 2025-12-14 08:49:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 09:51:23.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 08:49:40 UTC to 2025-12-14 08:59:29 UTC.

[catdlr]

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-15-12
 Twitter:  https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yoKMPjYrNnxQ

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube: 
Space Affairs:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=cLpU4IDPvO8

There is no planned NSF Live coverage. Alternate Pre-Launch Coverage:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=bydgRejCR7c

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]

Slight change in launch window:

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Supplemental GP Element Sets
Current as of 2025 Dec 13 17:20:44 UTC (Day 347)

Starlink G15-12 Pre-Launch   
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G15-12 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.

Launch: 2025-12-14 05:49:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 06:50:43.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 05:49:00 UTC to 2025-12-14 05:51:39 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1   
Launch: 2025-12-14 06:07:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 07:08:43.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 06:07:00 UTC to 2025-12-14 06:11:39 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2   
Launch: 2025-12-14 06:12:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 07:14:23.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 06:12:40 UTC to 2025-12-14 06:13:29 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #3   
Launch: 2025-12-14 06:14:10 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 07:15:53.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 06:14:10 UTC to 2025-12-14 06:16:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #4   
Launch: 2025-12-14 06:16:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 07:18:03.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 06:16:20 UTC to 2025-12-14 06:23:39 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #5   
Launch: 2025-12-14 06:23:40 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 07:25:23.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 06:23:40 UTC to 2025-12-14 06:27:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #6   
Launch: 2025-12-14 06:35:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 07:37:33.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 06:35:50 UTC to 2025-12-14 06:36:19 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #7   
Launch: 2025-12-14 08:00:20 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 09:02:03.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 08:00:20 UTC to 2025-12-14 08:00:29 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #8   
Launch: 2025-12-14 08:00:30 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 09:02:13.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 08:00:30 UTC to 2025-12-14 08:00:59 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #9   
Launch: 2025-12-14 08:14:50 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 09:16:33.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 08:14:50 UTC to 2025-12-14 08:15:49 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #10   
Launch: 2025-12-14 08:56:30 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 09:58:13.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 08:56:30 UTC to 2025-12-14 08:59:29 UTC.

[zubenelgenubi]

Backup launch skips December 15.
https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt

PLANNED LAUNCH/REENTRY:
SPACEX STARLINK 15-12, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   12/14/25   0520Z-1002Z
BACKUP:      12/16/25   0452Z-0934Z

SPACEX STARLINK 6-82, CAPE CANAVERAL SFS, FL
PRIMARY:   12/15/25   0243Z-0726Z
BACKUP:      12/16/25   0217Z-0700Z

ULA KA-04, CAPE CANAVERAL SFS, FL
PRIMARY:   12/15/25   0835Z-1204Z
BACKUP:      12/16/25   0813Z-1142Z

SPACEX STARLINK 6-99, KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL
PRIMARY:   12/15/25   1311Z-1754Z
BACKUP:      12/16/25   1245Z-1728Z

NEXT PLANNING WEBINAR: 2215Z
132036-132259
25/12/13 20:36  DCCOPS.lxstn35

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/Dillonshrop06/status/2000031046901928112

Dillon
@Dillonshrop06
Hazard Map for Starlink 15-12

[catdlr]

T-2 hr. Mariculously, the open launch slot is still holding on.

Launch: 2025-12-14 05:49:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2025-12-14 06:50:43.740 UTC.
Launch window: 2025-12-14 05:49:00 UTC to 2025-12-14 05:51:39 UTC.

[catdlr]

T-38 min. Assume FD has now conducted the launch polling and has issued Go for propellant loading. Fueling begins at Y-35 min.

This may be the first time (at least in a while) that we have a launch right at the first opportunity.

[catdlr]

Weather, should be foggy, it was here all day in the West side of LA

[catdlr]

T-20:20, the start of the Big vent should now have started.  SpaceX broadcasts should begin at T-5 min.

[catdlr]

T-12 min. About 7 minutes from the start of the launch broadcast.

[catdlr]

Launch and Landing Trajectory.

[catdlr]

SpaceX has started its broadcast with more lively music than RL.

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

[catdlr]

Transporter Erector retraction started.  NO, your glasses are not dirty.

[catdlr]

Stage 1 LOX Load Complete

[catdlr]

Stage 2 LOX Load Complete

[catdlr]

GSE closeout