NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
SpaceX Vehicles and Missions => SpaceX Falcon Missions Section => Topic started by: Jansen on 03/24/2021 07:54 am
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Discussion thread for Starlink v1.0 Launch 26
NSF Threads for Starlink v1.0 L26: Discussion (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53414.0)
NSF Articles for Starlink v1.0 L26: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/spacex-starlink-rideshare-milestone-nears/
Launched successfully 15 May 2021 at 6:56pm EDT (2256 UTC) on Falcon 9 (booster 1058.8 ) from KSC LC-39A. ASDS landing achieved on OCISLY, towed by tugboat Mr. Jonah. Recovery support ship was GO Quest. Fairing recovery of one half from the water by MV Shelia Bordelon.
Payload: A batch of 52 Starlink satellites plus 2 rideshares. Expected deployment orbit of approximately 575km circular.
Rideshare passengers are Capella-6 (Whitney-4) and Tyvak-0130.
SpaceX is targeting Saturday, May 15 for its next Starlink mission launching aboard Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The instantaneous window is at 6:54 p.m. EDT, or 22:54 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Sunday, May 16 at 6:33 p.m. EDT, or 22:33 UTC. On board this mission are 52 Starlink satellites, a Capella Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, and Tyvak-0130.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster that supported this mission previously launched NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station, ANASIS-II, CRS-21, Transporter-1, and three Starlink missions. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported the SXM-7 mission, and the other previously supported the NROL-108 mission.
Please use the Starlink Discussion Thread (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=48297.0) for all general discussion on Starlink.
Check the Starlink Index Thread (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=48981.0) for links to more Starlink information.
L2 SpaceX:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0 (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.
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0124-EX-ST-2021 (https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=105202) Starlink RF Mission 3-2 STA application
0124-EX-ST-2021 (https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=267937) Starlink RF Mission 3-2 Grant
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It could be referring to a different mission but SpaceX has used "Starlink-xx" nomenclature in an STA request for the first time (that I'm aware of) :) "Starlink-26" is NET May 13th.
https://fcc.report/ELS/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp-SpaceX/0628-EX-ST-2021
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State of play on the Space Coast for the immediate future:
Scheduled:
Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)
2021
May 9 NET May - Starlink flight 27 28 (x60) [v1.0 L27] - Falcon 9-117 (1051.10 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 06:42:45
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)
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 17 - SBIRS-GEO 5, TDO-3, TDO-4 - Atlas V 421 - Canaveral SLC-41 - 17:35
NET May 26 - Starlink flight 29 (x60) [v1.0 L28] - Falcon 9-119 (1063.2 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - ~19:00
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)
June 1? NET Q2 - SiriusXM SXM-8 - Falcon 9 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 04:25
June 3 early June - Dragon v2 SpX-22 (CRS-22) - Falcon 9 (1067.1 S) - Kennedy LC-39A - ~17:00
(ISS flights: launch 22-26 minutes earlier/day)
Mid-June? - Starlink flight 30 (x60) [v1.0 L29] - Falcon 9 (S) - Kennedy LC-39A? / Canaveral SLC-40
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)
June 17 July - GPS III SV05 - Falcon 9 (B1062.2 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 22:00-01:00 June 18
(GPS: launch about 4 minutes earlier/day)
June 23 - STP-3: STPSat-6, LDPE-1, small satellite (x6) - Atlas V 551 - Canaveral SLC-41
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
Changes on May 6th
Changes on May 9th
Changes on May 11th
Changes on May 12th
Changes on May 13th
Changes on May 14th
Changes on May 15th
zubenelgenubi
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It could be referring to a different mission but SpaceX has used "Starlink-xx" nomenclature in an STA request for the first time (that I'm aware of) :) "Starlink-26" is NET May 13th.
https://fcc.report/ELS/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp-SpaceX/0628-EX-ST-2021
I’m wondering if there is something uniquely specific to this STA that is preventing them from using a RF mission STA instead, thus forcing Starlink L27 to launch first.
Or it could just be a rideshare payload issue.
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Capella got their FCC license (http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/ib/forms/reports/swr031b.hts?q_set=V_SITE_ANTENNA_FREQ.file_numberC/File+Number/%3D/SATLOA2021011900012&prepare=&column=V_SITE_ANTENNA_FREQ.file_numberC/File+Number) to launch two satellites today. I'm guessing it may be on this flight? If so it will go to a higher orbit (575km) and carry fewer Starlinks along with the two Capella sats.
Overview:Capella 5&6 will be launched no earlier than April 2021, on a 53degorbit at an altitude between 550km and 600km. For the purpose of this document, the worstcase altitude in terms of lifetime of 600 km will be used.
