SpaceX F9 : Starlink v1.0 L23 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 7 April 2021 (1634 UTC)

[Jansen]

Discussion thread for Starlink v1.0 Launch 23

NSF Threads for Starlink v1.0 L23: Discussion
NSF Articles for Starlink v1.0 L23:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/spacex-launch-starlink-l23/

Launched successfully April 7, 2021 at 12:34pm EDT (1634 UTC) on Falcon 9 (booster 1058.7) from CCSFS SLC-40. ASDS landing on OCISLY, towed by tugboat Finn Falgout. Recovery support ship was GO Quest. Fairing recovery of one half from the water by MV Shelia Bordelon.

Payload: A batch of 60 Starlink satellites. Expected deployment orbit of approximately 280x262 km.

The Falcon 9 first stage rocket booster supporting this mission previously supported launch of NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station, ANASIS-II, CRS-21, Transporter-1, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported launch of AMOS-17 and two Starlink missions, and the other previously supported a Starlink mission.

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

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

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 to near global coverage of the populated world by 2021. Additional information on the system can be found at starlink.com.

[Jansen]

1897-EX-ST-2020 Starlink RF Mission 6-1 STA application

1897-EX-ST-2020 Starlink RF Mission 6-1 Grant

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post and bump; my bold:

http://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.html Updated March 3

FALCON 9
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the twentieth Starlink internet satellite batch from pad 39A on March 4 at either 3:24am or 5:42am EST. Then, a Falcon 9 will launch the twenty-first Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 7 at 10:41pm EST. The launch time for Starlink missions gets approx. 20-22 minutes earlier each day. A Falcon 9 will launch the twenty-second Starlink batch from pad 39A on March TBD. Upcoming launches include Starlink batches on March TBD. The next Crew Dragon carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station is targeted for late April around 6am EDT. Sunrise is 6:49am. The launch time gets 22-26 minutes earlier each day.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

There is sufficient boosters available for a launch L21 ~18 Mar (39A) and L22 on or just before 1 Apr (40).

But the next booster 1049.9 would not be available  L2L of 28 days NET 2 Apr but more likely 1049 would not be up and ready for another launch until 35-45 days or 7-17 Apr. Making it possible that it would likely launch on 10 Apr on (40) 10 days after launching L22 on (40) very late March.

But also by 6 Apr 1058.7 at 28 days L2L would possibly become available. So 2 boosters for L23 is likely to be available for a launch in first half of April. Because of the complication of launching early enough on 39A prior to the April 22 date for Crew 2 to keep from causing a problem and booster unavailability likely until April 10 or even later.

It is likely only one launch from 39A (Crew 2 ) would occur in April. But it is likely that a second  launch L24 on 40 would happen 24 April or later. By then several boosters would be available. May launch schedule will not be as constrained and would likely have as many as 3 launches of Starlink (L25, L26 and L27) on both 39A and 40. With only 2 launches using the booster pool in April there would be 2 booster available at the beginning of May with a third by the middle to late May.

[zubenelgenubi: Manifest discussion cross-posted and continues in dedicated thread here.]

[gongora]

It might be better to discuss booster assignments in the manifest discussion thread rather than spreading the conversation over multiple mission threads.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

It might be better to discuss booster assignments in the manifest discussion thread rather than spreading the conversation over multiple mission threads.

Sorry got carried away with other impacts to other launches by boosters in April and May. Should have stopped with the first paragraph. Wanted to show how booster availability and confluence of pads availability to show that the best dates for L23 would likely be and that L23 either early mid April or in late April. Booster availability is the main problem for L23 launch date for April.

[Jansen]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/03/11/spacex-adds-more-satellites-to-starlink-internet-fleet/

SpaceX has at least two more Starlink missions scheduled for launch before the end of March, and possibly more.

Not sure if they can get B1049 refurbished in time, but I won’t bet against SpaceX.

[wannamoonbase]

My gosh, that would be 5 flights, 300 satellites in 1 calendar month.

