SpaceX F9 : Starlink v1.0 L28 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 26 May 2021 (1859 UTC)

[Jansen]

Discussion thread for Starlink v1.0 Launch 28

NSF Threads for Starlink v1.0 L28: Discussion
NSF Articles for Starlink v1.0 L28: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/starlink-complete-first-shell/

Launched successfully 26 May 2021 at 2:59pm EDT (1859 UTC) on Falcon 9 (booster 1063.2) from CCSFS SLC-40. ASDS landing on Just Read the Instructions was achieved, towed by tugboat Finn Falgout. Recovery support ship was GO Quest. Fairing recovery of both halves from the water was accomplished by GO Searcher and GO Navigator.

Payload: A batch of 60 Starlink satellites. Expected deployment orbit of approximately 283 x 260 km.

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, May 26 for the next Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The instantaneous window is at 2:59 p.m. EDT, or 18:59 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Thursday, May 27 at 2:38 p.m. EDT, or 18:38 UTC.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported the Sentinel-6A mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported four Starlink missions, and the other previously supported a Starlink mission and the Transporter-1 mission.

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

From a previous mission's Press Kit:

Each Starlink satellite weights approximately 260 kg and features a compact, flat-panel design that minimizes volume, allowing for a dense launch stack to take full advantage of Falcon 9’s launch capabilities. With four powerful phased array and two parabolic antennas on each satellite ... At end of their life cycle, the satellites will utilize their on-board propulsion system to deorbit over the course of a few months. In the unlikely event their propulsion system becomes inoperable, the satellites will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere within 1-5 years, significantly less than the hundreds or thousands of years required at higher altitudes. Further, Starlink components are designed for full demisability.

Starlink is targeting service to near global coverage of the populated world by 2021. Additional information on the system can be found at starlink.com.

[Jansen]

0126-EX-ST-2021 Starlink RF Mission 5-2 STA application

0126-EX-ST-2021 Starlink RF Mission 5-2 Grant

[zubenelgenubi]

To be launched in May or June?

State of play on the Space Coast for the immediate future:

Scheduled:
Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)

2021
May 15 Q2 April? mid May - Starlink flight 28 27 (x52 x60) [v1.0 L26], Capella 6, Tyvak-0130 - Falcon 9-118 (1058.8 S) - Kennedy LC-39A - 22:56 22:54 22:58
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

May 18 17 - SBIRS-GEO 5, TDO-3 (EZ-3), TDO-4 (EZ-4) - Atlas V 421 (AV-091) - Canaveral SLC-41 - 17:37 17:31 17:42 17:35

May 26 NET May - Starlink flight 29 (x60) [v1.0 L28] - Falcon 9-119 (1063.2 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 18:59:35 ~19:00
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

June 3 early June - Dragon v2 SpX-22 (CRS-22) - Falcon 9-120 (1067.1 S) - Kennedy LC-39A - 17:29:29 ~17:00
(ISS flights: launch 22-26 minutes earlier/day)

Early June NET Q2 1 - SiriusXM SXM-8 - Falcon 9-121 (1061.3 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - ~04:00 04:25
(geosynchronous satellites: launch about 4 minutes earlier/day)

NET June (mid-June?) - Starlink flight 30 (x60) [v1.0 L29] - Falcon 9-122? (S) - Kennedy LC-39A? / Canaveral SLC-40
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

June 17 July  - GPS III SV05 - Falcon 9-123? (B1062.2 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 22:00-01:00 June 18
(GPS: launch about 4 minutes earlier/day)

June 23 late - STP-3: STPSat-6, ROOSTER-1 (LDPE-1), small satellites (x6) - Atlas V 551 (AV-093) - Canaveral SLC-41

late June-July - Transporter-2: Capella 5, D2/AtlaCom-1, GNOMES 2, ION SCV-003, LEMUR-2 (x1), LINCS A, LINCS B, Mandrake 2A, Mandrake 2B, Minas (x1), SAI-2, Satellogic sat (x4), Sherpa-FX2 [Astrocast (x5), Hawk (x3), LEMUR-2 (x3), Lynk-06, PAINANI-II, SpaceBEE (x12), hosted payload: TagSat-2], Sherpa-LTE1 [ARTHUR-1, Faraday Phoenix, KSM-2 (Kleos Polar Vigilance Mission) (x4), LEMUR-2 (x1), Orbit Fab Tenzing, Shasta, Tiger-2], Starlink (x?) [v1.0], TUBIN, Vigoride-1 [Alba Cluster 3 (DelfiPQ, Grizu-263a, EASAT-2, Hades, TRSI-2, Sattla-2, Unicorn 1, Unicorn 2A, Unicorn 2D), AuroraSat-1, LABSAT, NUTSAT, STEAMSAT, SWIFTVISION, VZLUSAT-2], Vigoride-2 [Broncosat-1, Challenger, FEES-2, Gossamer, Guardian-Alpha, IRIS-A, Kepler-16, Kepler-17, Oresat0, SanoSat-1, STORK-1, STORK-2, STORK-3, Steamsat-2, TROPICS Pathfinder, TRSI-3], XR-2, YAM-2, YAM-3 - Falcon 9 (L) - Canaveral SLC-40 Vandenberg SLC-4E

