Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Starlink v1.0 L17 : KSC LC-39A : 4 March 2021 (0824 UTC) (Read 179149 times)

gongora · « **Reply #260 on:** 03/03/2021 01:53 pm »

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1366923633566748675

Quote

CelesTrak has updated the pre-launch SupTLEs for #Starlink-V1.0-17 for the next 2 launch opportunities on Mar 4 at 0824 & 1042 UTC. Second time is the primary (desired) launch time. Deployment is set for 09:29:39.360 & 11:47:33.360 UTC, respectively: https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #261 on:** 03/03/2021 03:10 pm »

L-1 launch weather forecast still 90% GO

Barley · « **Reply #262 on:** 03/03/2021 07:25 pm »

Quote from: gongora on 03/03/2021 01:53 pm

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1366923633566748675
Quote
CelesTrak has updated the pre-launch SupTLEs for #Starlink-V1.0-17 for the next 2 launch opportunities on Mar 4 at 0824 & 1042 UTC. Second time is the primary (desired) launch time. Deployment is set for 09:29:39.360 & 11:47:33.360 UTC, respectively: https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

The two opportunities are into different planes, about 40 degrees apart. Is this the first time they have done that?

It has long seemed to me that more starlink launches could be scheduled for the convenience of things on the ground, such as launch crews, weather, or air traffic, rather than aiming to fill particular slots with particular launches. The repeat period is about two months, so if you mostly launch at, say, noon you can still fill the constellation over a year.

Jim · « **Reply #263 on:** 03/03/2021 07:43 pm »

Quote from: Barley on 03/03/2021 07:25 pm

It has long seemed to me that more starlink launches could be scheduled for the convenience of things on the ground, such as launch crews, weather, or air traffic, rather than aiming to fill particular slots with particular launches. The repeat period is about two months, so if you mostly launch at, say, noon you can still fill the constellation over a year.

Which bad for business. Filling specific slots will give them better early coverage.

gongora · « **Reply #264 on:** 03/03/2021 08:29 pm »

There may be a little flexibility on deployments right now as they've mostly filled the initial 36 planes and are early on deploying the next 36. The high flight rate also helps since there will be more launches soon that could backfill any gaps. To maximize the quality of service as they're going live they do have to make sure they focus on filling gaps as well as just putting up bulk numbers of satellites.

Barley · « **Reply #265 on:** 03/03/2021 10:03 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 03/03/2021 07:43 pm

Quote from: Barley on 03/03/2021 07:25 pm

It has long seemed to me that more starlink launches could be scheduled for the convenience of things on the ground, such as launch crews, weather, or air traffic, rather than aiming to fill particular slots with particular launches. The repeat period is about two months, so if you mostly launch at, say, noon you can still fill the constellation over a year.

Which bad for business. Filling specific slots will give them better early coverage.

If you have several gaps it does not matter which which gap you fill. Most of the time they will have several choices that give equivalent coverage. They are only tightly constrained when they have an almost full layer.

OTOH improving launch reliability and reducing launch delays is usually a win.

Jim · « **Reply #266 on:** 03/03/2021 10:12 pm »

Quote from: Barley on 03/03/2021 10:03 pm

Quote from: Jim on 03/03/2021 07:43 pm
Quote from: Barley on 03/03/2021 07:25 pm

It has long seemed to me that more starlink launches could be scheduled for the convenience of things on the ground, such as launch crews, weather, or air traffic, rather than aiming to fill particular slots with particular launches. The repeat period is about two months, so if you mostly launch at, say, noon you can still fill the constellation over a year.

Which bad for business. Filling specific slots will give them better early coverage.
If you have several gaps it does not matter which which gap you fill. Most of the time they will have several choices that give equivalent coverage. They are only tightly constrained when they have an almost full layer.

OTOH improving launch reliability and reducing launch delays is usually a win.

Not true. Before the constellation is even close to complete, they can target higher revenue areas for better coverage. GPS did something similar. Shotgunning doesn’t do any good.

Plus noon is a bad launch time.

soltasto · « **Reply #267 on:** 03/03/2021 11:47 pm »

Updated "press kit" capture. Had to do again the manual capture and stitch.

the_other_Doug · « **Reply #268 on:** 03/04/2021 12:30 am »

Any indication yet which of the two launch times they're shooting for? The Celestrak discussion above states that the second time, 10:42 UTC, is the preferred time. But NSF's Facebook page states that they will be covering the 8:24 UTC launch time.

I've been up since 4am, and need to take a nap. I'd *really* like to sleep until the later timeframe, and not have to get up for the earlier one "just in case"... if it is going to be the preferred launch time.

gongora · « **Reply #269 on:** 03/04/2021 12:33 am »

Our reporters were told to show up for the earlier time. (Which doesn't guarantee it will be the earlier time, but that seems to still be a valid option)

scr00chy · « **Reply #270 on:** 03/04/2021 12:46 am »

SpaceX seems to be targeting the earlier time and the later one is backup:

Quote

SpaceX is targeting 3:24 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 4 for launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If needed, there are backup opportunities available at 5:42 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 4, as well as 3:03 a.m. EST and 5:21 a.m. EST on Friday, March 5.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #271 on:** 03/04/2021 12:49 am »

the_other_Doug · « **Reply #272 on:** 03/04/2021 01:15 am »

Quote from: scr00chy on 03/04/2021 12:46 am

SpaceX seems to be targeting the earlier time and the later one is backup:

Quote
SpaceX is targeting 3:24 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 4 for launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If needed, there are backup opportunities available at 5:42 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 4, as well as 3:03 a.m. EST and 5:21 a.m. EST on Friday, March 5.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/

Okay, thanks. Yeah, it made no sense to me whatsoever the primary was the later timeframe, and the secondary was the earlier.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #273 on:** 03/04/2021 04:19 am »

Quote from: Jim on 03/03/2021 10:12 pm

Plus noon is a bad launch time.

Why?

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #274 on:** 03/04/2021 04:48 am »

Another launch attempt!

March 4 ~~January~~ ~~late~~ 27 29 30 31 ~~February~~ 1 ~~early~~ 2 3 4 5 7 ~~mid~~ 16 17 ~~NET 19~~ ~~TBD~~ 26 ~~March 1~~ ~~NET 2~~ 3 - Starlink flight 20 19 18 (x60) [v1.0 L17] - Falcon 9-109 8 (B1049.8 S) - Kennedy LC-39A - 08:24 ~~or 10:42~~ ~~~13:00~~ ~~12:24~~ ~~12:02~~ ~~11:41~~ ~~~11:00~~ ~~11:19~~ ~~10:57~~ ~~10:36~~ ~~10:14~~ ~~09:31~~ ~~~06:00-08:00~~ ~~06:17~~ ~~05:55~~ ~~05:12~~ ~~TBD~~ ~~~03:00~~ ~~01:37~~ ~~01:15~~ ~~00:53~~
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

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