SpaceX F9 : Starlink v1.0 Flight 3 : January 29, 2020 - Master Thread

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+50 minutes.

[eeergo]

Looks like they have a secondary, smaller net under the main one to raise it up and dampen down oscillations on the fairing bouncing on top?

I think that is the net they drop over the side to fish a fairing out of the water.

Might also be used for that, but notice it gets raised to the level of the higher, main one about a minute after it's landed (and immediately arrests some pretty wide side-to-side oscillations the fairing was experiencing while supported by just the main net; at T+41:00 it almost rolled over).

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+55 minutes. Over the Southern Ocean. Six minutes and 48 seconds to Starlink deploy.

[Citabria]

Cool view of ice hitting exhaust!

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+1 hour. AOS Tasmania.

[Steven Pietrobon]

One minute to separation.

[mlindner]

I'm still waiting for when SpaceX manages to actually live stream the moment of deployment. We've missed it every time (4/4) so far.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Starlink separation confirmed.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Webcast wrapping up.

End of webcast.

[Chris Bergin]

Many thanks to Steven for the excellent coverage here again.

More links to come with videos and photos.
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1222537648151179265

[jacqmans]

45th Space Wing

As we successfully launch another addition to the Starlink Constellation, we want to take a moment to reflect on the Space Coast’s contribution to an international effort to explore and utilize the skies above.

Without our community, mission partners and the men and women of the 45th Space Wing, we would not be able to accomplish the great feats that make us the World’s #PremierGatewayToSpace. Thank you for your support, hard work and dedication. We couldn’t do this without you!

[Danirode]

T+2 minutes.

I've never seen the plume look so asymmetrical before.

High lateral winds?

[SkyRate]

I'm still waiting for when SpaceX manages to actually live stream the moment of deployment. We've missed it every time (4/4) so far.

Unlikely to be a coincidence. I think they are keeping the rod release/ejection details under wraps.

Does anyone know if they are simply spring-loaded, or fired out of cold-gas or pyrotechnic mortars?

[eeergo]

One of the Starlinks caught up with something and rolled faster around its longitudinal axis than the rest of the stack, showing somewhat clear views of its appearance all around, including the nadir panel.

[SMS]

https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1222538323908087809

[king1999]

I'm still waiting for when SpaceX manages to actually live stream the moment of deployment. We've missed it every time (4/4) so far.

Unlikely to be a coincidence. I think they are keeping the rod release/ejection details under wraps.

Agreed. Must have some simple but ingenious engineering involved. Not to be leaked to the competitors!

[Jeff Lerner]

Core landing used up the crush material..

Speculation on what caused this landing to cause that ??

Hard to tell at this point but any engine bell damage when crush core maxed ??

Can Octograbber still grab at max leg pad crush or back to chains to hold core down ??

[RoboGoofers]

One of the Starlinks caught up with something and rolled faster around its longitudinal axis than the rest of the stack, showing somewhat clear views of its appearance all around, including the nadir panel.

Do the sats have lights on them? maybe it's just reflections but it looks like there's light sources on them.

Maybe the Argon drives but i wouldn't think they'd start up without the panels deployed.

[ZachS09]

Core landing used up the crush material..

Speculation on what caused this landing to cause that ??

Hard to tell at this point but any engine bell damage when crush core maxed ??

Can Octograbber still grab at max leg pad crush or back to chains to hold core down ??

Maybe the engine shut down a half second before touchdown.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Launch photo from SpaceX website