SpaceX F9 : Starlink v1.0 L28 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 26 May 2021 (1859 UTC)

[Jansen]

Discussion thread for Starlink v1.0 Launch 28

NSF Threads for Starlink v1.0 L28: Discussion
NSF Articles for Starlink v1.0 L28: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/starlink-complete-first-shell/

Launched successfully 26 May 2021 at 2:59pm EDT (1859 UTC) on Falcon 9 (booster 1063.2) from CCSFS SLC-40. ASDS landing on Just Read the Instructions was achieved, towed by tugboat Finn Falgout. Recovery support ship was GO Quest. Fairing recovery of both halves from the water was accomplished by GO Searcher and GO Navigator.

Payload: A batch of 60 Starlink satellites. Expected deployment orbit of approximately 283 x 260 km.

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, May 26 for the next Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The instantaneous window is at 2:59 p.m. EDT, or 18:59 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Thursday, May 27 at 2:38 p.m. EDT, or 18:38 UTC.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported the Sentinel-6A mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported four Starlink missions, and the other previously supported a Starlink mission and the Transporter-1 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]

0126-EX-ST-2021 Starlink RF Mission 5-2 STA application

0126-EX-ST-2021 Starlink RF Mission 5-2 Grant

[zubenelgenubi]

To be launched in May or June?

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

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

2021
May 15 Q2 April? mid May - Starlink flight 28 27 (x52 x60) [v1.0 L26], Capella 6, Tyvak-0130 - Falcon 9-118 (1058.8 S) - Kennedy LC-39A - 22:56 22:54 22:58
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

May 18 17 - SBIRS-GEO 5, TDO-3 (EZ-3), TDO-4 (EZ-4) - Atlas V 421 (AV-091) - Canaveral SLC-41 - 17:37 17:31 17:42 17:35

May 26 NET May - Starlink flight 29 (x60) [v1.0 L28] - Falcon 9-119 (1063.2 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 18:59:35 ~19:00
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

June 3 early June - Dragon v2 SpX-22 (CRS-22) - Falcon 9-120 (1067.1 S) - Kennedy LC-39A - 17:29:29 ~17:00
(ISS flights: launch 22-26 minutes earlier/day)

Early June NET Q2 1 - SiriusXM SXM-8 - Falcon 9-121 (1061.3 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - ~04:00 04:25
(geosynchronous satellites: launch about 4 minutes earlier/day)

NET June (mid-June?) - Starlink flight 30 (x60) [v1.0 L29] - Falcon 9-122? (S) - Kennedy LC-39A? / Canaveral SLC-40
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

June 17 July  - GPS III SV05 - Falcon 9-123? (B1062.2 S) - Canaveral SLC-40 - 22:00-01:00 June 18
(GPS: launch about 4 minutes earlier/day)

June 23 late - STP-3: STPSat-6, ROOSTER-1 (LDPE-1), small satellites (x6) - Atlas V 551 (AV-093) - Canaveral SLC-41

late June-July - Transporter-2: Capella 5, D2/AtlaCom-1, GNOMES 2, ION SCV-003, LEMUR-2 (x1), LINCS A, LINCS B, Mandrake 2A, Mandrake 2B, Minas (x1), SAI-2, Satellogic sat (x4), Sherpa-FX2 [Astrocast (x5), Hawk (x3), LEMUR-2 (x3), Lynk-06, PAINANI-II, SpaceBEE (x12), hosted payload: TagSat-2], Sherpa-LTE1 [ARTHUR-1, Faraday Phoenix, KSM-2 (Kleos Polar Vigilance Mission) (x4), LEMUR-2 (x1), Orbit Fab Tenzing, Shasta, Tiger-2], Starlink (x?) [v1.0], TUBIN, Vigoride-1 [Alba Cluster 3 (DelfiPQ, Grizu-263a, EASAT-2, Hades, TRSI-2, Sattla-2, Unicorn 1, Unicorn 2A, Unicorn 2D), AuroraSat-1, LABSAT, NUTSAT, STEAMSAT, SWIFTVISION, VZLUSAT-2], Vigoride-2 [Broncosat-1, Challenger, FEES-2, Gossamer, Guardian-Alpha, IRIS-A, Kepler-16, Kepler-17, Oresat0, SanoSat-1, STORK-1, STORK-2, STORK-3, Steamsat-2, TROPICS Pathfinder, TRSI-3], XR-2, YAM-2, YAM-3 - Falcon 9 (L) - Canaveral SLC-40 Vandenberg SLC-4E

