SpaceX F9 : Starlink v1.0 L12 : KSC LC-39A : October 6, 2020 (11:29 UTC)

[gongora]

Discussion thread for Starlink v1.0 Flight 12.

Check the Starlink Index Thread for links to more Starlink information.

NSF Threads for Starlink v1.0 Flight 12: Discussion / Updates

October 6, 2020 at 7:29am EDT (11:29 UTC) on Falcon 9 (booster 1058.3) from LC-39A.  ASDS landing is expected.  Expected deployment orbit of approximately 200x380km.
Scrubbed on Sept. 17 for issues with recovery operations.
Scrubbed on Sept. 28 for weather.
Scrubbed on Oct. 1 for out of family reading on ground equipment sensor.
Scrubbed October 5 for weather.

Payload: A batch of 60? Starlink satellites.

Please use the Starlink Discussion Thread for all general discussion on Starlink.

L2 SpaceX:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0

From a previous mission's Press Kit:

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.

[zubenelgenubi]

The launch complex for this flight has not yet been announced--could be either at Kennedy LC-39A or Canaveral SLC-40.

How the Eastern Range in September looks now.  I include MARS (Wallops) launches because, I believe, they share some range tracking assets with KSC/CC.  Seeking clarification or correction.:

Scheduled:
Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)

2020
NET August September - Starlink flight 13 (x60) [v1.0 L12] - Falcon 9 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A
NET September October - Starlink flight 14 (x60) [v1.0 L13] - Falcon 9 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A
NET September ? October - Starlink flight 15 (x60) [v1.0 L14] - Falcon 9 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A
September - NROL-101 - Atlas V 531 (AV-090) - Canaveral SLC-41
NET September - STP-27RM: Monolith - Electron/Kick Stage - MARS LA-0A (LC-2)
September 29 30 October 2 - Cygnus NG-14 (CRS-14) - Antares-230+ - MARS LP-0A - 02:26
NET September 30 October 1 - GPS III SV04 - Falcon 9 (B1062.1 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 00:00-04:00  (or Late)

Changes on August 10th
Changes on August 11th
Changes on August 17th
Changes on August 20th
zubenelgenubi August 21

[LandingZone-1]

The most likely core assignment for this mission is B1058.3.

[Zed_Noir]

What are the chances that Starlink V1.0 L12 will launched before NROL-44 launched from pad LC-37B? Think this launch will use pad LC-39A since the SAOCOM-1A booster is using the TE at pad LC-40 now.

[the_other_Doug]

What I've seen is that the Starlink launch is unaffected by the NROL-44 situation, both because 39A is much farther away from the Delta IV pad, and because Starlink launches to the northeast, while SAOCOM will launch to the south-southeast, which directly overflies the Delta pad when launching from SLC-40.

I've asked in the SAOCOM thread whether it could be allowed to launch from 39A, either before or after this Starlink launches, but got no reply yet... of course, I just asked like a minute ago. 

[Herb Schaltegger]

I've asked in the SAOCOM thread whether it could be allowed to launch from 39A, either before or after this Starlink launches, but got no reply yet... of course, I just asked like a minute ago. 

Asking in this thread is really off-topic, since the threads are for specific missions, not launch pads.

That said, there’s zero realistic chance SAOCOM would be shifted to 39A. The payload and booster have been integrated with one another and the TEL. Removing the payload, trucking it across CCAFS over to KSC and 39A, integrating it onto another booster (even assuming one is handy and available) then testing and verifying it, plus the complications of modifying and verifying the launch trajectory and getting FAA and Range approvals for it all, etc. is *not* going to happen in the week or so it will take for ULA to make another DIVH attempt.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Scheduled:
Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)

