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.
Standing down today; standard auto-abort triggered due to out of family data during engine power check. Will announce next launch date opportunity once confirmed on the Range — SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 15, 2020https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1239182848076075009
Targeting Wednesday, March 18 at 8:16 a.m. EDT, 12:16 UTC, for Falcon 9's launch of Starlink from LC-39A in Florida
The SpaceX Fleet, comprising of OCISLY, the support ships and the two fairing catchers, are still in position - at the landing zone - today.
Welcome (back) to Launch Complex 39A, where a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is poised to launch the sixth Starlink mission at 8:16am EDT tomorrow.This launch marks the first Starlink mission from LC-39A, and will be the first time a Falcon booster flies for the fifth time.
Thread: In honor of Falcon 9 B1048's upcoming fifth flight, I'll be sharing some baby pictures from her very first launch recovery back in July 2018. This is B1048.1 back from Iridium-7 and B1048.5 currently standing at LC-39A awaiting SpaceX's sixth Starlink mission. #SpaceX
Starlink sunrise.Falcon 9 stands ready to launch the sixth Starlink mission, scheduled to lift off at 8:16am EDT. This falcon booster will be the first to fly a fifth mission.Watch live → spacex.com/webcast
Falcon 9, Starlink satellites and weather are go for launch. T-30 minutes until liftoff → spacex.com/webcast
Liftoff of SpaceX’s sixth Starlink mission!This launch marks the fifth flight for this particular Falcon 9 rocket — a new record in SpaceX’s efforts to rapidly launch, land, and re-fly orbital-class rocket boosters.
Successful deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed
This sure didn’t look norminal, near first stage MECO. #Starlink
Elon: Yeah. There was also an early engine shutdown on ascent, but it didn’t affect orbit insertion. Shows value of having 9 engines! Thorough investigation needed before next mission.
Starlink-5 from Max Brewer bridge.5th time flown. Unfortunately it did not successfully land. #starlink #spacex #falcon9 #rocketlaunch @SpaceX
L i f t o f fThe #SpaceX Falcon 9 blasts off Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A this morning, where Apollo 11 once launched to the moon. It was the first Starlink launch from the historic pad.Streak captured by @johnkrausphotos for Supercluster
Last launch aborted due to slightly high power. Possibly, but not obviously, related to today. This vehicle has seen a lot of wear, so today isn’t a big surprise. Life leader rockets are used only for internal missions. Won’t risk non-SpaceX satellites.
Today’s Falcon 9 launch was the second time SpaceX has re-flown a full payload fairing. After landing in the water, both fairing halves were quickly recovered.
This is the video from @RedsRhetoric at moment the engine shutdown at 10% speed.Here's the full stream youtube.com/watch?v=Q_Ne7F…
The #SpaceX #Falcon9 thundering off of 39A. It was a beautiful early morning launch! #Starlink satellites in orbit, mission success, on to the next!
The fairing catchers are moving fast and are due back at Port Canaveral TODAY (19th) between approximately 4pm and 8pm ET.
It's time to shake some rust off🤯, we've gone all in on beauty📽️🚀Sneak peek at another team-up with @Erdayastronaut and @OPT_Telescopes: high-speed telescope-tracking of @SpaceX #Starlink6 liftoffMusic by our friend @WAAAmusic, his new mix BLUE DOT VI drops tomorrow🤩
Looks like Ms. Chief's fairing half took some damage. #SpaceX #SpaceXFleet @SpaceXFleet
Ms. Tree returned to port with a fairing half she fished out of the water. #SpaceX #SpaceXFleet @SpaceXFleet
Ms.Tree and Ms.Chief arrived at Port Canaveral. Both were carrying fairings onboard. @SpaceXFleet 1 looked intact but was under a tarp and the other half looked to be broken.
MS.Chiefs fairing RIP
Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief returned to @PortCanaveral this morning with both fairings on board. Ms. Chief carrying the broken one. Not sure what's the status of the covered one on Ms. Tree. Please forgive the black spot in the photos...I forgot to clean my lens.
SpaceX's Go MsTree, shown here, came in with a complete fairing that was lifted out of the water & placed on the trailer for return to #SpaceX for refurbishment. Go MsChief brought back a fairing that is in at least 2 pieces that will not have the same fate. #NASA #Space 1/2
#SpaceX's Go MsChief, shown here, came in with a fairing that was in at least 2 pieces. It was returned to the warehouse for further damage assessment. It will be interesting to see how much damage has been done to the halves & if there are any usable parts left. #NASA #Space 2/2
SpaceX Starlink mission 6 returned 1 nice slightly used fairing and 1.....well, 1 in need of repair. Both fairings are in #SpaceX facilities this afternoon undergoing assessment. Second fairing has no future but possibly some equipment can be salvaged for future use. #NASA #Space
OCISLY has returned to port canaveral. #SpaceX #SpaceXFleet
Amazing photo of Falcon casting a shadow during the Starlink-5 launch!Check out my latest video (link in bio) to find out more about the Starlink-5 mission!Credit to @THERESA35906612Follow for amazing, daily… https://www.instagram.com/p/B-CrYc8Bu3L/?igshid=4i7pzfc7b23s
NASA reps from Commercial Crew program join @SpaceX investigation into premature shutdown of one of the 9 Merlin engines on the Falcon 9 that launched 3/18 on Starlink-6 mission.
Almost all technical issues for Demo-2 are resolved. In regard to parachutes, SpaceX performed a test on Easter Sunday, with one final test to go. Engine-out investigation is close to being finished.
Any insights to cause/results?
Yes, but since the conclusions are tentative I don't want to share. It appears to not be a significant issue related to hardware.
Small amount of isopropyl alcohol (cleaning fluid) was trapped in a sensor dead leg & ignited in flight
A source told Ars that the company has already replicated the problem during tests and that fixing it will require changing some cleaning procedures. This should have no effect on the upcoming Crew Dragon launch.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1256248884168404992Quote NASA commercial crew manager Kathy Lueders says NASA has cleared the Merlin engines for the Demo-2 launch after the anomaly on the March F9 launch. working through reviews leading up to agency flight readiness review on May 20.
NASA commercial crew manager Kathy Lueders says NASA has cleared the Merlin engines for the Demo-2 launch after the anomaly on the March F9 launch. working through reviews leading up to agency flight readiness review on May 20.