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Launch:Capella 5&6 are currently planned to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket,no earlier than April 2021.Mission Duration:Maximum Nominal Operations: 3 years, Post-Operations Orbit life-time: less than 3 years until reentry via atmospheric orbital decay (worst case less than 6years in total).
Orbit Profile:Capella 5&6 will deploy from the launch vehicle into a near-circular 53deginclined orbit at an altitude of 575 km. They will maintain an altitude between 475 and 600km using a RF xenon propulsion system for 3 years.2.
Physical Description of the Spacecraft:Capella satellites have a launch mass between100 kg and 120 kg. Two 500mm x 900mm deployable solar arrays, a 8m2deployable antenna and a 3m long boom deploy from the principal bus structure.
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https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/04/starlink-launch-marks-100-straight-missions-since-an-in-flight-falcon-rocket-failure/
Another Starlink mission is planned in mid-May with a Falcon 9 launch from pad 39A.
Likely this mission
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The only two boosters available in mid May would be B1058 and B1063, unless another record turnaround occurs.
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[removed, mixed up Starlink L27 and L26]
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That TFR is probably for Starlink L27, which appears to be launching ahead of L26.
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Oh shoot, got my Starlink launches mixed up again; thought this thread was for this week's one. Sorry about that!
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https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/2681
Sat May 15, 2021 2258 UTC
KSC LC-39A
B1058.8
Of Course I Still Love You
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SFN confirming:
Launch time: 2258 GMT (6:58 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
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NGA notices plus my estimated launch times.
Primary Day = Saturday, May 15 at ~22:58 UTC.
Backup Day #1 = Sunday, May 16 at ~22:36 UTC.
Backup Day #2 = Monday, May 17 at ~22:15 UTC.
Backup Day #3 = Tuesday, May 18 at ~21:53 UTC.
Backup Day #4 = Wednesday, May 19 at ~21:32 UTC.
Backup Day #5 = Thursday, May 20 at ~21:10 UTC.
Backup Day #6 = Friday, May 21 at ~20:49 UTC.
100304Z MAY 21
NAVAREA IV 391/21(11,12,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
152158Z TO 160046Z MAY, ALTERNATE
162136Z TO 170024Z, 172115Z TO 180003Z,
182053Z TO 182341Z, 192032Z TO 192320Z,
202010Z TO 202258Z, 211949Z TO 212236Z MAY
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-40-20N 80-38-38W, 29-13-00N 80-02-00W,
29-05-00N 79-54-00W, 28-34-00N 80-23-00W,
28-30-10N 80-32-53W.
B. 31-59-00N 76-53-00W, 33-32-00N 75-42-00W,
33-46-00N 74-38-00W, 33-25-00N 74-15-00W,
32-42-00N 74-25-00W, 31-40-00N 76-35-00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 212336Z MAY 21.
100327Z MAY 21
HYDROPAC 1386/21(61,75,76).
SOUTHEASTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 03, DNC 04, DNC 05.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
160018Z TO 160245Z MAY, ALTERNATE
162356Z TO 170223Z, 172335Z TO 180202Z,
182313Z TO 190140Z, 192252Z TO 200119Z,
202230Z TO 210057Z, 212209Z TO 220035Z MAY
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 220135Z MAY 21.
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https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1391744896042737665
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We know that the shared mission of Starlink seems that it will not be L26, however, I contacted Predasar and they told me that the launch of their satellite will be at the end of this year, there is no launch date yet.
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We know that the shared mission of Starlink seems that it will not be L26, however, I contacted Predasar and they told me that the launch of their satellite will be at the end of this year, there is no launch date yet.
I don't know what the ride shares are on this flight.
However I will remind you of the following:
Starlink v1.0-L08 flew with 3 Skysat birds as ride-share.
Starlink v1.0-L09 flew with 2 Blacksky birds as ride-shares
Starlink v1.0-L10 flew with 3 Skysat birds as ride-shares
Each of those flights were with less than 60 starlink satellites.
I forget the reduction but it was something like 3-5 starlink sats.
Carl
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Updated Rocket Launching notice. No change to the scheduled dates and times, just the location of area B.
102127Z MAY 21
NAVAREA IV 394/21(11,12,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
152158Z TO 160046Z MAY, ALTERNATE
162136Z TO 170024Z, 172115Z TO 180003Z,
182053Z TO 182341Z, 192032Z TO 192320Z,
202010Z TO 202258Z, 211949Z TO 212236Z MAY
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-40-20N 080-38-38W, 29-13-00N 080-02-00W,
29-05-00N 079-54-00W, 28-34-00N 080-23-00W,
28-30-10N 080-32-53W.
