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.
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the next batch of 60 Starlinksatellites from pad 40 on early May TBA
Elon Musk is giving a presentation at a public meeting of an Astro2020 astrophysics decadal survey cmte meeting on efforts to mitigate brightness of Starlink satellites. First “VisorSat” satellites, with sunshade to block reflections off antennas, planned to be on next launch.
Elon Musk giving a short presentation at a meeting for the Astro 2020 decadal, says we'll have a "VisorSat" on the next Starlink launch that has a sunshade to reduce the satellites' brightness.
ATLANTIC OCEAN - FLORIDA - CAPE CANAVERAL: EASTERN RANGE OP# X0056 STARLINK V1.0-L7Eastern range will be conducting hazardous operations surface to unlimited within portions of Warning Areas W497A, W497B, W137F/G, W138E,W139E/F, W140E, W122 and the following Hazard Areas.From 2836 55.22N 8036 0.35WTO 2848N 8024WTO 2854N 8017WTO 2917N 7949WTO 2915N 7946WTO 2841N 8017WTO 2834N 8025WTO 2831N 8031WTO 2830 25.65N 8033 0.42W to beginningFrom 3158N 7658WTO 3309N 7558WTO 3323N 7536WTO 3323N 7456WTO 3315N 7437WTO 3248N 7435WTO 3229N 7459WTO 3140N 7642W to beginningHazard periods for primary launch day and backup launch days;Primary launch day: 07 / 1110Z thru 07 / 1237Z May 20. Preferred T-0 is 1115Z.Backup launch day (1): 08 / 1050Z thru 08 / 1217Z May 20. Preferred T-0 is 1055Z.Backup launch day (2): 09 / 1023Z thru 09 / 1210Z May 20. Preferred T-0 is 1023Z.Backup launch day (3): 10 / 1001Z thru 10 / 1148Z May 20. Preferred T-0 is 1001Z.Backup launch day (4): 11 / 0940Z thru 11 / 1127Z May 20. Preferred T-0 is 0940Z.Backup launch day (5): 12 / 0918Z thru 12 / 1105Z May 20. Preferred T-0 is 0918Z.Backup launch day (6): 13 / 0856Z thru 13 / 1043Z May 20. Preferred T-0 is 0856Z
I'm surprised this is launching so close to DM-2 given that both are ASDS landings. There are only nine days to return the Starlink 8 booster to port, unload it, and get to the DM-2 booster landing site.
Quote from: jketch on 05/04/2020 11:41 pmI'm surprised this is launching so close to DM-2 given that both are ASDS landings. There are only nine days to return the Starlink 8 booster to port, unload it, and get to the DM-2 booster landing site.If only they had a second ASDS available*...... * Will JRTI be ready by then?
Quote from: Nevyn72 on 05/04/2020 11:44 pmQuote from: jketch on 05/04/2020 11:41 pmI'm surprised this is launching so close to DM-2 given that both are ASDS landings. There are only nine days to return the Starlink 8 booster to port, unload it, and get to the DM-2 booster landing site.If only they had a second ASDS available*...... * Will JRTI be ready by then?A Starlink booster recovery would be the perfect post-retrofit shakedown
Quote from: atsf90east on 05/05/2020 01:42 amQuote from: Nevyn72 on 05/04/2020 11:44 pmQuote from: jketch on 05/04/2020 11:41 pmI'm surprised this is launching so close to DM-2 given that both are ASDS landings. There are only nine days to return the Starlink 8 booster to port, unload it, and get to the DM-2 booster landing site.If only they had a second ASDS available*...... * Will JRTI be ready by then?A Starlink booster recovery would be the perfect post-retrofit shakedown Yeah, lets see what tricks they are installing on JRTI.I have a theory, based on no information, that they are developing Super ASDS information to prepare for Super Heavy down range recovery.
