CelesTrak has pre-launch SupTLEs for #Starlink Group 4-4, which is set to launch 2021-12-17 09:46:20 UTC on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg AFB, California. Deployment of 52 satellites occurs just over 15 minutes later at 10:01:56.540 UTC: https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.
Airspace Definition: Region bounded by: Latitude: Longitude: FRD: From: 34º38'34"N 120º31'23"W To: 34º24'38"N 120º19'13"W To: 34º25'01"N 120º15'36"W To: 34º30'00"N 120º15'36"W To: 34º36'19"N 120º27'24"W To: 34º35'47"N 120º28'14"W Altitude: From the surface up to and including 500 feet AGLEffective Date(s): In UTC: 0839 to 1414 UTC Daily starting December 17 and ending December 21.
Kelso is showing this launch to 53.2 degrees. Which would be surprising. But ever since the water tower got legs, I've tried to keep an open mind about SpaceX activities.
https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1470783838058078208QuoteAt Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week, SpaceX’s Jonathan Hofeller says launches into the Starlink network’s polar orbital shell will begin “in a month or so.”Dedicated Starlink missions so far have targeted the 53-degree, 53.2-degree, and 70-degree inclination shells.
At Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week, SpaceX’s Jonathan Hofeller says launches into the Starlink network’s polar orbital shell will begin “in a month or so.”Dedicated Starlink missions so far have targeted the 53-degree, 53.2-degree, and 70-degree inclination shells.
Just to add to the confusion, there is an additional TFR for the exact same time frame, but a different location (mostly over land), and up to an altitude of 500 feet AGL.
A non-polar Starlink launch this month would track with polar Starlink launches beginning next month.
So that VSFB launch back in October... was that supposed to be Starlink 2-3 launching to 70°, which then got cancelled and replaced with 4-4 to 53.2°? Or has it always been 4-4 launching to 53.2° and it just got delayed by 2 months, and we just incorrectly thought it was called 2-3 and launching to 70°?
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA-VANDENBERG AFB-HAZARDOUS OPERATIONSHazardous operations will be conducted from Vandenberg AFB, CA starting at 12:24am on 17 Dec 21 until 6:14am on 18 Dec 21. Hazardous operation areas are bounded by the following coordinates:34-34-00N 120-39-00W34-40-00N 120-39-00W34-28-00N 120-12-00W34-08-00N 119-52-00W33-16-00N 119-16-00W30-54-00N 117-23-00W30-40-00N 117-00-00W29-16-00N 115-56-00W29-05-00N 116-14-00W29-53-00N 117-05-00W30-42-00N 117-30-00W33-03-00N 119-19-00W34-23-00N 120-34-00WMariners are advised to remain clear of these areas for the duration of operations. For more details or comments contact Vandenberg AFB at 805-606-8825.
I guess someone crunched numbers and saw that the 53.2 degree shells have more revenue.
Quote from: wannamoonbase on 12/15/2021 02:37 pmI guess someone crunched numbers and saw that the 53.2 degree shells have more revenue.Do we know for certain they have the inter satellite links sorted? They could be waiting for improvements before filling the polar orbits.
Quote from: Barley on 12/16/2021 01:15 amQuote from: wannamoonbase on 12/15/2021 02:37 pmI guess someone crunched numbers and saw that the 53.2 degree shells have more revenue.Do we know for certain they have the inter satellite links sorted? They could be waiting for improvements before filling the polar orbits.Yes, otherwise they would be launching more satellites and not just 52.