B. 31-41-00N 077-10-00W, 33-32-00N 075-42-00W,
33-46-00N 074-38-00W, 33-25-00N 074-15-00W,
32-42-00N 074-25-00W, 31-31-00N 77-00-00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 391/21.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 212336Z MAY 21.
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It could be referring to a different mission but SpaceX has used "Starlink-xx" nomenclature in an STA request for the first time (that I'm aware of) :) "Starlink-26" is NET May 13th.
https://fcc.report/ELS/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp-SpaceX/0628-EX-ST-2021
STA granted
https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=273234
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https://mobile.twitter.com/GregScott_photo/status/1392245807785578496
https://mobile.twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1392249679816101892
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https://twitter.com/ncspaceops/status/1392260222895411202
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https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1392110096075927561
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L-3 weather forecast is 70% GO
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Quite the launch cadence at the moment
https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1392590413727477761
As one mission ends, another begins. The action is almost nonstop here in the port!
Fairing scooper, Shelia Bordelon, has departed Port Canaveral ahead of this weekend’s #Starlink mission.
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Mission Overview:
Capella 6 will be launched in May 2021, on a 53deg orbit at an altitude between 550km and 600km. For the purpose of this document, the worst case altitude in terms of lifetime of 600 km will be used for C-6. Capella 5 will be launched in June 2021, on a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude between 500km and 550km.
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Mission Overview:
Capella 6 will be launched in May 2021, on a 53deg orbit at an altitude between 550km and 600km. For the purpose of this document, the worst case altitude in terms of lifetime of 600 km will be used for C-6. Capella 5 will be launched in June 2021, on a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude between 500km and 550km.
What's the source of this?
Also, Starlink L28 should also launch in May, how do we know Capella 6 won't be on that one?
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I don't know for sure which Starlink flight it's on.
https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-MOD-20210512-00067
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https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1392645458590277637
Just received clarification from @SpaceX that there are only 52 #Starlink satellites and 2 rideshares on this launch.
Celestrak shows 569x582, so this is Capella rideshare
https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
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https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1392638469478879232
That’s very different from the other Starlink launches recently.
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Still 70% GO on primary, improves to 80% on backup date
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Slight change to launch time.
Now 2254 GMT (6:54 pm EDT)
CelesTrak has pre-launch SupTLEs for the #Starlink V1.0-26 launch scheduled for 2021-05-15 22:54 UTC.
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I don't know for sure which Starlink flight it's on.
https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-MOD-20210512-00067
Mission Overview:
Capella 6 will be launched in May 2021, on a 53deg orbit at an altitude between 550km and 600km. For the purpose of this document, the worst case altitude in terms of lifetime of 600 km will be used for C-6. Capella 5 will be launched in June 2021, on a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude between 500km and 550km.
Just received clarification from @SpaceX that there are only 52 #Starlink satellites and 2 rideshares on this launch.
Celestrak shows 569x582, so this is Capella rideshare
https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
Assuming Capella 6 launches on this flight (Starlink v1.0 Flight 26), and assuming that Capella 5 will launch aboard Transporter-2 (or another soon-to-fly Falcon 9 shot)...
What is the other rideshare payload aboard Flight 26?
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What is the other rideshare payload aboard Flight 26?
We’re waiting to find out
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Stephen Clark confirms that one of the rideshares is a Capella satellite. The other one is still unknown.
https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1393259847915868160
Capella confirms to me they have one radar satellite launching on the Falcon 9 mission Saturday evening. The identity of the other rideshare payload remains unclear, for now.
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I'm waiting for the final pre-flight blurb from SpaceX before believing there are two rideshare payloads. The switch from two to one Capella sat was quite late.
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I'm waiting for the final pre-flight blurb from SpaceX before believing there are two rideshare payloads. The switch from two to one Capella sat was quite late.
I’m thinking though that if Mr Kelso received notice from SpaceX on May 12 that there were two rideshares, it would be well after payload encapsulation.
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https://www.spacex.com/launches/
SpaceX is targeting Saturday, May 15 for its next Starlink mission launching aboard Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The instantaneous window is at 6:54 p.m. EDT, or 22:54 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Sunday, May 16 at 6:33 p.m. EDT, or 22:33 UTC. On board this mission are 52 Starlink satellites, a Capella Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, and Tyvak-0130.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster that supported this mission previously launched NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station, ANASIS-II, CRS-21, Transporter-1, and three Starlink missions. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported the SXM-7 mission, and the other previously supported the NROL-108 mission.
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https://youtu.be/tdgg_qwj-hI
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https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1393305828342468613
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Weather is 70% GO, with moderate booster recovery risk.
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https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1393305828342468613
Please quote the relevant text from tweets.