MAZATLAN OCEANIC FIR NOTAM #: A2521/20 Class: International Start Date UTC: 05/17/2020 0857 End Date UTC: 05/19/2020 0920 Status: ActiveA2521/20 NOTAMNQ) MMFO/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/ A) MMFO B) 2005170857 C) 2005190920D) 0857/1003 DAY 17 MAY 0836/0942 DAY 18 MAY 0814/0920 DAY 19 MAYE) DANGEROUS AREA FOR REENTRY OF ROCKET FALCON-9 LATERAL LIMIT: AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FOLLOWING POINTS: 05 00 00N 120 00 00W 11 24 43N 120 00 00W 16 19 00N 114 48 00W 15 16 00N 113 01 00W 07 44 00N 116 14 00W 05 50 17N 117 24 06W 05 00 00N 120 00 00WF) GND G) UNL
Updated to clarify the possibility of launching May 17, assuming range availability.
May 17 at the very earliest, around 3:30-4am EDT
Next launch satellites are going to be the first to start rolling during orbit raising to reduce visibility.
Quote from: Hummy on 05/08/2020 09:00 pmNext launch satellites are going to be the first to start rolling during orbit raising to reduce visibility.Source?
Quote from: The Roadie on 05/08/2020 10:41 pmQuote from: Hummy on 05/08/2020 09:00 pmNext launch satellites are going to be the first to start rolling during orbit raising to reduce visibility.Source?The graphic above (Under the Launch 7 title)
The first unit is flying on the next launch, and by flight 9 in June all future Starlink satellites will have sun visors.
As previously noted, the first VisorSat prototype will launch in May and we will have these black, specular visors on all satellites by June.
When is the static fire going to happen? I think they don't want it to happen with the Atlas right next to it, especially as it has the payload on top. So it has to be quite a few days before for the launch to happen the day after OTV-6
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting Sunday, May 17 at 3:53 a.m. EDT, 7:53 UTC, for launch of the eighth Starlink mission, which will lift off from SLC-40 in Florida
The first stage rocket booster supporting this mission previously launched two Starlink missions, as well as the Iridium-8 and Telstar 18 VANTAGE missions
OCISLY on its way out of Port Canaveral for the upcoming starlink launch. @SpaceXFleet
Quote from: soltasto on 05/11/2020 07:18 pmWhen is the static fire going to happen? I think they don't want it to happen with the Atlas right next to it, especially as it has the payload on top. So it has to be quite a few days before for the launch to happen the day after OTV-6SLC 40 and 41 are 1.5 miles (2.4 km) apart. They were spaced that far apart for a reason. - Ed Kyle
ULA ground crews plan to transfer the Atlas 5 rocket to pad 41 Thursday morning [May 14] from the Vertical Integration Facility, where the launcher was stacked over the last few weeks. ULA installed the X-37B spacecraft on top of the Atlas 5 inside the vertical hangar May 5.
The Falcon 9 launch attempt Sunday will only go ahead if the Atlas 5 rocket takes off as scheduled Saturday, according to Brig. Gen. Doug Schiess, commander of the 45th Space Wing, which manages range operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.For now, the Atlas 5 has Sunday booked as a backup launch opportunity on the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral.
Not looking too good for booster recovery ops; wonder if they'll postpone or take the chance.
Fleet Update!OCISLY progress to LZ:█████░░░░░░░ 42%Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief are still docked at Port Canaveral at this time.
Has it been mentioned if this payload fairing is new or being reused?
The last time when they were reusing the fairings, they mentioned it in one of the post static fire tweets, it did not happen this time, so I think we can assume these are the new fairings.
CelesTrak just received state vectors from @SpaceX for the next #Starlink launch, set for May 17 at 0753 UTC. We have generated SupTLEs (assuming it will be launch 2020-030). Those are now available at https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/supplemental/. I will update if anything changes.
Will SpaceX be able to do the nine-day turnaround if Starlink goes off on Monday? Like, how fast can OCISLY return B1049 before going back out again for DM-2?
Quote from: ZachS09 on 05/15/2020 04:00 pmWill SpaceX be able to do the nine-day turnaround if Starlink goes off on Monday? Like, how fast can OCISLY return B1049 before going back out again for DM-2?Maybe we will see JRTI back in action soon.
