SpaceX F9 : Starlink 6 (v1.0 L5) : Mar. 18, 2020 - Discussion

[zubenelgenubi]

Static Fire could be as late as March 13 for a launch on the 14th?
(Based on previous Starlink practice: test performed with payload attached.)
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Are there any known significant procedural differences for a Starlink/Falcon 9 launch from LC39A?
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EDIT/ADD re: Starship activity at LC39A:

Confirmation that nothing currently happening with Starship pad work at 39A - looks no different from weeks ago

https://twitter.com/felixschlang/status/1233821597980602369

Pad 39A update with Starship launch mount in the foreground. @MarcusHouseGame @SpacePadreIsle

[Alexphysics]

Static Fire could be as late as March 13 for a launch on the 14th?
(Based on previous Starlink practice: test performed with payload attached.)

Are there any known significant procedural differences for a Starlink/Falcon 9 launch from LC39A?

First thing they had to do was to switch the upper insert on the strongback from Dragon 2 configuration to fairing configuration and they seemed to have done that pretty quickly after IFA. Early Feb pictures show the fairing insert already installed on the strongback. Then the usual steps for launches I guess.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1237494118638653445

Departure! Of Course I Still Love You is underway for the next Starlink mission.

The droneship is heading ~628km downrange. 📷 @flaspacecoast

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1237745792322080768

Departure! Crew ship GO Quest is underway for the next Starlink mission.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/45thspacewing/status/1237761200404017153

Are you ready for the 6th @SpaceX Starlink launch from the Eastern Range this Saturday? The 45th WS says things are looking great, with only a 10% chance of violating launch weather constraints! Join us at 0935 to see the Falcon 9 lift from 39A. 🚀🛰️

Edit to add: forecast details

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1237783689649623040

Departure! Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief are underway for the next Starlink mission. Launch NET March 14th, 13:42 UTC.

twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1237783689649623040

Time to catch some fairings!!! Man those things are huge 🤯

[capoman]

Anyone notice that Starlink missions are getting less and less coverage? SpaceFlightNow is barely covering it among others. If this is truly a 5th flight of a booster, that is a pretty significant event.

Has SpaceX really made throwing 60 satellites, landing a rocket and attempting catching fairings routine?

If so, that just shows how far things have come. The last attempted droneship landing shows us that it's still not exactly routine yet... 

Edit: corrected reuse to flight...

[Vettedrmr]

TBH it's still 2+ days off, so I give SFN some grace on that.  Now, when they don't really report anything AFTER a flight, that will be newsworthy in itself.  5 reflights of a booster?  Why is that so important, compared to 4 or 6? 

It is nice to see, though, when spacewalks don't get the coverage that they used to, launches are becoming *more* routine, etc.  Says the industry is continuing to mature.

But we're not there yet.

Have a good one,
Mike

[abaddon]

5 reflights of a booster?  Why is that so important, compared to 4 or 6?

5 is important (or maybe better to say 'noteworthy') because 5 will be a first.  6 will be important (noteworthy) but isn't happening yet.

[Vettedrmr]

Oh, don't get me wrong.  It's important to us fans, and very important to SpaceX, but to others?  And that's what the news tracks (assuming they don't have their own agenda).

Now, the firsts?  First manned flight, first flight of SS and SH, first uses of those, first refueling in space, etc.  Those will always be newsworthy.

[capoman]

TBH it's still 2+ days off, so I give SFN some grace on that.  Now, when they don't really report anything AFTER a flight, that will be newsworthy in itself.  5 reflights of a booster?  Why is that so important, compared to 4 or 6? 

It is nice to see, though, when spacewalks don't get the coverage that they used to, launches are becoming *more* routine, etc.  Says the industry is continuing to mature.

But we're not there yet.

Have a good one,
Mike

Normally, SFN covers launches in sequence, and usually start coverage prior to the static fire. They've moved static fires to subscribers, but not even seeing that now. Their main coverage are flights that are after Starlink, even though it's only a couple days away...  It's not just SFN though. Most of the space media is reducing their coverage of Starlink flights... Imagine after 30 or 40, we'll barely know they are launching... SpaceX is really making spaceflight routine. This might be the first booster to do 5 flights (been looking for confirmation). That's still significant, as they are pushing the boundaries of reuse even further.