2020
August 30 NET September 1 3 - Starlink flight 12 (x60) [v1.0 L11] - Falcon 9-093 (B1060.2 S) - Kennedy LC-39A - 12:46
August 28 29 NET September 5 - NROL-44: Orion 10 (Mentor 8 ) (TBD) - Delta IV-H [D-385] - Canaveral SLC-37B ~06:00-10:25
September - Starlink flight 13 (x60) [v1.0 L12] - Falcon 9-094 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40
NET September - Starlink flight 14 (x60) [v1.0 L13] - Falcon 9 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A
September 30 - Cygnus NG-14 (CRS-14) - Antares-230+ - MARS LP-0A - 02:26
NET September - STP-27RM: Monolith - Electron/Kick Stage - MARS LA-0A (LC-2)
October 1 - GPS III SV04 - Falcon 9 (B1062.1 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 00:00-04:00

Changes on August 28th
Changes on August 29th
Changes on August 30th
Changes on August 31st

SAOCOM-1B launched successfully on August 30.
When will visible signs of this launch campaign at SLC-40 appear?
Will there be a Static Fire?  If not, then the first time the LV appears on the pad will be shortly before launch.

MARS/Wallops launches included because, I believe, it shares some Eastern Range assets with Canaveral/KSC.

[zubenelgenubi]

This is now the next Falcon 9 launch.

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html , after September 3 Falcon 9/Starlink launch:

FALCON 9
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the thirteenth batch of Starlink satellites from pad 40 on mid-September TBA.
A Falcon 9 from pad 39A will launch the fourteenth Starlink batch on September TBA.

Scheduled:
Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)

2020
NET September 5 - NROL-44: Orion 10 (Mentor 8 ) (TBD) - Delta IV-H [D-385] - Canaveral SLC-37B ~06:00-10:25
Mid-September - Starlink flight 13 (x60) [v1.0 L12] - Falcon 9-094 (1058.3 S) - Canaveral SLC-40
September - Starlink flight 14 (x60) [v1.0 L13] - Falcon 9-095 (1051.6 S) - Kennedy LC-39A
September 30 - Cygnus NG-14 (CRS-14) - Antares-230+ - MARS LP-0A - 02:26
NET September - STP-27RM: Monolith - Electron/Kick Stage - MARS LA-0A (LC-2)
October 1 - GPS III SV04 - Falcon 9 (B1062.1 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 00:00-04:00

Changes on September 1st
Changes on September 3rd
zubenelgenubi September 4

[Elthiryel]

According to Next Spaceflight, booster 1058.3 is going to be used for this flight.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/2577

Previous missions:
Crew Demo-2 (May 2020)
ANASIS-II (July 2020)

Currently this booster holds the record of the shortest time between two flights (51d 02h 08m). According to Ben Cooper, Starlink-13 is now slated for mid-September, so this time it should be around 57 days.

[Raul]

Active NOTAM in MELBOURNE information region south of Australia for Stage2 debris reentry of Starlink V1.0-L12 launch NET September 17.

MELBOURNE (FIR/FIC/ACC/COM/MET)
NOTAM #: F2617/20   Class: International   Start Date UTC: 09/17/2020 2013      End Date UTC: 09/18/2020 2052Status: Active
F2617/20 NOTAMN
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/4946S11913E999
A) YMMM
B) 2009172013 C) 2009182052
D) 17 2013-2114, 18 1951-2052
E) ROCKET LAUNCH WILL TAKE PLACE
FLW RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
HAZARDOUS OPS WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY AND
SPLASHDOWN OF LAUNCH VEHICLE OP  X0239 STARLINK V1.0-L12 STAGE 2
REENTRY WI THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
FROM 29°43S 060°07E
24°55S 064°27E
38°45S 084°30E
45°12S 099°45E
49°46S 119°13E
50°42S 138°19E
48°50S 156°44E
51°46S 158°08E
54°42S 148°32E
56°20S 131°03E
55°52S 107°50E
49°11S 085°05E
34°32S 064°13E TO BEGINNING
F) SFC G) UNL

Launch Hazard Area visualization

[Elthiryel]

According to Ben Cooper, this mission is now planned to launch from LC-39A instead of SLC-40.

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the thirteenth batch of Starlink satellites from pad 39A on September 17 at TBA EDT.