Quote from: ValmirGP on 05/15/2020 04:08 pmQuote from: ZachS09 on 05/15/2020 04:00 pmWill SpaceX be able to do the nine-day turnaround if Starlink goes off on Monday? Like, how fast can OCISLY return B1049 before going back out again for DM-2?Maybe we will see JRTI back in action soon.I believe that there has been a pretty quick turnaround time for OCISLY in the past. It was mentioned previously on the first page of this thread. I had thought that maybe they wanted to test JRTI for this mission and keep OCISLY for DM-2.Also DM-2 might have a closer ASDS landing than a Starlink mission.
Quote from: jketch on 05/04/2020 11:41 pmI'm surprised this is launching so close to DM-2 given that both are ASDS landings. There are only nine days to return the Starlink 8 booster to port, unload it, and get to the DM-2 booster landing site.Nusantara Satu and DM-1 were just 8 days apart, they managed to do it but it was a very quick turn around from booster unloading to departure. They should be able to do a 9 day turnaround and a delay of 3 days should help them. But it would be a lot more helpful to have JRTI used this mission.
Fleet Update!Of Course I Still Love You should arrive at the landing zone overnight tonight.Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief are close behind and moving faster - they'll arrive around the same time.
ULA just scrubbed with a 24 hour turnaround until after 9AM on the 17th. Expect a slip here.
Due to a conflict on the Range, now targeting Monday, May 18 at 3:32 a.m. EDT for launch of Starlink
Psst SpaceX is standing down with Atlas having Range priority. This tweet should actually say thank you for the weather delay to give our Recovery teams better recovery zone conditions at T-0. Fixed it for you.
The chances of recovery for Monday morning's Starlink launch are looking quite slim. Tropical Depression One will be located right over the recovery zone at T-0. The Fleet is already retreating towards safer waters on the coast. #SpaceXFleet
Due to a tropical depression developing off the Southeast Coast of the U.S., now targeting Tuesday, May 19 at 3:10 a.m. EDT for the Starlink mission—SpaceX teams will continue monitoring launch and landing weather conditions
Go Ms. Tree just changed the reported destination to Tesla N Texas. They actually just arrived in Morehead City for safe harbor. I think whoever is at the wheel had a bit too much fun riding the waves. 😏 #SpaceXFleet
The recovery fleet is sheltering from Tropical Storm Arthur.Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief are docked at the Port of Morehead City. GO Quest is arriving at Cape Fear and OCISLY is circling just offshore nearby.
SpaceX's next launch will have crew onboard. The Starlink launch is in fact now postponed until after Demo-2 due to not enough time to turnaround OCISLY.JRTI still has several weeks of trials ahead of it before it will be ready.
Just a shame SpaceX couldn't keep their Sunday slot. Atlas would very likely have been fine launching Monday.
Standing down from the Starlink mission, due to tropical storm Arthur, until after launch of Crew Demo-2
I have to wonder about the loss of one old booster compared to the cost of delaying the whole system for two more weeks. Maybe they can catch up, but it seems like launch opportunities is the pacer right now.
A barge is going to have an unexpected problem eventually, and this faith in everything going to plan is going to come back and bite them.
Quote from: Joffan on 05/18/2020 07:03 amJust a shame SpaceX couldn't keep their Sunday slot. Atlas would very likely have been fine launching Monday.On the other hand: The slightest glitch on the Starlink launch (fifth flight of a booster again) could have delayed SpX-DM2 due to further investigation. This schedule risk is now off the table.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 05/18/2020 04:18 pmQuote from: PM3 on 05/18/2020 07:48 amQuote from: Joffan on 05/18/2020 07:03 amJust a shame SpaceX couldn't keep their Sunday slot. Atlas would very likely have been fine launching Monday.On the other hand: The slightest glitch on the Starlink launch (fifth flight of a booster again) could have delayed SpX-DM2 due to further investigation. This schedule risk is now off the table.But that kind of logic reduces commercial crew safety.If one launch pushed by weather concerns after DM2 reduces commercial crew safety, then surely just one launch also reduces safety and they should have two. Actually, scratch that - they should have three...Where does postponing a non-crew launch prior to a crewed launch not reduce commercial crew safety?