"Falcon 9 will send to orbit 52 Starlink satellites, a Capella Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, and Tyvak-0130"
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Original ITU filing for Tyvak-0130 had 37deg 500km orbit, but rideshare payloads adjust their orbits all the time to match flight opportunities. It has UHF and S-band antennas.
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https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1393311568834744320
Tyvak-0130 is described in a NOAA commercial remote sensing filing as “an optical spectrum astronomy observation satellite”… https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/CRSRA/files/Tyvak-0130_NOAA_Summary.pdf
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LAUNCH, LANDING, AND DEPLOYMENT
All Times Approximate
HR/MIN/SEC EVENT
00:01:12 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:31 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:35 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:43 2nd stage engine starts
00:03:16 Fairing deployment
00:06:42 1st stage entry burn complete
00:08:28 1st stage landing
00:08:42 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:38 2nd stage engine restarts
00:54:42 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:56:53 Tyvak-0130 deploys
01:00:23 Capella Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite deploys
01:38:10 Starlink satellites deploy
A bit different than usual
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"Press kit" capture with OCR
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LAUNCH, LANDING, AND DEPLOYMENT
All Times Approximate
HR/MIN/SEC EVENT
00:01:12 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:31 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:35 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:43 2nd stage engine starts
00:03:16 Fairing deployment
00:06:42 1st stage entry burn complete
00:08:28 1st stage landing
00:08:42 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:38 2nd stage engine restarts
00:54:42 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:56:53 Tyvak-0130 deploys
01:00:23 Capella Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite deploys
01:38:10 Starlink satellites deploy
A bit different than usual
Seems like the second burn of S2 is 2 seconds longer than L27, maybe higher orbit for ride share payloads? Which can explain why there is only 52 satellites...
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LAUNCH, LANDING, AND DEPLOYMENT
All Times Approximate
HR/MIN/SEC EVENT
00:01:12 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:31 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:35 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:43 2nd stage engine starts
00:03:16 Fairing deployment
00:06:42 1st stage entry burn complete
00:08:28 1st stage landing
00:08:42 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:54:38 2nd stage engine restarts
00:54:42 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:56:53 Tyvak-0130 deploys
01:00:23 Capella Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite deploys
01:38:10 Starlink satellites deploy
A bit different than usual
Seems like the second burn of S2 is 2 seconds longer than L27, maybe higher orbit for ride share payloads? Which can explain why there is only 52 satellites...
Yes, insertion orbit should be 569 km x 581 km
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Is the LV erected yet at the pad?
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Is the LV erected yet at the pad?
No
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Going vertical
https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1393563766286073858?s=19
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https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/1393569168683896836
SpaceX has raised a Falcon 9 rocket on pad 39A in Florida for launch with 54 satellites at 6:54pm EDT (2254 GMT).
There’s a 70% chance of good weather for launch at the Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX is also tracking weather in the booster landing area.
spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/15/fal…
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Still 70% GO, with moderate booster recovery risk
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Visual mission profile by ElonX.net
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https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/spacex-starlink-rideshare-milestone-nears/ (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/spacex-starlink-rideshare-milestone-nears/)
https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1393623945245609988?s=20 (https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1393623945245609988?s=20)
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https://youtu.be/Xoh2xEnA6pE
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https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1393688832621441025
New T-0 of 6:56 p.m. EDT, 22:56 UTC, for today’s Starlink mission
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https://youtu.be/eBCT0JI6Acw
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https://youtu.be/Xoh2xEnA6pE
NASA Spaceflight coverage is now live
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https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1393693060299640840
Launch director just gave approval for propellant loading.
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Prop load has begun
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Some clouds and a bit windy, but weather still good
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T-20 venting
Wind is affecting the usual spurt
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Is that little itty bitty Falcon 9 on my otherwise gray SpaceX feed? Anybody else looking at this?
Edit: Is there no SpaceX broadcast other than the Mission Control Audio stream?
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https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1393696967247675397
T-20 minute vent. All on track in the countdown.
➡️youtube.com/watch?v=Xoh2xE…
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2nd stage LOX loading underway
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Funky music up
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdgg_qwj-hI
SpaceX Live
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SpaceX broadcast live
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SpaceX’s coverage has started with Kate Tice hosting
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https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1393699574884278274
OCISLY droneship with some product placement.
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Strongback retracted
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LD GO for launch
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Liftoff!
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https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1393701970855165952
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1393702123016228865
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MECO and Stage Sep
Fairing sep
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https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1393702990108839939
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Entry burn
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Stuck the landing
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https://twitter.com/derekiswise/status/1393704033278468099
A daytime Falcon 9 launch; Starlink V1 L26.
@space_explored
Edit to add:
https://twitter.com/nickyx15a/status/1393704472698892291
Starlink 28 launch from Playalinda Beach. Feels good to be back on home turf after so many Starship trips! 🏝🚀
📸 -Myself for @SpaceflightIns
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Amazing continuous shot of landing from the booster
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1393704251801497600
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship!