[Vettedrmr]

... Imagine after 30 or 40, we'll barely know they are launching... SpaceX is really making spaceflight routine.

Except for us here at NSF!  WE'LL know what's happening! (h/t to Chris and the rest).

Have a good one,
Mike

[edkyle99]

This is the Starlink launch "production line", aiming to be the largest satellite launch line ever of its type.  Toyota doesn't call a press conference for every new Camry rolling off its line, etc.  It wouldn't surprise me to see SpaceX curtail its webcasts for such repetitive missions one day.

 - Ed Kyle

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-2 launch weather forecast, still 90% GO

[wannamoonbase]

This is the Starlink launch "production line", aiming to be the largest satellite launch line ever of its type.  Toyota doesn't call a press conference for every new Camry rolling off its line, etc.  It wouldn't surprise me to see SpaceX curtail its webcasts for such repetitive missions one day.

 - Ed Kyle

I understand your reasoning, but EM loves free/cheap marketing.  Each launch is marketing and anything that publicizes Starlink will make that service more likely to be successful.

I love that they are up to 5 launches on a booster.  And fingers crossed on the fairings.

Regarding the static fire.  Have they been staying vertical on the pad after the static fire and before launch?

[Comga]

This is the Starlink launch "production line", aiming to be the largest satellite launch line ever of its type.  Toyota doesn't call a press conference for every new Camry rolling off its line, etc.  It wouldn't surprise me to see SpaceX curtail its webcasts for such repetitive missions one day.

 - Ed Kyle

This is wandering from the Starlink V1L5 launch, and adding “one day” deprives the post of any meaning (everything ends at some point) but...

What do we suppose is the marginal cost of a webcast?
How many people dedicate how many hours?
Are any of the cameras, on board or on the ground, just for show and not for technical monitoring? 
The format is canned and reusable (like the first stages.)
Transmission from the ASDS has been solidified.
It may not be totally free, but it can’t cost much.


(Is there a better thread for this conversation?)

[whitelancer64]

This is the Starlink launch "production line", aiming to be the largest satellite launch line ever of its type.  Toyota doesn't call a press conference for every new Camry rolling off its line, etc.  It wouldn't surprise me to see SpaceX curtail its webcasts for such repetitive missions one day.

 - Ed Kyle

This is wandering from the Starlink V1L5 launch, and adding “one day” deprives the post of any meaning (everything ends at some point) but...

What do we suppose is the marginal cost of a webcast?
How many people dedicate how many hours?
Are any of the cameras, on board or on the ground, just for show and not for technical monitoring? 
The format is canned and reusable (like the first stages.)
Transmission from the ASDS has been solidified.
It may not be totally free, but it can’t cost much.


(Is there a better thread for this conversation?)

Reminder: SpaceX was actually going to stop doing webcasts in 2014 (the second launch attempt of Orbcomm OG2, which ended up being scrubbed, was not webcast), due to launches becoming routine (this was the 10th launch of the Falcon 9!), but they kept doing them due to an immediate and pretty loud outcry from people like us.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1238247165849460739

Fleet Update! The Fairing Catchers will arrive at the landing zone shortly. OCISLY is on track to be in position by dawn tomorrow.

Weather continues to look good (90% GO) for the Starlink launch this Saturday at 13:42 UTC.

[Herb Schaltegger]

SpaceX wants (really *needs*) a steady flow highly-motivated, smart and hard-working folks for its workforce. And it will continue to need them for years to come as its plans continue to evolve and grow over time. They have now cultivated a rotating crew of 5 - 6 familiar faces for its webcasts that all look like the workforce they want: smart, energetic, good communicators and not incidentally, good looking young ladies and men doing most of the “face time” parts. 

SpaceX needs space to be exciting, optimistic and dare I say it, sexy again. They want high school and college-age kids to be watching these webcasts and working towards a career in aerospace and preferably for SpaceX. The webcasts are a very cheap way to recruit, not just for today but for the years to come.

[RocketLover0119]

SFN live blog confirms F9 has rolled to the pad.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/13/falcon-9-starlink-5-mission-status-center/