Quote from: PM3 on 05/18/2020 07:48 amQuote from: Joffan on 05/18/2020 07:03 amJust a shame SpaceX couldn't keep their Sunday slot. Atlas would very likely have been fine launching Monday.On the other hand: The slightest glitch on the Starlink launch (fifth flight of a booster again) could have delayed SpX-DM2 due to further investigation. This schedule risk is now off the table.But that kind of logic reduces commercial crew safety.
No, I’m saying that if one of the arguments for postponing Starlink is that it might fail (exposing a potential underlying problem in Falcon 9), that’s effectively arguing for schedule risk management by putting blinders on to potential crew risk problems.
Its so important, that making sure everyone involved in DM2 has 100% one focus, and no distractions. So in June there seems to be Starlink 8, GPS3, and Starlink 9. No Idea when Starlink 10 was planned.So with SL8 locked and loaded, and waiting, SX must have been working on SL9 already, and in 3 weeks, could thy be preparing SL10 !Could we see a record pad turn-around, and/or 3SL launches, or 4 launches in one month? Or other records. If both drone ships are ready by June, that could facilitate such antics! :-0
What happens to the booster that was on the pad, now that its set to launch in June? Do they take it down and bring it back to the barn?
Yes. F9 will be rolled back into the barn for weather protection of rocket and payload.Payload stack (including fairing) will also be de-mated and stored in vertical (upright) position. A Starlink stack doesn't like being stored horizontally for prolonged periods of time (sagging of the stack is just one concern).
Quote from: IvanDogovich on 05/19/2020 03:29 pmWhat happens to the booster that was on the pad, now that its set to launch in June? Do they take it down and bring it back to the barn?Yes. F9 will be rolled back into the barn for weather protection of rocket and payload.Payload stack (including fairing) will also be de-mated and stored in vertical (upright) position. A Starlink stack doesn't like being stored horizontally for prolonged periods of time (sagging of the stack is just one concern).
Is the cycle time on using the ASDS the limitation on spacing between flights?
Quote from: woods170 on 05/19/2020 03:38 pmQuote from: IvanDogovich on 05/19/2020 03:29 pmWhat happens to the booster that was on the pad, now that its set to launch in June? Do they take it down and bring it back to the barn?Yes. F9 will be rolled back into the barn for weather protection of rocket and payload.Payload stack (including fairing) will also be de-mated and stored in vertical (upright) position. A Starlink stack doesn't like being stored horizontally for prolonged periods of time (sagging of the stack is just one concern).Also curious how long they can wait before they want to redo a static fire.Is the cycle time on using the ASDS the limitation on spacing between flights?
McAleenan: The 30th and 31st look much less dynamic [in terms of weather.] Koenigsmann: Next Starlink mission in early June depending on the droneship availability.
Spaceflight experts:What is the Falcon 9 history with respect to Static Fire "re-do's"?Also, how quickly could this Starlink launch from SLC-40 follow a successful launch of DM2 from LC-39A? Is it dependent on the turn-around of OCISLY?
ATLANTIC OCEAN - FLORIDA - CAPE CANAVERAL: EASTERN RANGE OP# X0056 FALCON 9Eastern range will be conducting hazardous operations surface to unlimited within portions of Warning Areas W497A, W497B, W137F/G, W138E,W139E/F, W140E, W122 and the following Hazard Areas. A: From 2836 55.22N 8036 0.35WTO 2848N 8024WTO 2854N 8017WTO 2917N 7949WTO 2915N 7946WTO 2841N 8017WTO 2834N 8025WTO 2831N 8031WTO 2830 25.65N 8033 0.42W to beginningB: From 3158N 7658WTO 3309N 7558WTO 3323N 7536WTO 3323N 7456WTO 3315N 7437WTO 3248N 7435WTO 3229N 7459W TO 3140N 7642W to beginningHazard periods for primary launch day and backup launch days;Primary launch day: 02 / 0133Z thru 02 / 0331Z Jun 20. Preferred T-0 is 0138Z.Backup launch day: 03 / 0112Z thru 03 / 0310Z Jun 20. Preferred T-0 is 0117Z.