NET July (NET late June?) - Starlink flight 31 (x60) [v1.0 L30] - Falcon 9 (S) - Kennedy LC-39A? / Canaveral SLC-40
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

October July - USSF-44: TBD, TETRA-1 - Falcon Heavy-04 - Kennedy LC-39A

Changes on February 15th
Changes on March 13th
Changes on March 16th
Changes on March 23rd
Changes on March 27th
Changes on March 31st
Changes on April 2nd
Changes on April 4th
Changes on April 7th
Changes on April 15th
Changes on April 16th
Changes on April 19th
Changes on May 4th
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Changes on May 26th
zubenelgenubi

[Raul]

Active NOTAM in MELBOURNE information region for Stage2 reentry of Starlink_v1.0-L28, with primary launch date NET 26 May.
Launch time corresponds to approximately ~19:00 UTC, which looks to be similar orbital plane as Starlink v1.0 L26.
Backup dates 27 May to 02 Jun.

MELBOURNE (FIR/FIC/ACC/COM/MET)
NOTAM #: F1576/21   Class: International   Status: Active   Issue Date UTC: 05/13/2021 1859   Start Date UTC: 05/26/2021 2010   End Date UTC: 05/29/2021 2127
F1576/21 NOTAMN
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/5304S11652E999
A) YMMM
B) 2105262010 C) 2105292127
D) 2105262010 TO 2105262232
   2105271948 TO 2105272210
   2105281927 TO 2105282148
   2105291905 TO 2105292127
PRI LAUNCH 21 05 26 2010 TO 21 05 26 2232
E) ROCKET LAUNCH WILL TAKE PLACE
FLW RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
HAZARDOUS OPS WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY AND
SPLASHDOWN OF LAUNCH VEHICLE OP X0699 FALCON 9 STARLINK V1.0-L28 WI
THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
FM 2943S 06007E
TO 2455S 06427E
TO 3845S 08430E
TO 4512S 09945E
TO 4946S 11913E
TO 5042S 13819E
TO 4850S 15644E
TO 5146S 15808E
TO 5442S 14832E
TO 5620S 13103E
TO 5552S 10750E
TO 4911S 08505E
TO 3432S 06413E TO BEGINNING
F) SFC G) UNL

MELBOURNE (FIR/FIC/ACC/COM/MET)
NOTAM #: F1578/21   Class: International   Status: Active   Issue Date UTC: 05/13/2021 1859   Start Date UTC: 05/30/2021 1843   End Date UTC: 06/02/2021 2001
F1578/21 NOTAMR F1577/21
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/5304S11652E999
A) YMMM
B) 2105301843 C) 2106022001
D) 2105301843 TO 2105302105
   2105311822 TO 2105312044
   2106011800 TO 2106012022
   2106021739 TO 2106022001
E) ROCKET LAUNCH WILL TAKE PLACE
FLW RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
HAZARDOUS OPS WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY AND
SPLASHDOWN OF LAUNCH VEHICLE OP X0699 FALCON 9 STARLINK V1.0-L28 WI
THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
FM 2943S 06007E
TO 2455S 06427E
TO 3845S 08430E
TO 4512S 09945E
TO 4946S 11913E
TO 5042S 13819E
TO 4850S 15644E
TO 5146S 15808E
TO 5442S 14832E
TO 5620S 13103E
TO 5552S 10750E
TO 4911S 08505E
TO 3432S 06413E TO BEGINNING
F) SFC G) UNL

[Mat-FoundInSpace]

Gonna be a quick pad turnaround if SXM-8 is still scheduled to launch on 6/1

[Alvian@IDN]

Gonna be a quick pad turnaround if SXM-8 is still scheduled to launch on 6/1

Except if this one uses 39A, since there's a 10 days of gap between this & upcoming L26 vs 5 days between this & SXM-8

[klod]

Gonna be a quick pad turnaround if SXM-8 is still scheduled to launch on 6/1

Except if this one uses 39A, since there's a 10 days of gap between this & upcoming L26 vs 5 days between this & SXM-8

We have pending launch of CRS-22 from 39A on 2021-06-03. 2 Days TO - sounds unreal. Only SLC-40 and 5 days TO.

[Mat-FoundInSpace]

Yeah, CRS-22 will require LC39A for a longer time than SXM-8 will require SLC-40.

If the schedule holds, it's a pretty safe bet L-28 will launch from SLC-40.