NET July (NET late June?) - Starlink flight 31 (x60) [v1.0 L30] - Falcon 9 (S) - Kennedy LC-39A? / Canaveral SLC-40
(Starlink: launch 20-22 minutes earlier/day)

October July - USSF-44: TBD, TETRA-1 - Falcon Heavy-04 - Kennedy LC-39A

Changes on February 15th
Changes on March 13th
Changes on March 16th
Changes on March 23rd
Changes on March 27th
Changes on March 31st
Changes on April 2nd
Changes on April 4th
Changes on April 7th
Changes on April 15th
Changes on April 16th
Changes on April 19th
Changes on May 4th
Changes on May 5th
Changes on May 6th
Changes on May 11th
Changes on May 12th
Changes on May 13th
Changes on May 14th
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Changes on May 21st
Changes on May 22nd
Changes on May 25th
Changes on May 26th
zubenelgenubi

[Raul]

Active NOTAM in MELBOURNE information region for Stage2 reentry of Starlink_v1.0-L28, with primary launch date NET 26 May.
Launch time corresponds to approximately ~19:00 UTC, which looks to be similar orbital plane as Starlink v1.0 L26.
Backup dates 27 May to 02 Jun.

MELBOURNE (FIR/FIC/ACC/COM/MET)
NOTAM #: F1576/21   Class: International   Status: Active   Issue Date UTC: 05/13/2021 1859   Start Date UTC: 05/26/2021 2010   End Date UTC: 05/29/2021 2127
F1576/21 NOTAMN
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/5304S11652E999
A) YMMM
B) 2105262010 C) 2105292127
D) 2105262010 TO 2105262232
   2105271948 TO 2105272210
   2105281927 TO 2105282148
   2105291905 TO 2105292127
PRI LAUNCH 21 05 26 2010 TO 21 05 26 2232
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 X0699 FALCON 9 STARLINK V1.0-L28 WI
THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
FM 2943S 06007E
TO 2455S 06427E
TO 3845S 08430E
TO 4512S 09945E
TO 4946S 11913E
TO 5042S 13819E
TO 4850S 15644E
TO 5146S 15808E
TO 5442S 14832E
TO 5620S 13103E
TO 5552S 10750E
TO 4911S 08505E
TO 3432S 06413E TO BEGINNING
F) SFC G) UNL

MELBOURNE (FIR/FIC/ACC/COM/MET)
NOTAM #: F1578/21   Class: International   Status: Active   Issue Date UTC: 05/13/2021 1859   Start Date UTC: 05/30/2021 1843   End Date UTC: 06/02/2021 2001
F1578/21 NOTAMR F1577/21
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/5304S11652E999
A) YMMM
B) 2105301843 C) 2106022001
D) 2105301843 TO 2105302105
   2105311822 TO 2105312044
   2106011800 TO 2106012022
   2106021739 TO 2106022001
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 X0699 FALCON 9 STARLINK V1.0-L28 WI
THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
FM 2943S 06007E
TO 2455S 06427E
TO 3845S 08430E
TO 4512S 09945E
TO 4946S 11913E
TO 5042S 13819E
TO 4850S 15644E
TO 5146S 15808E
TO 5442S 14832E
TO 5620S 13103E
TO 5552S 10750E
TO 4911S 08505E
TO 3432S 06413E TO BEGINNING
F) SFC G) UNL

[Mat-FoundInSpace]

Gonna be a quick pad turnaround if SXM-8 is still scheduled to launch on 6/1

[Alvian@IDN]

Gonna be a quick pad turnaround if SXM-8 is still scheduled to launch on 6/1

Except if this one uses 39A, since there's a 10 days of gap between this & upcoming L26 vs 5 days between this & SXM-8

[klod]

Gonna be a quick pad turnaround if SXM-8 is still scheduled to launch on 6/1

Except if this one uses 39A, since there's a 10 days of gap between this & upcoming L26 vs 5 days between this & SXM-8

We have pending launch of CRS-22 from 39A on 2021-06-03. 2 Days TO - sounds unreal. Only SLC-40 and 5 days TO.