SpaceX's second droneship is now departing Port Canaveral.'Just Read the Instructions' has been under construction for the past few months but is now all-but complete.This is unrelated to today's Demo-2 mission.
Believe this will be in support of the previously postponed Starlink mission. Possible launch dates are:2020-06-02 at 01:38 UTC2020-06-03 at 01:17 UTC
No guarantees on that tweet as I say. I'm pulling the info from the same mariner notices you'll are looking at.
Any activity at SLC-40 preparing for this launch?
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 05/29/2020 05:52 pmAny activity at SLC-40 preparing for this launch?Following DM2's successful launch on May 30 from LC-39A, any activity at SLC-40? Preparations for a static fire?
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 05/31/2020 06:11 pmQuote from: zubenelgenubi on 05/29/2020 05:52 pmAny activity at SLC-40 preparing for this launch?Following DM2's successful launch on May 30 from LC-39A, any activity at SLC-40? Preparations for a static fire?Didn’t they already have a static fire before the launch was delayed? There is probably no need for another given the relatively short delay.
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the eighth batch of Starlink internet satellites from pad 40 on June 3 at about 9:25pm EDT.
Of Course I Still Love You is returning from the Demo-2 mission with Falcon 9.Just Read the Instructions is en-route to the landing zone for the Starlink mission.This is the first time that SpaceX has operated two droneships in the same ocean simultaneously for real missions.
Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief are preparing to depart Port Canaveral for the Starlink mission.
Here they are departing now just passing Grills.
Just Read the Instructions droneship has arrived at the landing zone for the Starlink mission....2 hours after OCISLY returned with the Demo-2 booster...
Is that 8:55 pm Eastern time tomorrow?
Quote from: sferrin on 06/02/2020 08:17 pmIs that 8:55 pm Eastern time tomorrow? yes
ATLANTIC OCEAN - FLORIDA - CAPE CANAVERAL: EASTERN RANGE OP# X0056 FALCON 9 STARLINK V1.0-L7 (UPDATE: 30 May, 2020)Eastern range will be conducting hazardous operations surface to unlimited within portions of Warning Areas W497A, W497B, W137F/G, W138E,W139E/F, W140E, W122 and the following Hazard Areas. A: From 2836 55.22N 8036 0.35WTO 2848N 8024WTO 2854N 8017WTO 2917N 7949WTO 2915N 7946WTO 2841N 8017WTO 2834N 8025WTO 2831N 8031WTO 2830 25.65N 8033 0.42W to beginningB: From 3158N 7658WTO 3309N 7558WTO 3323N 7536WTO 3323N 7456WTO 3315N 7437WTO 3248N 7435WTO 3229N 7459WTO 3140N 7642W to beginningHazard periods for primary launch day and backup launch days;Primary launch day: 04 / 0050Z thru 04 / 0248Z Jun 20. Preferred T-0 is 0055Z.Backup launch day: 05 / 0028Z thru 05 / 0226Z Jun 20. Preferred T-0 is 0033Z.
CelesTrak now has pre-launch SupTLEs for the #Starlink-8 launch scheduled for Jun 4 at 0125 UTC from Cape Canaveral: https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.
They are not providing press kits anymore ...EDIT: Modified the document to include a link to the source website.
They are not providing press kits anymore (Hillary Coe, Design Director at SpaceX, told me on Twitter that the launches site is going to replace the press kits, but she deleted that tweet ), so I decided to create my own press kit based on the information they provided on the website to have it saved for the future when they modify the website for another launch.EDIT: Modified the document to include a link to the source website.