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1393704296907223042
Falcon 9 B1058-8 lands on OCISLY.
Another bullseye.
They used to call the first stage of rockets "dumb boosters". Not anymore!
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Good orbit, coverage resumes in 45 mins
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Just spotted passing over Limerick, Ireland. Shining bright and steady through patchy thin cloud.
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I noticed the last few F9 landings have had pretty good coverage during landing. I know many reentering vehicles have to contend with reentry plasma blocking out communications, and that often there's some hole off the rear of the reentry plasma where RF can sneak out. Is it possible that they're using Starlink (which is likely to have pretty good coverage looking from the top of the vehicle during reentry) to provide full telemetry and video through the whole launch/landing sequence? Or maybe they've even mentioned it on one of these broadcasts?
I know shuttle used TDRSS, guessing it would not be easy to get enough bandwidth from the government for a non-critical commercial launch and maybe with Starlink it'd be a much more obvious thing to do.
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I noticed the last few F9 landings have had pretty good coverage during landing. I know many reentering vehicles have to contend with reentry plasma blocking out communications, and that often there's some hole off the rear of the reentry plasma where RF can sneak out.
By the time you’re into the landing burn, any RF interference from plasma should be negligible.
Prob just upgraded comms gear for more bandwidth.
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https://twitter.com/kate_tice/status/1393707702786740226
Probably our most picturesque landing to date. Holy moly 🤩
Edit to add:
twitter.com/djsnm/status/1393705677680373761
I fixed the camera angle.
https://twitter.com/kate_tice/status/1393708725060337670
Whoa, this orientation made my stomach flip 😆
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https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1393709531243421700
Falcon 9 clears the tower for the 8th time with today’s Starlink mission, which is also carrying 2 rideshare payloads (Capella Whitney 4 and Tyvak-0130). This is the 3rd Falcon 9 to fly in just 11 days! It’s busy out here, y’all!
Mission overview: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/spacex-starlink-rideshare-milestone-nears/
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4 second burn, good orbit
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I noticed the last few F9 landings have had pretty good coverage during landing. I know many reentering vehicles have to contend with reentry plasma blocking out communications, and that often there's some hole off the rear of the reentry plasma where RF can sneak out.
By the time you’re into the landing burn, any RF interference from plasma should be negligible.
Prob just upgraded comms gear for more bandwidth.
Whatever it was, awesome. Is it me or was this the most complete landing video to date? Just have to figure out how to get the droneship side video a little more real-time...
I took a quick look at the FCC filings and unless I'm mistaken they don't have any approvals to operate a Starlink antenna on the booster anyway. I don't know enough about the FCC rules to know if they need one for this though.
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Capella off first, in contrast to the prelaunch press info
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Capella-6 deployment confirmed, not visible on video
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Tyvek-0130 confirmed deployment but not visible on video
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https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1393717504346714120
Deployment of Tyvak-0130 and a Capella Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite confirmed
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[Just have to figure out how to get the droneship side video a little more real-time...
Vibration induced LOS is a pain
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https://twitter.com/capellaspace/status/1393717613696520192
Thank you @SpaceX for another smooth ride to Low Earth Orbit. Another Capella #SAR satellite has been deployed and our satellite operations team is working hard to establish contact and initiate calibration. Stay tuned for more updates.
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Capella off first, in contrast to the prelaunch press info
It could also be that the production team got it reversed. Don’t think the payload names were called out on the mission control feed.
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Original ITU filing for Tyvak-0130 had 37deg 500km
Capella 6 will be launched in May 2021, on a 53deg orbit at an altitude between 550km and 600km.
It seems logical that Tyvak-0130 would deploy first into a lower orbit, but I’m not an expert on orbital mechanics.
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Original ITU filing for Tyvak-0130 had 37deg 500km
Capella 6 will be launched in May 2021, on a 53deg orbit at an altitude between 550km and 600km.
It seems logical that Tyvak-0130 would deploy first into a lower orbit, but I’m not an expert on orbital mechanics.
They end up in the same orbit regardless since there are no propulsive maneuvers by the 2nd stage between deployments.
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Original ITU filing for Tyvak-0130 had 37deg 500km
Capella 6 will be launched in May 2021, on a 53deg orbit at an altitude between 550km and 600km.
It seems logical that Tyvak-0130 would deploy first into a lower orbit, but I’m not an expert on orbital mechanics.
They end up in the same orbit regardless since there are no propulsive maneuvers by the 2nd stage between deployments.
The orbit is 581.1 by 569.2 km, not quite circular.