Global Starlink service roll out, here we come.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

A 28 day L2L for 1049 for a launch date of 1 April would be a real April fools joke on the rest of us. Because we would have such a hard time believing that SpaceX was able to cycle 1049 that fast. But 28 day L2L's are possible. Just if that is applicable to 1049 or not is something to be seen.

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1370400469479161860

Based on the LV integration timeline, this is probably the earliest launch we could see B1063.

[zubenelgenubi]

I would say that we're waiting to hear if this launch will be conducted from LC-39A in the near future, before Crew-2 launch preparations "take custody" of the launch complex.

Or, if this launch will take place from SLC-40 after the Flight 22 launch (currently March 24) from same, followed by a pad recycle.

I am also interested to learn what mission B1063 will be assigned to.

[Jansen]

I would say that we're waiting to hear if this launch will be conducted from LC-39A in the near future, before Crew-2 launch preparations "take custody" of the launch complex.

Or, if this launch will take place from SLC-40 after the Flight 22 launch (currently March 24) from same, followed by a pad recycle.

I am also interested to learn what mission B1063 will be assigned to.

The NASA Commercial Crew launch workflow takes about 15-20 days at a pad, so they have a bit of time.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

If you can figure out when 1063 arrived (should have got there the 16/17). And where it was stashed. Some of the answers for L23 could be obvious. It takes about 14 days to prepare a booster and launch it. Checkout, US mate, TL mate, Payload mate, move to pad, and launch. 14 days from the 17th is 31 Mar. Having a couple of extra days for weather or other difficulties slips would be a good thing else they would have to de-mate from the TL to then be able to finish the process with the 1061 at around Crew 2 T-10 days.

Else if launched from LC40 which could be as early as 2 Apr and still could be with 1063. 9 days L2L for the pad cycle.

Regardless the first week of April looks good for L23.

[zubenelgenubi]

State of play on the Space Coast for the immediate future:

April 7 NET very late March or earlyApril - Starlink flight 24 (x60) [v1.0 L23] - Falcon 9-113 (1058.7 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 16:34
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

NET April 22 - USCV-2: Dragon v2 Crew 2 - Falcon 9 (B1061.2 S) - Kennedy LC-39A - 10:11
(ISS flights: launch 22-26 minutes earlier/day)

April Q2 - Starlink flight 25 (x60) [v1.0 L24] - Falcon 9 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A?
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

April Q2 - Starlink flight 26 (x60) [v1.0 L25] - Falcon 9 (S) - Canaveral SLC-40 / Kennedy LC-39A?
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

April? Q2 - Starlink flight 27 (x60) [v1.0 L26] - Falcon 9 (S) - Kennedy LC-39A / Canaveral SLC-40
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

Changes on March 13th
Changes on March 24th
Changes on March 26th
Changes on April 4th
zubenelgenubi

[vaporcobra]

Now officially NET April per Ben Cooper. No big surprise there.

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

[Jansen]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/03/24/spacex-launches-25th-mission-to-build-out-starlink-internet-network/

SpaceX’s next Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for early April to deliver another batch of Starlink satellites to orbit, continuing a rapid-fire cadence of missions

[Jansen]

SpaceFlight Now has details:

April 7
Starlink V1.0-L23
Launch time: 1634 GMT (12:34 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

SpaceFlight Now has details:

April 7
Starlink V1.0-L23
Launch time: 1634 GMT (12:34 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

Is the pad confirmed or is it an assumption based on non-interference with Crew-2 activities?

[Jansen]

SpaceFlight Now has details:

April 7
Starlink V1.0-L23
Launch time: 1634 GMT (12:34 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

Is the pad confirmed or is it an assumption based on non-interference with Crew-2 activities?

Verified by multiple sources

[Jansen]

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the Starlink 23 internet satellite
batch from pad 40 on April 7 at 12:34pm EDT

Confirmations from Ben Cooper and Next SpaceFlight.