Question is if the weather looks like in the picture below, can the F9 gain altitude fast enough to get above the storms and squeak thru?
Current 12z run of weather around the launch site at 10pm Eastern. Question is if the weather looks like in the picture below, can the F9 gain altitude fast enough to get above the storms and squeak thru?
Before I steer people in my neighborhood wrong, am I correct in thinking there should be an excellent sighting opportunity in the central United States about 90 minutes after launch (i.e., around 10:00pm local time?)
Check heavens-above.com for your location to confirm passes. They have a placeholder for L7 on their homepage. For southern MN the first visible evening pass is tomorrow night at 10:08 PM.
Quote from: cppetrie on 06/03/2020 09:36 pmCheck heavens-above.com for your location to confirm passes. They have a placeholder for L7 on their homepage. For southern MN the first visible evening pass is tomorrow night at 10:08 PM. Thanks! I didn't expect they'd have sighting opportunities prepared before launch.West Texas does have a sighting opportunity from 10:00 to 10:01 tonight.
Wonder what they've been wanting to hide for so long? Glad they did show it though.
WOW. They actually showed the deployment this time :-) So fascinating I wonder if the fact that OneWeb as the main competitor has gone bankrupt has anything to do with it. Probably not, they never had the architecture to even try and adapt to this. Blue Origin possibly could, if Kuiper eventually becomes reality, but then again by the looks of it Starlink will probably be on-line and serve customers before Blue Origin makes their first successful orbital launch.I think, when your technological lead has become far enough that even a fast follower would take years to get to where you are now, you can show your tricks safely, knowing that by the time someone could duplicate them, you wont need them anymore.Specifically in this case, by the time Kuiper sats could benefit from a bulk deployer on top of New Shepperd Glenn SpaceX would already shovel them out of Starships cargo hold in bulk quantities with an entirely different method.If this deployer has been compared to a dump truck dumping its load versus individual offloading of palettes, then what Starlink might be doing could be closer to pressure pumping concrete through a construction pipeline...
Quote from: CorvusCorax on 06/04/2020 01:50 amWOW. They actually showed the deployment this time :-) So fascinating I wonder if the fact that OneWeb as the main competitor has gone bankrupt has anything to do with it. Probably not, they never had the architecture to even try and adapt to this. Blue Origin possibly could, if Kuiper eventually becomes reality, but then again by the looks of it Starlink will probably be on-line and serve customers before Blue Origin makes their first successful orbital launch.I think, when your technological lead has become far enough that even a fast follower would take years to get to where you are now, you can show your tricks safely, knowing that by the time someone could duplicate them, you wont need them anymore.Specifically in this case, by the time Kuiper sats could benefit from a bulk deployer on top of New Shepperd Glenn SpaceX would already shovel them out of Starships cargo hold in bulk quantities with an entirely different method.If this deployer has been compared to a dump truck dumping its load versus individual offloading of palettes, then what Starlink might be doing could be closer to pressure pumping concrete through a construction pipeline...I must admit, I briefly considered the "hey Oneweb just went bankrupt" angle as well, but I'll stick with "unexpected interference due to shock/moving metal that they've only just worked around" for now.
Quote from: AndrewRG10 on 06/04/2020 01:42 amWonder what they've been wanting to hide for so long? Glad they did show it though.Maybe the fact that they produces space debris by jetisoning the clamp?
Does anyone have a prediction for visibility for the first two passes over the US?Particularly Denver
Watching how relatively quickly the deployment rods decay and reenter, that idea never really made sense to me, but whatever reason (technical, procedural, or managerial) we finally got to see the deployment, I'm stoked. Now I'm trying to work out how the deployment is actuated. (Watching it repeatedly, you can see the deployment rods "slacken" before swinging out and releasing.)