[Jansen]

Confirmation from Ben Cooper:

Hard target 26 May afternoon
CCSFS SLC-40

[Jansen]

Yeah, CRS-22 will require LC39A for a longer time than SXM-8 will require SLC-40.

If the schedule holds, it's a pretty safe bet L-28 will launch from SLC-40.

I agree that NASA’s workflow for ISS launches requires quite a bit of pad availability.

The previous launch at SLC-40 was 09 May. The 17 day gap is due to a lack of booster availability, but might also indicate that this is a fastball mission.

If so, I suspect that SXM-8 is delayed a few days, opening up this launch opportunity. Not a big effect to the schedule when considering the 16 day gap to GPS III SV05.

[Orbiter]

Guessing this'll use B1060.8 & SXM-8 uses B1063.

[Jansen]

Guessing this'll use B1060.8 & SXM-8 uses B1063.

Or could be the other way around.

28 day turnaround on B1060, close to the record but might explain the launch date. 34 days if it launches SXM-8.

Also maybe B1061 if it’s not reserved.

[Jansen]

Confirmed B1063.2

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/5332

[zubenelgenubi]

B1063 arrived at the Cape March 15 or 16, after a cross-country trip from Vandenberg.

Confirmed B1063.2

[Jansen]

Ben Cooper is confirming a launch time of 2:59pm EDT (1859 UTC).

[Norm38]

Guessing this'll use B1060.8 & SXM-8 uses B1063.

Or could be the other way around.

28 day turnaround on B1060, close to the record but might explain the launch date. 34 days if it launches SXM-8.

Also maybe B1061 if it’s not reserved.

I’m quite surprised they’d use B1063.2 on a Starlink milk run and give Sirius the -8. Unless with -10 in the books (and no loss of payload from reuse) it just isn’t an issue anymore and each flight gets the next booster that’s available.  That would be most surprising.

[Jansen]

I’m quite surprised they’d use B1063.2 on a Starlink milk run and give Sirius the -8. Unless with -10 in the books (and no loss of payload from reuse) it just isn’t an issue anymore and each flight gets the next booster that’s available.  That would be most surprising.

It seems like a fastball launch opportunity with limited notice. The launch date seems to be the earliest possible if they were to start LV integration on the day they made the announcement.

SXM-7 launched on a .7 flight, maybe someone liked the idea of SXM-8 going up on a .8 flight. SXM doesn’t get final say on booster selection unless they pay for it. Kinda like renting a car.

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1395033373874266120

GO Searcher will probably be on fairing recovery

[Raul]

Issued NOTMAR messages of launch NET 26 May 18:59 UTC.
Alternative launch days:  27 May 18:37, 28 May 18:16, 29 May 17:54, 30 May 17:32, 31 May 17:11, 01 Jun 16:49, 02 Jun 16:28 UTC.

220601Z MAY 21
NAVAREA IV 435/21(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   261759Z TO 262047Z MAY, ALTERNATE
   271737Z TO 272025Z, 281716Z TO 282003Z,
   291654Z TO 291942Z, 301632Z TO 301920Z,
   311611Z TO 311859Z MAY, 011549Z TO 011837Z,
   AND 021528Z TO 021816Z JUN
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38-08N 080-37-46W, 28-57-00N 080-19-00W,
      28-51-00N 080-12-00W, 28-34-00N 080-27-00W,
      28-30-53N 080-33-14W.
   B. 31-27-00N 077-29-00W, 33-17-00N 076-03-00W,
      33-31-00N 074-59-00W, 33-10-00N 074-36-00W,
      32-27-00N 074-46-00W, 31-15-00N 077-17-00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 433/21.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 021916Z JUN 21.

220230Z MAY 21
HYDROPAC 1520/21(61,75,76).
INDIAN OCEAN.
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 03, DNC 04, DNC 05.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   262010Z TO 262232Z MAY, ALTERNATE
   271948Z TO 272210Z, 281927Z TO 282148Z,
   291905Z TO 292127Z, 301843Z TO 302105Z,
   311822Z TO 312044Z MAY, 011800Z TO 012022Z
   AND 021739Z TO 022001Z JUN IN AREA BOUND BY
   29-43S 060-07E, 24-55S 064-27E,
   38-45S 084-30E, 45-12S 099-45E,
   49-46S 119-13E, 50-42S 138-19E,
   48-50S 156-44E, 51-46S 158-08E,
   54-42S 148-32E, 56-20S 131-03E,
   55-52S 107-50E, 49-11S 085-05E,
   34-32S 064-13E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 022101Z JUN 21.

Map of Launch Hazard Areas, with estimated B1063.2 landing approximately 631km downrange and fairing recovery ~682km downrange.
S2 reentry south of Australia again - double S2 burn launch profile.

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1396240844596916228