[Mat-FoundInSpace]

Yeah, CRS-22 will require LC39A for a longer time than SXM-8 will require SLC-40.

If the schedule holds, it's a pretty safe bet L-28 will launch from SLC-40.

[Jansen]

Confirmation from Ben Cooper:

Hard target 26 May afternoon
CCSFS SLC-40

[Jansen]

Yeah, CRS-22 will require LC39A for a longer time than SXM-8 will require SLC-40.

If the schedule holds, it's a pretty safe bet L-28 will launch from SLC-40.

I agree that NASA’s workflow for ISS launches requires quite a bit of pad availability.

The previous launch at SLC-40 was 09 May. The 17 day gap is due to a lack of booster availability, but might also indicate that this is a fastball mission.

If so, I suspect that SXM-8 is delayed a few days, opening up this launch opportunity. Not a big effect to the schedule when considering the 16 day gap to GPS III SV05.

[Orbiter]

Guessing this'll use B1060.8 & SXM-8 uses B1063.

[Jansen]

Guessing this'll use B1060.8 & SXM-8 uses B1063.

Or could be the other way around.

28 day turnaround on B1060, close to the record but might explain the launch date. 34 days if it launches SXM-8.

Also maybe B1061 if it’s not reserved.

[Jansen]

Confirmed B1063.2

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/5332

[zubenelgenubi]

B1063 arrived at the Cape March 15 or 16, after a cross-country trip from Vandenberg.

Confirmed B1063.2

[Jansen]

Ben Cooper is confirming a launch time of 2:59pm EDT (1859 UTC).

[Norm38]

Guessing this'll use B1060.8 & SXM-8 uses B1063.

Or could be the other way around.

28 day turnaround on B1060, close to the record but might explain the launch date. 34 days if it launches SXM-8.

Also maybe B1061 if it’s not reserved.

I’m quite surprised they’d use B1063.2 on a Starlink milk run and give Sirius the -8. Unless with -10 in the books (and no loss of payload from reuse) it just isn’t an issue anymore and each flight gets the next booster that’s available.  That would be most surprising.

[Jansen]

I’m quite surprised they’d use B1063.2 on a Starlink milk run and give Sirius the -8. Unless with -10 in the books (and no loss of payload from reuse) it just isn’t an issue anymore and each flight gets the next booster that’s available.  That would be most surprising.

It seems like a fastball launch opportunity with limited notice. The launch date seems to be the earliest possible if they were to start LV integration on the day they made the announcement.

SXM-7 launched on a .7 flight, maybe someone liked the idea of SXM-8 going up on a .8 flight. SXM doesn’t get final say on booster selection unless they pay for it. Kinda like renting a car.

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1395033373874266120

GO Searcher will probably be on fairing recovery

[Raul]

Issued NOTMAR messages of launch NET 26 May 18:59 UTC.
Alternative launch days:  27 May 18:37, 28 May 18:16, 29 May 17:54, 30 May 17:32, 31 May 17:11, 01 Jun 16:49, 02 Jun 16:28 UTC.

220601Z MAY 21
NAVAREA IV 435/21(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   261759Z TO 262047Z MAY, ALTERNATE
   271737Z TO 272025Z, 281716Z TO 282003Z,
   291654Z TO 291942Z, 301632Z TO 301920Z,
   311611Z TO 311859Z MAY, 011549Z TO 011837Z,
   AND 021528Z TO 021816Z JUN
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38-08N 080-37-46W, 28-57-00N 080-19-00W,
      28-51-00N 080-12-00W, 28-34-00N 080-27-00W,
      28-30-53N 080-33-14W.
   B. 31-27-00N 077-29-00W, 33-17-00N 076-03-00W,
      33-31-00N 074-59-00W, 33-10-00N 074-36-00W,
      32-27-00N 074-46-00W, 31-15-00N 077-17-00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 433/21.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 021916Z JUN 21.

220230Z MAY 21
HYDROPAC 1520/21(61,75,76).
INDIAN OCEAN.
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 03, DNC 04, DNC 05.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   262010Z TO 262232Z MAY, ALTERNATE
   271948Z TO 272210Z, 281927Z TO 282148Z,
   291905Z TO 292127Z, 301843Z TO 302105Z,
   311822Z TO 312044Z MAY, 011800Z TO 012022Z
   AND 021739Z TO 022001Z JUN IN AREA BOUND BY
   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.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 022101Z JUN 21.