Quote from: ClayJar on 06/04/2020 02:09 amWatching how relatively quickly the deployment rods decay and reenter, that idea never really made sense to me, but whatever reason (technical, procedural, or managerial) we finally got to see the deployment, I'm stoked. Now I'm trying to work out how the deployment is actuated. (Watching it repeatedly, you can see the deployment rods "slacken" before swinging out and releasing.)It seems that there is a pusher (in white) in operation at the near end of the rod. Something like this must operate at the far end also, as the rod starts to move upward parallelly. I guess the pusher just contain a spring. A latching mechanism should keep it compressed before the commanded release. Also, the satellite stack seems to be pushed away by something. However, the stack is released only after the rod separation is complete. Therefore, stack release is either mechanically connected to rod release, or commended separately.
I tried looking from here in Fargo at 23:38 local. This works this time of year because of our latitiude. Even with a 67 deg max elevation, didn't see anything. Usually can see ISS at ~420 km till midnight, but not sure with how low the stack (perigee 230) is if that is enough.
Quote from: geza on 06/04/2020 04:28 amQuote from: ClayJar on 06/04/2020 02:09 amWatching how relatively quickly the deployment rods decay and reenter, that idea never really made sense to me, but whatever reason (technical, procedural, or managerial) we finally got to see the deployment, I'm stoked. Now I'm trying to work out how the deployment is actuated. (Watching it repeatedly, you can see the deployment rods "slacken" before swinging out and releasing.)It seems that there is a pusher (in white) in operation at the near end of the rod. Something like this must operate at the far end also, as the rod starts to move upward parallelly. I guess the pusher just contain a spring. A latching mechanism should keep it compressed before the commanded release. Also, the satellite stack seems to be pushed away by something. However, the stack is released only after the rod separation is complete. Therefore, stack release is either mechanically connected to rod release, or commended separately.Do not forget the entire stack is under tension due to the stage rotation around y axis.Being not in the center of gravity, the satellites want to drift away from each other and the stage as opposed to remaining in rotation around a joint center of mass. A centripetal force acts through the rod, pulling the stack together. The moment the rods let lose, the sats will separate from each other and the stage simply by momentum already imparted to them.Ultra simple, ultra effective. Part count: zero.
I was just wondering where the center of mass is for the stage2-starlink stack with mostly empty prop tanks. Estimates are that stage 2 has a mass of 4.5 tones at burnout. The starlink sats are more than that, so the axis of spin should be inside the starlink stack somewhere. So, a pusher mechanism to separate them from stage 2 is essential.
Quote from: geza on 06/04/2020 04:28 amIt seems that there is a pusher (in white) in operation at the near end of the rod. Something like this must operate at the far end also, as the rod starts to move upward parallelly. I guess the pusher just contain a spring. A latching mechanism should keep it compressed before the commanded release. Also, the satellite stack seems to be pushed away by something. However, the stack is released only after the rod separation is complete. Therefore, stack release is either mechanically connected to rod release, or commended separately.Do not forget the entire stack is under tension due to the stage rotation around y axis.Being not in the center of gravity, the satellites want to drift away from each other and the stage as opposed to remaining in rotation around a joint center of mass. A centripetal force acts through the rod, pulling the stack together. The moment the rods let lose, the sats will separate from each other and the stage simply by momentum already imparted to them.Ultra simple, ultra effective. Part count: zero.
It seems that there is a pusher (in white) in operation at the near end of the rod. Something like this must operate at the far end also, as the rod starts to move upward parallelly. I guess the pusher just contain a spring. A latching mechanism should keep it compressed before the commanded release. Also, the satellite stack seems to be pushed away by something. However, the stack is released only after the rod separation is complete. Therefore, stack release is either mechanically connected to rod release, or commended separately.
This is not exactly what we see on the video. The stack of satellites separates together from the stage with a definite push, which is definitely delayed relative to the jettisoning of the rod.
Quote from: geza on 06/04/2020 02:38 pmThis is not exactly what we see on the video. The stack of satelites separates together from the stage with a definite push, which is definitely delayed relative to the jettisoning of the rod.That's what I thought at first, but looking again closely it appears that they start moving as soon as the rod is free, but with the upper satellites in the stack separating more quickly than the lower ones.
