Any idea why Group 4-2 is so much delayed.
The reason this mission has been delayed so long is because it may be a rideshare mission (a SpaceX official commented a few weeks ago that such a mission was expected), Blue Walker 3 maybe the satellite that will travel on this mission, perhaps there are more satellites onboard.https://twitter.com/AST_SpaceMobile/status/1536318439274565634
The BW3 will operate at an inclination angle of between 97.4 and 97.8 degrees, at an altitude ofbetween 500 and 600 km.
QuoteThe BW3 will operate at an inclination angle of between 97.4 and 97.8 degrees, at an altitude ofbetween 500 and 600 km.https://fcc.report/ELS/AST-Science-LLC/1059-EX-CN-2020/265582.pdf
AST SpaceMobile was notified by SpaceX, its launch provider, of an updated launch window for early to mid-September, from the previously announced window targeting the week of August 15, 2022. There has been no change to BlueWalker 3 satellite preparations and the AST SpaceMobile team remains on schedule. [June 29]
https://twitter.com/AbelAvellan/status/1549213346490114048QuoteGetting BlueWalker 3 ready to leave Midland!
Getting BlueWalker 3 ready to leave Midland!
AST SpaceMobile says its BlueWalker 3 test satellite has been fully assembled and left the factory for environmental testing. It is due to launch in mid-September.
No circular reasoning fwiw. It's a rideshare. Couldn't confirm whether it is BlueWalker 3 or not but there's a rideshare on this mission
FCC permit is out https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=117382&RequestTimeout=1000
This application uses information from previous grant 1149-EX-ST-2022. This STA is necessary to authorize launch vehicle communications for Mission 1714 Starlink Group 4-2 from Cape Canaveral FL at LC-40 CCAFS or LC-39a at KSC, and the experimental recovery operation following the Falcon 9 launch.
Also says 513km injection orbit
BlueWalker 3 test satellite (BW3) has arrived at Cape Canaveral. The satellite recently departed an off-site testing facility in California after collecting flight data for the upcoming planned launch to low Earth orbit, with a launch window for early to mid-September.