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Starlink deployment confirmed
Kate Tice wants you to have a good evening
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https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1393726807547944961
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Capella off first, in contrast to the prelaunch press info
It could also be that the production team got it reversed. Don’t think the payload names were called out on the mission control feed.
They confirmed they announced them backwards
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Original ITU filing for Tyvak-0130 had 37deg 500km
Capella 6 will be launched in May 2021, on a 53deg orbit at an altitude between 550km and 600km.
It seems logical that Tyvak-0130 would deploy first into a lower orbit, but I’m not an expert on orbital mechanics.
They end up in the same orbit regardless since there are no propulsive maneuvers by the 2nd stage between deployments.
The orbit is 581.1 by 569.2 km, not quite circular.
Doesn't matter, deployment velocity is minimal so they're all on that same orbit.
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Very nice!
I had not noticed this on previous Starlink launches but the rotation rate before Starlink deployment was considerable.
Immediately after the satellites deploy the second stage halts it's rotation.
Obviously this has happened on previous deployments as the Starlink stacks drift away as they have always done, without leaving the field of view of the camera.
All that's left for a perfect launch is to hear about fairing recovery, second stage deorbit., and a good grip with the Octograbber.
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great visibility on S2 from eastern massachusetts tonight. went by about 30⁰ above the horizon, to the north, about 10-15 minutes after starlink deployment. flared really brightly at one point, could have either been the tumble or LOX venting.
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Starlinks and S2 just passed from northwest to north of Boston suburbs. Came into view from northwest at about 9 minutes after deploy.
Visible with the naked eye, and I was able to track with binocs for about 5 minutes until my arms got tired.
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how was the view with binoculars? could you make out any distinct vehicles?
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https://twitter.com/capellaspace/status/1393762559275061255
We have officially made first contact with our #SAR satellite following today's mission with @SpaceX.
The satellite is in good health and will now undergo commissioning. We look forward to sharing our first light images. Until then enjoy a #SpaceSelfie from LC39A!
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SpaceX launch photos by Ben Cooper
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Very nice!
I had not noticed this on previous Starlink launches but the rotation rate before Starlink deployment was considerable.
Immediately after the satellites deploy the second stage halts it's rotation.
Obviously this has happened on previous deployments as the Starlink stacks drift away as they have always done, without leaving the field of view of the camera.
All that's left for a perfect launch is to hear about fairing recovery, second stage deorbit., and a good grip with the Octograbber.
I noticed the same on previous Starlink launch. (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53524.msg2235056#msg2235056) Maybe they have increased the rate lately. Or not :)
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https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1393739915305918464
Falcon 9 basks in the evening sun - the 8th trip for this booster which first launched Bob and Doug nearly a year ago.
The first stage pulled off yet another landing downrange on Of Course I Still Love You.
nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/spacex…
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how was the view with binoculars? could you make out any distinct vehicles?
Kind of shaky because I didn't have a tripod. I was hoping to see a fan-out of Starlinks, but I could only make out one blob of light, which I guess was S2 as you said.
Viewing conditions weren't ideal here as you know, because the sky wasn't completely dark yet.
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Here is a comparison between the telemetry from Starlink L27 and L26.
Some differences are:
1. Acceleration is generally higher for L26, as you would expect for a lighter payload.
2. The L26 S1 time-line is compressed somewhat, especially for the drone-ship landing.
3. The L26 S2 profile is less lofted up to SECO, but the apogee after insertion is of course much higher.
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Very informative graphs. and a big YIKES!. Are you parsing out the data from these launches via readouts? If so, you da man! :o
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Here is a comparison between the telemetry from Starlink L27 and L26.
Some differences are:
1. Acceleration is generally higher for L26, as you would expect for a lighter payload.
2. The L26 S1 time-line is compressed somewhat, especially for the drone-ship landing.
3. The L26 S2 profile is less lofted up to SECO, but the apogee after insertion is of course much higher.
Thanks; I always enjoy these. How much trouble would it be to add the additional y-axis labels for altitude and acceleration?
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https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1394022537391005697
CelesTrak has ephemeris-based SupTLEs for all 52 #Starlink V1.0-26 satellites (2021-041) launched May 15 at 2254 UTC. STARLINK-2151 is currently leading the pack, for pass visibility scheduling.
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Here is a comparison between the telemetry from Starlink L27 and L26.
Some differences are:
1. Acceleration is generally higher for L26, as you would expect for a lighter payload.
2. The L26 S1 time-line is compressed somewhat, especially for the drone-ship landing.
3. The L26 S2 profile is less lofted up to SECO, but the apogee after insertion is of course much higher.
Thanks; I always enjoy these. How much trouble would it be to add the additional y-axis labels for altitude and acceleration?
