Quote from: whitelancer64 on 05/14/2020 06:15 pmQuote from: Robotbeat on 05/14/2020 04:03 amWithout actual measurements, I doubt we can assume you *can’t* still fit 60 Starlink satellites in there. Possible, but far from safe to assume there won’t be 60 in there. They may have improved packing slightly, there may be more room than there appears, and (unlikely but certainly possible) they may be trying a longer fairing.Or, more simply, they make the 4 aluminum tension rods that hold the Starlinks together shorter... no need to overthink it. Also, keeping the dispenser for the rideshare sats on the 2nd stage reduces orbital debris. Unless the mechanism is just a releasing clamp on each of the top two Starlink satellites that stays attached to those Starlinks.Releasing the carrier is another mechanism, in addition to leaving debris. (That would one good thing about an ESPA ring fixed to the top of the second stage.)Occam's razor. Starlink satellites fill the cylindrical part of the fairing.The ogive nose part is empty.Starlink satellites can take launch loads from above.There are two Starlink satellites in each layer.The two rideshare payloads are much smaller and lighter than Starlink satelitesSpaceX wants to get the full Starlink constellation up as quickly as possible.What accommodation would require the least modification and complication and impose the least burden on SpaceX and Starlink?(snip)
Quote from: Robotbeat on 05/14/2020 04:03 amWithout actual measurements, I doubt we can assume you *can’t* still fit 60 Starlink satellites in there. Possible, but far from safe to assume there won’t be 60 in there. They may have improved packing slightly, there may be more room than there appears, and (unlikely but certainly possible) they may be trying a longer fairing.Or, more simply, they make the 4 aluminum tension rods that hold the Starlinks together shorter... no need to overthink it. Also, keeping the dispenser for the rideshare sats on the 2nd stage reduces orbital debris.
Without actual measurements, I doubt we can assume you *can’t* still fit 60 Starlink satellites in there. Possible, but far from safe to assume there won’t be 60 in there. They may have improved packing slightly, there may be more room than there appears, and (unlikely but certainly possible) they may be trying a longer fairing.
[Spaceflight Now] Planet reserves rideshare slots on SpaceX Starlink launchesQuoteMike Safyan, vice president of launch for San Francisco-based Planet, said the SkySat satellites will be mounted at the very top of the stack of Starlink payloads inside the fairing on each Falcon 9 flight. The SkySats will attach to the Starlink stack using a custom adapter.
Mike Safyan, vice president of launch for San Francisco-based Planet, said the SkySat satellites will be mounted at the very top of the stack of Starlink payloads inside the fairing on each Falcon 9 flight. The SkySats will attach to the Starlink stack using a custom adapter.
Either they mount the rideshares to the top two satellites or they make a full width structure for the top of the stack that can be configured to carry various numbers and types of rideshare payloads. The former is simpler
MAZATLAN OCEANIC FIRNOTAM #: A3109/20 Class: International Start Date UTC: 06/13/2020 0259 End Date UTC: 06/14/2020 0355 Status: ActiveA3109/20 NOTAMNQ) MMFO/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/ A) MMFO B) 2006130259 C) 2006140355D) 0259/0416 DAY 13 JUN 0238/0355 DAY 14 JUNE) 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) MSL G) UNL
http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.htmlQuoteThe next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the ninth batch of Starlink internet satellites from pad 40 on June 12 at around 9-10pm EDT.
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the ninth batch of Starlink internet satellites from pad 40 on June 12 at around 9-10pm EDT.
MAZATLAN OCEANIC FIRNOTAM #: A3154/20 Class: International Start Date UTC: 06/12/2020 1034 End Date UTC: 06/13/2020 1130 Status: ActiveA3154/20 NOTAMR A3109/20Q) MMFO/QRDCD/IV/BO/W/000/999/ A) MMFO B) 2006121034 C) 2006131130D) 1034/1151 DAY 12 1013/1130 DAY 13E) DANGEROUS AREA FOR FALCON 9 REENTRY LATERAL LIMIT: AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FOLLOWING POINTS 16 19N 114 48W 15 16N 113 01W 07 44N 116 14WF) MSL G) UNL
Looks like OCISLY is getting ready for yet another Starlink mission currently slated for 6/12.
What about the night NOTAM? Is it marked obsolete/inactive?
I see. I was thinking of the NOTAM in Mazatlan Oceanic area for Stage2 posted above.
OCISLY has departed port canaveral being towed by Finn Falgout for the next starlink mission. #SpaceXFleet #SpaceX
I asked SpaceX if launching Planet's 3 SkySat satellites meant the company would have to reduce the number Starlink satellites from 60 on each launch but it looks like there's room at the top of the stack (view from inside the Falcon 9 rocket nosecone): https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/09/planets-skysats-will-take-images-up-to-12-times-a-day-launched-with-help-of-spacex.html
[Planet’s VP of launch Mike] Safyan said that his company built a “a custom adapter plate that allows us to fit on top of the Starlink stack” inside the rocket’s nosecone.