[gongora]

I wonder if GPS wanted a little more time at the pad, that was turning into a quick turnaround before their launch on the 30th.

[Elthiryel]

From the recently published NOTMARs:

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm07362020.pdf

Eastern Range OP# X0239 Starlink v1.0-L12 will be conducting hazardous operations surface to unlimited within portions of Warning Areas
W497A, W497B, W137F/G, W138E, W139E/F, W141, W122 and the following Hazard Areas:

A: From 2839 11.11N 8037 48.90W
TO 2852N 8025W
TO 2902N 8012W
TO 2900N 8010W
TO 2850N 8018W
TO 2838N 8029W
TO 2834 53.25N 8034 26.88W
TO 2838 27.78N 8037 18.38W to beginning

B: From 3139N 7720W
TO 3315N 7557W
TO 3340N 7459W
TO 3321N 7425W
TO 3245N 7432W
TO 3125N 7706W to beginning

Hazard periods for primary launch day and backup launch days;
Primary launch day: 17/1802Z thru 17/1920Z Sep 20 (2:02pm thru 3:20pm local).Preferred T-0 is 1817Z (2:17pm local).
Backup launch day: 18/1740Z thru 18/1858Z Sep 20 (1:40pm thru 2:58pm local). Preferred T-0 is 1755Z (1:55pm local).

So the primary launch time is September 17 at 2:17 PM local (18:17 UTC).

[zubenelgenubi]

From the recently published NOTMARs:

<snip>
Hazard periods for primary launch day and backup launch days;
Primary launch day: 17/1802Z thru 17/1920Z Sep 20 (2:02pm thru 3:20pm local).Preferred T-0 is 1817Z (2:17pm local).
Backup launch day: 18/1740Z thru 18/1858Z Sep 20 (1:40pm thru 2:58pm local). Preferred T-0 is 1755Z (1:55pm local).

So the primary launch time is September 17 at 2:17 PM local (18:17 UTC).

Source for Ben Cooper?:

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the thirteenth batch of Starlink satellites from pad 39A on September 17 at 2:17pm EDT.

Scheduled:
Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)

2020
Mid- September 17 - Starlink flight 13 (x60) [v1.0 L12] - Falcon 9-094 (B1058.3 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 Kennedy LC-39A - 18:17
NET September 5  18 - NROL-44: Orion 10 (Mentor 8 ) (TBD) - Delta IV-H [D-385] - Canaveral SLC-37B - 04:30-07:12
Late September - Starlink flight 14 (x60) [v1.0 L13] - Falcon 9-095 (B1051.6 S) - Kennedy LC-39A
September 30 - Cygnus NG-14 (CRS-14) - Antares-230+ - MARS LP-0A - 02:26
NET September - STP-27RM: Monolith - Electron/Kick Stage - MARS LA-0A (LC-2)
October 1 - GPS III SV04 - Falcon 9 (B1062.1 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 00:00-04:00

Changes on September 1st
Changes on September 3rd
Changes on September 5th
Changes on September 7th
Changes on September 9th
zubenelgenubi September 9th

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1305119939943165952

Departure! Just Read the Instructions droneship is underway for the next Starlink mission - NET September 17th. JRTI is heading ~633 km downrange. Tugboat Finn Falgout is towing.

Photo captured via the WKMG-TV clickorlando.com Canaveral webcam.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-3 launch weather forecast is 60% GO

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1305545802413154304

LHAs of #Starlink v1.0-L12 from LC-39A planned for NET Sep 17 18:17 UTC, alternatively Sep 18. Usual droneship landing 633km downrange for B1058.3. Fairing recovery approx.715km downrange. Stage2 debris reentry on the second orbit south of Australia. bit.do/LHA12

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1305827195181506560

Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief are outbound for the Starlink mission! It's a beautiful morning on the Space Coast.

Photo captured via visitspacecoast.com

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-2 launch weather forecast, still 60% GO

[SMS]

L-1 launch weather forecast, still 60% GO