OneSpeed's graphs always make use of creative (but reasonable) unit selection to ensure that one set of y-axis labels correctly describe all three measurements.
In this case, by listing altitude in hectometers and acceleration in centimeters per second squared, those measurements end up being the same order of magnitude as velocity listed in meters per second, and can thus be displayed on the same graph with the same labels.
Fingers crossed we never need a log plot :P
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Just after midnight on Monday May 17, I looked out my kitchen window that faces North on Long Island NY. There was a line in the sky. I made sure it wasn't a reflection, then I thought it was a jet contrail illuminated by the moon. But the moon had set. Then I saw individual lights in the train and thought, are these the Starlinks that launched the night before?
I ran outside and took the pics below. The iphone camera doesn't do what I saw justice. I saw the line of individual satellites with a faint stream connecting them. Was that the trail from the ion thrusters? To the uninformed, I could imagine them reporting a cigarshaped UFO with portals. It moved NW to NE.
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Launch, splash, scoop, return, repeat.
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1394299500320133123
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https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1394070533994598403
Mr. Jonah is finally on the way with OCISLY and B1058-8. There were some white caps at landing so I'm guessing it took a bit before they could board to secure for the voyage.
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Full resolution launch images posted by SpaceX and taken by Ben Cooper
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twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1394422402126331910
OCISLY and B1058-8 are well underway towards Port Canaveral.
ETA is late evening tomorrow (18th) or dawn on the 19th.
https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1394423617182703623
Expecting the fairing from this mission to return tonight between midnight and 3am ET.
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Shelia Bordelon has returned with a fairing half
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https://twitter.com/Kyle_M_Photo/status/1394549617782665220
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https://twitter.com/Kyle_M_Photo/status/1394554666151731201?s=20
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One nice, shiny fairing half on the docks...
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It looks like Mr. Jonah with OCISLY and the beloved Worm booster may be avoiding some swell action in the Atlantic. For now, it looks like they are heading a bit more to the coast to work their way south. Arrival should be some time tomorrow.
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1394715842139627525
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https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1394986114902106124
Booster inbound. #SpaceXFleet #SpaceX
Edit to add:
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1395000374478659586
The Worm is returning from it's eighth adventure to space after launching 52 Starlink and two rideshare satellites. Tug Jonah and OCISLY are coming down the channel now.
You can chat and watch along on the @NASASpaceflight Fleetcam:
https://youtu.be/gnt2wZBg89g
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https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1395007130994884610
Welcome home. #SpaceXFleet #SpaceX
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https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1395018147267219456
Dirty worm #SpaceXFleet #SpaceX
https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1395013361943842817
Octograbber #SpaceXFleet #SpaceX
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Shelia Bordelon is set to depart Port Canaveral later and leave the fleet! The ship has set a destination for its Houma homeport.
GO Searcher has been reconfigured to fairing recovery mode to replace Shelia.
Bye Shelia, you were an awesome pink and blue beast.
https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1395033373874266120
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Dock #6 is a pretty busy place
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https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/18/tyvak-smallsat-launched-by-spacex-to-validate-miniature-debris-tracking-telescope/
Tyvak smallsat launched by SpaceX to validate miniature space debris telescope
Tyvak, a manufacturer of small satellites, disclosed new details Monday about an experimental spacecraft launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Saturday, revealing plans to validate compact optical telescopes that could offer a new way to monitor space traffic and orbital debris.
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Booster 1058 returned to Port Canaveral this morning following its 8th successful mission. #SpaceX has quite a fleet of rockets! It's awesome to watch them go from new and shiny to scorched and dark.
https://twitter.com/RDAnglePhoto/status/1395094444798582784
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https://youtu.be/oHzfOLx4Vts
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https://spacenews.com/tyvak-satellite-on-spacex-rideshare-mission-carries-tiny-space-telescope/
Space News has additional information on Tyvak-0130 and the overall optical smallsat program.
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B1058 ready for transport
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https://twitter.com/JennyHPhoto/status/1395917629735460867
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https://twitter.com/ken_kremer/status/1396179262298800132
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I saw a string of Starlinks last night (~8:45 PM) passing from the southwest to the north east from San Diego (maybe 20 degrees elevation). I took a few still pics with my Pixel 3A telephone on "night sight" and I may post them if you want to see them. My phone could only capture 3 Starlinks per shot so the pics are not nearly as good as is customary here on NSF.
What I'd like to know is, "When will the string next pass along the same (or nearly the same) trajectory?" Knowing that I can wait and watch for them.
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I saw a string of Starlinks last night (~8:45 PM) passing from the southwest to the north east from San Diego (maybe 20 degrees elevation). I took a few still pics with my Pixel 3A telephone on "night sight" and I may post them if you want to see them. My phone could only capture 3 Starlinks per shot so the pics are not nearly as good as is customary here on NSF.
