SpaceX F9 : Starlink v1.0 L13 : KSC LC-39A : October 18, 2020 (12:25 UTC)

[CorvusCorax]

As far as we know, as both the GPS III-4 and Starlink v1.0 L12 Falcon 9 rockets were ready, SpaceX could have assembled another Falcon 9 at SLC-40 or at 39A (or maybe even off-site, they have done that at least once I think, minus the payload attachment tot he second stage) and it could be ready to be mounted to the TEL. In this case they would have less less work left to do for the next launch.

The quickest turnaround so far on the same pad is 9 days.

Is a four day turnaround possible if everything else is staged? How much work on the launchpad is actually needed to prepare for the next launch?

They can do it faster for sure. There was only about a 6-day gap between BulgariaSat-1 launch and Intelsat 35e static fire, for example.

From a first principles point of view it should not take longer to fly a new rocket (with the payload and 2nd stage already integrated elsewhere) than it would take from a static fire to launch. You roll the TE into the hangar, put the rocket on, mate fairing+payload with the rocket, and roll it out to the pad and launch.

What's the shortest time between static fire and launch SpaceX did (with no payload on top) ? 4 days? less?

[Ken the Bin]

I received an "Operation Postponed" cancellation from the NGA for the notice that I received yesterday for October 10 and 11.

061451Z OCT 20
NAVAREA IV 959/20(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
CANCEL NAVAREA IV 950/20 AND THIS MSG,
OPERATION POSTPONED.

Referenced:

050754Z OCT 20
NAVAREA IV 950/20(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   101501Z TO 101618Z OCT, ALTERNATE
   111439Z TO 111557Z OCT
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38-22N 080-37-14W, 29-16-00N 079-53-00W,
      29-13-00N 079-45-00W, 28-27-00N 080-31-00W,
      28-27-30N 080-31-30W.
   B. 31-29-00N 077-32-00W, 33-15-00N 075-57-00W,
      33-40-00N 074-59-00W, 33-21-00N 074-25-00W,
      32-45-00N 074-32-00W, 31-13-00N 077-13-00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 111657Z OCT 20.

[zubenelgenubi]

Confirmations; SFN Launch Schedule, updated October 6:
SLC-40; delayed from October 10 to TBD.

[Orbiter]

Spaceflightnow is reporting this launch as happening on October 18th at 12:27 UTC from LC-39A.

[Ken the Bin]

I finally received a notice from the NGA.

Primary Day = Sunday, October 18 at ~12:27 UTC.
Backup Day #1 = Monday, October 19 at ~12:06 UTC.
Backup Day #2 = Tuesday, October 20 at ~11:44 UTC.
Backup Day #3 = Wednesday, October 21 at ~11:23 UTC.

131543Z OCT 20
NAVAREA IV 985/20(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   181217Z TO 181325Z OCT, ALTERNATE
   191156Z TO 191304Z, 201134Z TO 201242Z AND
   211113Z TO 211221Z OCT
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-39-08N 080-37-47W, 28-44-00N 080-35-00W,
      29-19-00N 079-54-00W, 29-17-00N 079-49-00W,
      28-44-00N 080-18-00W, 28-32-48N 080-33-52W.
   B. 31-29-00N 077-32-00W, 33-15-00N 075-57-00W,
      33-40-00N 074-59-00W, 33-21-00N 074-25-00W,
      32-45-00N 074-32-00W, 31-13-00N 077-13-00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 211321Z OCT 20.

[Rekt1971]

Any guesses which booster will fly on this mission?

[Elthiryel]

Any guesses which booster will fly on this mission?

