SpaceX F9 : Starlink v1.0 L16 : KSC LC-39A : 20 Jan 2021 (1302 UTC)

[Jansen]

Discussion thread for Starlink v1.0 Launch 16, the 17th Starlink mission overall.

NSF Threads for Starlink v1.0 Launch 16: Discussion
NSF Articles for Starlink v1.0 Launch 16:
SpaceX launches first Starlink mission of 2021

Successful launch January 20, 2021 at 8:02am EST (13:02 UTC) on Falcon 9 (booster 1051.8 ) from Kennedy Space Center’s LC-39A. ASDS landing successful on Just Read The Instructions, towed by tugboat Hawk.  Fairing recovery from water by Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief was attempted, but appears to have been unsuccessful.

Payload: A batch of 60 Starlink satellites. Deployment orbit of approximately 257x284km.

Check the Starlink Index Thread for links to more Starlink information.

Please use the Starlink Discussion Thread for all general discussion on Starlink.

L2 SpaceX:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0

The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this mission previously flew on seven other missions: the SXM-7 mission in December 2020, launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission in June 2019, launch of Crew Dragon’s first demonstration mission in March 2019, and four Starlink missions. 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 a Starlink mission and the other previously supported two.

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 in the Northern U.S. and Canada in 2020, rapidly expanding to near global coverage of the populated world by 2021. Additional information on the system can be found at starlink.com.

[Jakusb]

Chances seem increasing this mission might be plan B if TurkSat 5A does not make it to Florida in time.
With 1060-4 the most likely booster.

[Jansen]

Chances seem increasing this mission might be plan B if TurkSat 5A does not make it to Florida in time.
With 1060-4 the most likely booster.

There is a discussion on that here:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52191.msg2161408#msg2161408

[Jansen]

https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=104255

SpaceX Mission 1544
File: 1828-EX-ST-2020

Profile seems to match a Starlink mission

[Jansen]

Assuming that:

B1060.4 - Turksat 5A
B1063.2 - Transporter-1

The next available booster would be B1049.8 on January 14, with a 50 day booster turnaround.

[LandingZone-1]

Assuming that:

B1060.4 - Turksat 5A
B1063.2 - Transporter-1

The next available booster would be B1049.8 on January 14, with a 50 day booster turnaround.

B1058.5 could fly this mission too.

[Jansen]

Assuming that:

B1060.4 - Turksat 5A
B1063.2 - Transporter-1

The next available booster would be B1049.8 on January 14, with a 50 day booster turnaround.

B1058.5 could fly this mission too.

You’re right.

I just realized that if Turksat 5A launches around January 14 as well, then this launch will probably be around January 23 based on a nine day pad turnaround at SLC-40.

That would be a 48 day turnaround for B1058.5, which has been done before. It’s weather delays that keep bumping turnarounds past the 50 day mark.

Edit: Gotta consider the effect of the holidays on refurbishment though, so I’m not sure which will go up first.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; my bold:

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

FALCON 9

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the Turksat 5A communication satellite from pad 40 on January 4 at 8:27pm EST. The launch window stretches to 12:29am. A Falcon 9 will launch the Transporter-1 small-satellite rideshare mission from pad 40 on January 14, likely in the mid-day EST. And a Falcon 9 will launch the seventeenth batch of Starlink internet satellites on January TBD.

[Jansen]

Assuming that:

B1060.4 - Turksat 5A
B1063.2 - Transporter-1

The next available booster would be B1049.8 on January 14, with a 50 day booster turnaround.

With Turksat 5A now scheduled for January 4th, a 9 day pad turnaround on SLC-40 would mean a launch is possible on January 13th. A 49 day booster turnaround for B1049 would be very possible.

[Jansen]

https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=104255

SpaceX Mission 1544
File: 1828-EX-ST-2020

Profile seems to match a Starlink mission

The STA has been granted.
https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=265223&x=.

[Raul]

Active NOTAM in MELBOURNE information region south of Australia for Stage2 debris reentry of Starlink V1.0-L16 mission with primary date planned NET January 17 in window between 20:17-21:10 UTC, alternatively January 18 19:55-20:48 UTC.
Typical reentry area for flight profile with double S2 burn and circular deploying orbit.

MELBOURNE (FIR/FIC/ACC/COM/MET)
NOTAM #: F0077/21      Class: International      Status: Active      Issue Date UTC: 01/09/2021 0150      Start Date UTC: 01/17/2021 2017      End Date UTC: 01/18/2021 2048
F0077/21 NOTAMN
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/5229S11212E999
A) YMMM
B) 2101172017 C) 2101182048
D) PRI RE-ENTRY 172017 - 172110
BACKUP RE-ENTRY 181955 - 182048
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 FALCON-9 STARLINK V1.0-L16 AND
PARTICIPATING SUPPORT ACFT WI THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
FROM               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

[Jansen]

Assuming that:

B1060.4 - Turksat 5A
B1063.2 - Transporter-1

The next available booster would be B1049.8 on January 14, with a 50 day booster turnaround.

With Turksat 5A now scheduled for January 4th, a 9 day pad turnaround on SLC-40 would mean a launch is possible on January 13th. A 49 day booster turnaround for B1049 would be very possible.

A launch on the 17th would be a 53 day turnaround for B1049, with ASDS availability a major factor.