This is not exactly what we see on the video. The stack of satelites separates together from the stage with a definite push, which is definitely delayed relative to the jettisoning of the rod.
Do we know the rotation is end over end?I always assumed it was a roll.
Quote from: CorvusCorax on 06/04/2020 10:41 amQuote from: geza on 06/04/2020 04:28 amIt seems that there is a pusher (in white) in operation at the near end of the rod. Something like this must operate at the far end also, as the rod starts to move upward parallelly. I guess the pusher just contain a spring. A latching mechanism should keep it compressed before the commanded release. Also, the satellite stack seems to be pushed away by something. However, the stack is released only after the rod separation is complete. Therefore, stack release is either mechanically connected to rod release, or commended separately.Do not forget the entire stack is under tension due to the stage rotation around y axis.Being not in the center of gravity, the satellites want to drift away from each other and the stage as opposed to remaining in rotation around a joint center of mass. A centripetal force acts through the rod, pulling the stack together. The moment the rods let lose, the sats will separate from each other and the stage simply by momentum already imparted to them.Ultra simple, ultra effective. Part count: zero.This is not exactly what we see on the video. The stack of satelites separates together from the stage with a definite push, which is definitely delayed relative to the jettisoning of the rod.
Quote from: geza on 06/04/2020 02:38 pmQuote from: CorvusCorax on 06/04/2020 10:41 amQuote from: geza on 06/04/2020 04:28 amIt seems that there is a pusher (in white) in operation at the near end of the rod. Something like this must operate at the far end also, as the rod starts to move upward parallelly. I guess the pusher just contain a spring. A latching mechanism should keep it compressed before the commanded release. Also, the satellite stack seems to be pushed away by something. However, the stack is released only after the rod separation is complete. Therefore, stack release is either mechanically connected to rod release, or commended separately.Do not forget the entire stack is under tension due to the stage rotation around y axis.Being not in the center of gravity, the satellites want to drift away from each other and the stage as opposed to remaining in rotation around a joint center of mass. A centripetal force acts through the rod, pulling the stack together. The moment the rods let lose, the sats will separate from each other and the stage simply by momentum already imparted to them.Ultra simple, ultra effective. Part count: zero.This is not exactly what we see on the video. The stack of satelites separates together from the stage with a definite push, which is definitely delayed relative to the jettisoning of the rod.Is there any RCS capability to "tap the brakes"?
I've checked all the threads I can think of and the SpaceX twitter feed.Is there any word on the fairing recovery attempt on last nights launch?
We already know SpaceX is pushing the envelope in terms of reuse count and rapid reuse with their own Starlink satellites.But if launch windows and range availability becomes the largest constraint, could we see them pushing the envelope on the weather constraints? To see the actual limits and margins on the rocket.They already said they're producing more satellites than they can launch.
Ultra simple, ultra effective. Part count: zero.
Quote from: CorvusCorax on 06/04/2020 10:41 amUltra simple, ultra effective. Part count: zero.Part count is at least four, since there are four hold down posts that are released and left to decay in LEO.
The only time B1049 returned to port aboard Just Read the Instructions was on the West coast following the Iridium-8 mission. Today, the same booster is again set to arrive aboard JRTI, but this time on the EAST coast, after its FIFTH successful launch and landing. #spacex
Starlink fairing deploy sequencehttps://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1270466922459459590
Things to see here:* Watch for the fairing flexing after separation.* It falls out away from rocket, then rear half gets kicked by the exhaust, reversing the rotation.* The limb of the earth is visible as a reflection in side of satellite stack.
* the parachute likes and steering hardware are all visible, see how the lines are laid out inside the fairing.* Probably the best shot we've ever see of Merlin Vacuum in flight.* The blue exhaust from illumination by the sun* A view of the exhaust trail from inside!
On Tuesday a great video was posted from the fairing of a SpaceX rocket carrying a payload of Starlink Satellites. It was one of the best looks at the interior of the fairings which are practically independent spacecraft able to control their entry & descent to steer their way to a rendezvous with the recovery vessels.