Next Spaceflight still shows it's going to be 1051.6: https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/2578

My original post: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=51858.msg2128808#msg2128808

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; SFN Launch Schedule, dated October 13:

Oct. 18 • Falcon 9 • Starlink V1.0-L13
Launch time: 1227 GMT (8:27 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

EDIT

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

2020
NET October 10 18 - Starlink flight 14 (x60) [v1.0 L13] - Falcon 9-095 6 (B1051.6 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 /Kennedy LC-39A - 12:25 7 15:01-16:18
October 21 NET November - Starlink flight 15 (x60) [v1.0 L14] - Falcon 9-096 (B1060.3 S) - Kennedy LC-39A / Canaveral SLC-40 - 16:36
NET Late October 25 - NROL-108 - Falcon 9-097? (L) - Canaveral SLC-40 (or November)
NET October 3 - GPS III SV04 - Falcon 9-098? 5 (B1062.1 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - ~01:00
NET Late October 1 16 24 - NROL-44: Orion 10 (RIO 10, Mission 8306, Mentor 8 ) (TBD) - Delta IV-H [D-385] - Canaveral SLC-37B - 02:00-06:00 42 (or November)
November 6 - SiriusXM SXM-7 - Falcon 9 - Canaveral SLC-40 Kennedy LC-39A
October 31 Early to Mid- NET November 11 - USCV-1: Dragon v2 "Resilience" Crew-1 - Falcon 9 (B1061.1 S) - Kennedy LC-39A - 06:40
NET November 15 22 - Dragon v2 SpX-21 (CRS-21), Bishop (NanoRacks Airlock Module) - Falcon 9 (B1058.4) - Kennedy LC-39A Canaveral SLC-40 - ~21:30 (or Early December)
November 30 - Turksat 5A - Falcon 9 - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A
October November - NROL-101 - Atlas V 531 (AV-090) - Canaveral SLC-41

Changes on October 1st
Changes on October 2nd
Changes on October 3rd
Changes on October 4th
Changes on October 5th
Changes on October 6th
Changes on October 8th
Changes on October 10th
Changes on October 11th
Changes on October 13th
Changes on October 15th
Changes on October 17th
Changes on October 18th

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1316400145131503617

LHAs of #Starlink v1.0-L13 from LC-39A NET Oct 18, altern. Oct 19-21. Droneship landing for B1051.6 and fairing recovery at usual positions. S2 reentry on the second orbit south of Australia - launch profile with double S2 burn to circular deploying orbit. http://bit.do/LHA12

[ZachS09]

Have they stopped doing the single-burn to elliptical orbit profiles?

[wannamoonbase]

Have they stopped doing the single-burn to elliptical orbit profiles?

They seemed to like the single burn profiles when they work.

Maybe they are making some trade offs to get the birds into an orbit that gets them into service sooner.  Get that beta up and running and start service sooner.

[gongora]

Have they stopped doing the single-burn to elliptical orbit profiles?

It's SpaceX, so I'd be hesitant to make any long term predictions.  Maybe "they currently seem to favor circular deployment orbit"?

[Lars-J]

Have they stopped doing the single-burn to elliptical orbit profiles?

It's SpaceX, so I'd be hesitant to make any long term predictions.  Maybe "they currently seem to favor circular deployment orbit"?

The other deployments were to a circular orbit too, were they not? The difference (as I understand it) is a one burn profile to a circular orbit (less restarts) vs two burns (more efficient). But the deployment altitude also matters.

[gongora]

Have they stopped doing the single-burn to elliptical orbit profiles?

It's SpaceX, so I'd be hesitant to make any long term predictions.  Maybe "they currently seem to favor circular deployment orbit"?

The other deployments were to a circular orbit too, were they not? The difference (as I understand it) is a one burn profile to a circular orbit (less restarts) vs two burns (more efficient). But the deployment altitude also matters.

They haven't all been circular. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=48981.msg2140002#msg2140002

[SMS]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1316489437031927810

[ZachS09]

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/2578

Launch time has been moved back a few minutes to 12:25 UTC (8:25 AM EDT).

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Still no 45th launch weather forecast but there are launch hazard and airspace closure areas published by the 45th

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-2 launch weather forecast is 70% GO

https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/1317163467602878466

Edit to add: now on 45th website, file attached

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1317225668946571266

The recovery fleet is assembling for this weekends Starlink mission.

[SMS]

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1316886973840150535