[Jansen]

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/2671

Confirming LC-39A

[Jansen]

Spaceflight Now confirming

Launch time: 1823 GMT (1:23 p.m. EST)

[zubenelgenubi]

State of play for January on the Space Coast:

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

2021
January 20 Late Jan Mid Jan 17 18 19 - Starlink flight 17 (x60) [v1.0 L16] - Falcon 9-105 (1051.8 S B1049.8) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A - 13:02 ~~14:00 18:23 13:45 13:23
(Starlink: launch 22-26 minutes earlier/day)

NET January 22 NET January 14 21 - Transporter-1: ARCE 1A, ARCE 1B, ARCE 1C, ASELSAT, Astrocast (x5 8), Capella-3 (Whitney 1), Capella-4 (Whitney 2), Charlie, CPOD A (PONSFD A), CPOD B (PONSFD B), CubeL (PIXL 1), Delfi-PQ 1, EASAT, GHGSat-C2 (Hugo), GNOMES 2, Hawk 2A, Hawk 2B, Hawk 2C, ICEYE X8, ICEYE X9, ICEYE X10, IDEASSat, ION-SVC 2 [ION-SVC Laurentius, PULSE], Kepler GEN1 (8–10 sats), Landmapper-Demo6, Landmapper-Demo7, Lemur-2 (x8), LINCS A, LINCS B, (Nanoavionics), Outpost Demonstration 1, PlasmaBrake, Prometheus-2 10 (P2-10), ELaNa 35: PTD 1, RadCube, QPS-SAR 2 (Izanami), SAMSON 1, SAMSON 2, SAMSON 3, SOMP 2b, SpaceBEE (x24), Starlink (x10), SXRS-3 / Sherpa-FX 1 [not detaching: Celestis 17, ELROI, TAGSAT-1/EyeStar-Tag], Umbra-SAR 2001, UVSQ-SAT, XR-1 (may = 1 ICEEYE), YUSAT, Vigoride-1 [AuroraSat-1, Alba Cluster 3 (EASAT-2, Grizu-263a, HADES, Libertylife, LibertyQube 1, Pycubed, Sattla-2, Tartan Artibeus, TRSI 2, Unicorn 1?, Unicorn 2A?, Unicorn 2D?), NUTSAT, SW1FT Quadpack? (LabSat, OrbAstro, SteamSat, SW1FT/SEZ), VZLUsat 2] + multiple satellites - Falcon 9-106 (B1058.5 S B1063.2) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 14:24-15:24 ~~17:00 ~~14:00 14:24 19 -16:16
(SSO: launch time of day invariant through the year)

Late January - Starlink flight 18 (x60) [v1.0 L17] - Falcon 9-107 (B1049.8? S) -  Kennedy LC-39A / Canaveral SLC-40
(Starlink: launch 22-26 minutes earlier/day)

Changes on January 5th
Changes on January 6th
Changes on January 8th
Changes on January 10th
Changes on January 11th
Changes on January 12th
Changes on January 14th
Changes on January 15th
Changes on January 17th
Changes on January 18th
Changes on January 19th
zubenelgenubi

[Raul]

Map of NOTMAR Launch Hazard Areas of Starlink v1.0-L16 mission from LC-39A, valid for primary launch day 17 Jan in window between 18:08-19:26 UTC, or backupr 18 Jan 17:46-19:04 UTC.
Droneship landing on usual location.

130504Z JAN 21
NAVAREA IV 39/21(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   171808Z TO 171926Z JAN, ALTERNATE
   181746Z TO 181904Z JAN
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-39-10N 80-37-48W, 29-00-00N 80-14-00W,
      29-15-00N 79-56-00W, 29-17-00N 79-50-00W,
      29-11-00N 79-44-00W, 29-07-00N 79-47-00W,
      28-50-00N 80-02-00W, 28-34-00N 80-22-00W,
      28-30-21N 80-32-58W.
   B. 31-57-00N 76-56-00W, 33-17-00N 76-03-00W,
      33-31-00N 74-59-00W, 33-10-00N 74-36-00W,
      32-27-00N 74-46-00W, 31-42-00N 76-41-00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 182004Z JAN 21.

[Ken the Bin]

In addition to the notice posted above, the NGA also issued this Space Debris notice:

130532Z JAN 21
HYDROPAC 159/21(GEN).
INDIAN OCEAN.
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   172017Z TO 172110Z JAN, ALTERNATE
   181955Z TO 182048Z JAN
   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 182148Z JAN 21.

[SMS]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1349461380928311299

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1349475792011603969

Whilst Starship tests in Texas, the Falcon 9 workhorse is preparing to launch more Starlink sats, NET Jan 17.

Just Read the Instructions droneship is heading 633 km downrange, under tow from tug Hawk.

Via @NASASpaceflight Fleetcam: youtu.be/gnt2wZBg89g

[Elthiryel]

According to Next Spaceflight, booster 1051.8 is going to be used for this flight. I find it pretty strange actually, as 1049 has flown for a seventh time earlier, but Michael is a very reliable source for booster assignments. Maybe 1049 is going to fly with Transporter-1 or it just needs more refurbishment for some reason. Anyway, it's going to be a record turnaround of ~35 days.

Next Spaceflight also shows an updated launch time of 14:07 UTC (09:07 AM local). Ben Cooper has also changed the time on his website to "at morning EST", so it seems consistent.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/2671