What I'd like to know is, "When will the string next pass along the same (or nearly the same) trajectory?" Knowing that I can wait and watch for them.
Heavevs-Above.com has a page specifically for that question.
You can look up the Starlink satellites from a particular launch if thats what you want.
Note that they disperse along the track pretty quickly. Since you say only three fit in one shot they are already somewhat spread out, but will get more so as time goes on.
Being launched into an orbit higher than other Starlink trains, they might not fade as much as those from the usual, lower altitude launches.
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https://twitter.com/jennyhphoto/status/1396862953685766151
B1058-8 heading home to be prepared for its next mission.
#spacex #booster @elonmusk @AstroBehnken @Astro_Doug @SpaceX
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https://twitter.com/JennyHPhoto/status/1396865018210160642
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https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1396985301671636994
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https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1397317080123207681
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I saw a string of Starlinks last night (~8:45 PM) passing from the southwest to the north east from San Diego (maybe 20 degrees elevation). I took a few still pics with my Pixel 3A telephone on "night sight" and I may post them if you want to see them. My phone could only capture 3 Starlinks per shot so the pics are not nearly as good as is customary here on NSF.
What I'd like to know is, "When will the string next pass along the same (or nearly the same) trajectory?" Knowing that I can wait and watch for them.
Heavevs-Above.com has a page specifically for that question.
You can look up the Starlink satellites from a particular launch if thats what you want.
Note that they disperse along the track pretty quickly. Since you say only three fit in one shot they are already somewhat spread out, but will get more so as time goes on.
Being launched into an orbit higher than other Starlink trains, they might not fade as much as those from the usual, lower altitude launches.
Apologies for quoting my own post, but this is a continuation and a question about it:
Heavens-Above (http://https:=heavens-above.com) showed a long train of Starlink satellites going across my sky around 10:00PM.
They were supposed to start west of Gemini, go right under the bowl of the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, pass real close to zenith, go thru Bootes, and vanish by twin stars in Ophiuchus.
I saw only one, exactly on that path, and it was easily visible, at least the 3.4 magnitude predicted.
Somewhere around Starlink-2224 in the sequence.
The list went 2713, 2714, 2251, 2225, 2236, 2186, 2228, 2234, 2274, 2233, 2245, 2232, 2244, 2231, 2275, 2224, 2217, 2173, 2063, 2187,2139, 2191, 2190, 2219, 2188, 2166, 2167, 2155, and 2248, 19 satellites in all.
They were supposed to hit their highest elevation from 21:57:20 thru 22:00:11, a 171 second span, so the interval was roughly 6 seconds on average.
It took about ten second to cross from Phecda to Merak, the stars in the bottom of the "bowl", so there should have been one or two in that gap over the course of almost three minutes.
But only one was visible.
Could there have been one satellite without the shade that's supposed to make them harder to see?
Or one where the shade did not deploy properly?
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I've had a similar experience here in FL days or so after some previous launch.
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https://www.capellaspace.com/capella-space-commissions-its-latest-satellite-in-5-days/
We achieved another major milestone at Capella Space last week. On Friday, May 21, we released the first light image from the latest satellite we added to our SAR constellation, launched just 5 days earlier on the SpaceX Starlink 26 mission
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Tyvak 0130 also called GEOStare 2.
Source : https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tyvak-a-terran-orbital-company-announces-successful-commissioning-of-tyvak-0130-satellite-in-partnership-with-lawrence-livermore-national-laboratory-301314520.html
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1128-EX-CN-2021
Tyvak is seeking experiment authority to operate its Tyvak-0130 satellite in support of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (“CRADA”) entered into with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (“LLNL”) for the purpose of advancing the development of compact telescopes for space-based sensing applications. LLNL developed a Monolithic Telescope (“MonoTele”) technology, which involves the fabrication of an optical sensor using a single monolithic fused silica slab. This approach allows the use of extremely tight tolerances for the optical prescription of the optic, leading to high performance in a compact package. This design approach also is very robust, as the alignment tolerances are held within the glass and not by external metering structures. An optical payload designed using this technology does not require in-orbit focusing or alignment, which greatly simplifies spacecraft design and favorably minimizes spacecraft size, weight and power.
The Tyvak-0130 satellite includes two MonoTele sensors developed by LLNL, a threepiece bonded telescope designated “V3” and a single monolith “V4” design. The inclusion of the MonoTele sensors on the Tyvak-0130 satellite is intended to test the application of the sensors for use in commercial space-based earth observation, space situational awareness, and satellite navigation markets. Tyvak has already secured an earth sensing license from NOAA for the operation of these space-based sensors.