Falcon 9’s first stage supported the Iridum-7 NEXT mission in July 2018, the SAOCOM 1A mission in October 2018, the Nusantara Satu mission in February 2019, and the second launch of Starlink in November 2019. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported the first launch of Starlink in May 2019. Approximately 45 minutes after liftoff, SpaceX’s fairing recovery vessels, “Ms. Tree” and “Ms. Chief,” will attempt to recover the two fairing halves.The Starlink satellites will deploy in an elliptical orbit approximately 15 minutes after liftoff. Prior to orbit raise, SpaceX engineers will conduct data reviews to ensure all Starlink satellites are operating as intended. Once the checkouts are complete, the satellites will then use their onboard ion thrusters to move into their intended orbits and operational altitude of 550 km....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.
SpaceX has opened media accreditation for the sixth Starlink mission, scheduled for no earlier than March. Different from previous Starlink missions, this one will launch from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center.
Yes. This would be also known as Starlink v1.0 L5.
http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.htmlQuoteFALCON 9The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch another batch of 60 Starlink satellites from pad 40 on mid-February TBA, in the daytime. The launch window for Starlink missions is instantaneous and the launch time gets 21.5 minutes earlier each day. Other upcoming launches include: A Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch the next Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on March 2 at the earliest, at 1:45am EST. The launch window is instantaneous. The launch time gets 22-26 minutes earlier each day. And another Falcon 9 will launch another Starlink mission from pad 39A on early March TBD.
FALCON 9The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch another batch of 60 Starlink satellites from pad 40 on mid-February TBA, in the daytime. The launch window for Starlink missions is instantaneous and the launch time gets 21.5 minutes earlier each day. Other upcoming launches include: A Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch the next Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on March 2 at the earliest, at 1:45am EST. The launch window is instantaneous. The launch time gets 22-26 minutes earlier each day. And another Falcon 9 will launch another Starlink mission from pad 39A on early March TBD.
On its Starlink-5 mission next month, SpaceX is expected to launch a Falcon 9 rocket for the fifth time. It is working to continue to reduce the amount of hours and work to refurbish a first stage between uses.
Any word on a booster for this flight? Eric Berger says it's expected to be the 5th flight of a booster.QuoteOn its Starlink-5 mission next month, SpaceX is expected to launch a Falcon 9 rocket for the fifth time. It is working to continue to reduce the amount of hours and work to refurbish a first stage between uses.https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/spacex-making-rocket-landings-mundane-with-50th-attempt-monday/
Targeting deployment orbit of 280km.
Quote from: gongora on 02/01/2020 04:16 amTargeting deployment orbit of 280km.They said they will deploy the satellites into an elliptical orbit (assuming 212 x 386 km) going forward.
Quote from: Hummy on 02/17/2020 08:56 pmQuote from: gongora on 02/01/2020 04:16 amTargeting deployment orbit of 280km.They said they will deploy the satellites into an elliptical orbit (assuming 212 x 386 km) going forward.It would be interesting to know what they gained by going from a two burn injection into a circular orbit to a single burn into an elliptical one.Under the rule of small numbers, the semi-major axis of a 212 x 386 km altitude orbit is the same as a circular one at 299 km.The 20 km increase over the 280 km of the previous Starlink launches is equivalent to how many weeks of orbit raising?But they can't do continuous orbit raising, as eventually the satellites have to thrust only around apogee to circularize the orbits.A quick estimate says the integrated atmospheric drag will be ~2.5 times greater.(This should show up in a shorter orbital life for the deployment rods.)If they had just pushed the apogee the deployment rods, and any dead-on-deployment satellites would have longer orbital lifetimes.People better than I at orbital mechanics (like using real modeling tools) may have more insight.
Falcon 9 will launch the sixth 60-satellite Starlink mission from pad 39A on March 4 earliest.
Falcon 9 / Mar. TBD @ TBA EST (pad 39A): Check back closer to launch for the launch time,and for information on KSC Visitor Complex tickets and other locations.
And a Falcon 9 will launch the sixth 60-satellite Starlink mission from pad 39A on March 11 at 10:40am EDT.
Falcon 9 will launch the sixth 60-satellite Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 14 at 9:35am EDT.
Two dates are held on the Eastern Range for the next #Starlink V-1 L-5, #SpaceX Falcon 9 launch. The launch is targetted for March 14th with an approx T-0 of 9:36am EDT with a backup update of March 15th at 9:14am EDT.
New launch date:QuoteFalcon 9 will launch the sixth 60-satellite Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 14 at 9:35am EDT.
Quote from: scr00chy on 03/02/2020 06:53 pmNew launch date:QuoteFalcon 9 will launch the sixth 60-satellite Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 14 at 9:35am EDT.Interesting that in the calendar https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=calendar;year=2020;month=3nobody updated the change still.
The next 60 Starlink satellites launch March 15, Jonathan Hofeller, vice president of Starlink commercial sales at SpaceX said here
QuoteThe next 60 Starlink satellites launch March 15, Jonathan Hofeller, vice president of Starlink commercial sales at SpaceX said herehttps://spacenews.com/musk-were-not-spinning-off-starlink/