Map of Launch Hazard Areas, with estimated B1063.2 landing approximately 631km downrange and fairing recovery ~682km downrange.
S2 reentry south of Australia again - double S2 burn launch profile.

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1396240844596916228

[Ken the Bin]

L-3 weather forecast.  Primary Day = 90% 'Go'.  Backup Day #1 = 80% 'Go'.  All additional risks are Low for both days.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1396488592642347008

Droneship support ship GO Quest has departed from Port Canaveral. With another set of stacked launches, this ship won't be back in Florida for weeks.
Two Starlink dishes too!
Views earlier from Fleetcam.

[Ken the Bin]

L-2 weather forecast.  Primary Day = 90% 'Go'.  Backup Day #1 = 80% 'Go'.  All additional risks are Low for both days.

[Rondaz]

GO Searcher departed from Port Canaveral last night to support fairing recovery for the upcoming Starlink launch.

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1396845037833568256

[jjyach]

Rocket is vertical at SLC-40

[wannamoonbase]

0126-EX-ST-2021 Starlink RF Mission 5-2 STA application

0126-EX-ST-2021 Starlink RF Mission 5-2 Grant

Have we ever learned about the 'RF' Missions mean and how they are different from earlier Starlink flights?

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1396906150109589504

GO Navigator has departed from Jacksonville and will join GO Searcher offshore to conduct fairing recovery for the upcoming Starlink mission

[Jansen]

A static fire test is expected. Not surprising, considering there were engines and components removed, as well as the six month furlough.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1396948218504699904

A Falcon 9 is vertical and venting at SLC-40. Potential static fire at the top of the hour [2200 UTC] ahead of the Starlink v1.0 L28 mission, launching Wednesday.

EDIT
https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1396950167304253445

Orrrrr maybe not?

2nd EDIT
I "rewound" the live coverage. There's a vent at 5:42:08 pm EDT from the rocket. It's a horizontal vent, just above and parallel to one of the wires hanging in the mid-field of view.

3rd EDIT
The substantial T-20 minutes vent occurs at 6:45 pm EDT.

[Jansen]

SFN is confirming a static fire is planned.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/24/spacex-rolls-out-rocket-for-sixth-falcon-9-launch-in-five-weeks/

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1396961007424229378

SpaceX is loading propellants into a Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for a test-firing expected around 7:05pm EDT (2305 GMT).

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1396965813194788867

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1396967804386127872

[Everything Space]

https://twitter.com/TylerG1998/status/1396966392725901313?

[Jansen]

Now we wait for #SpaceX to confirm a good test via “the tweet™️”.

SpaceX doesn’t tweet static fire confirmations for Starlink launches anymore.

[Jansen]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/24/spacex-rolls-out-rocket-for-sixth-falcon-9-launch-in-five-weeks/

[Zed_Noir]

Now we wait for #SpaceX to confirm a good test via “the tweet™️”.

SpaceX doesn’t tweet static fire confirmations for Starlink launches anymore.

However, SpaceX does tweet their date and time targets for a launch. Which come after a successful static fire if there was one.

[Mat-FoundInSpace]

Now we wait for #SpaceX to confirm a good test via “the tweet™️”.

SpaceX doesn’t tweet static fire confirmations for Starlink launches anymore.

However, SpaceX does tweet their date and time targets for a launch. Which come after a successful static fire if there was one.

They don't do this very far in advance, usually

[Ken the Bin]

A cancel-and-replace Rocket Launching notice from the NGA.  There is a small change to area A.  No change to the scheduled dates and times.

251517Z MAY 21
NAVAREA IV 439/21(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   261759Z TO 262047Z MAY, ALTERNATE
   271737Z TO 272025Z, 281716Z TO 282003Z,
   291654Z TO 291942Z, 301632Z TO 301920Z,
   311611Z TO 311859Z MAY, 011549Z TO 011837Z,
   AND 021528Z TO 021816Z JUN
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-39-08N 080-37-46W, 28-57-00N 080-19-00W,
      28-51-00N 080-12-00W, 28-34-00N 080-27-00W,
      28-30-53N 080-33-14W.
   B. 31-27-00N 077-29-00W, 33-17-00N 076-03-00W,
      33-31-00N 074-59-00W, 33-10-00N 074-36-00W,
      32-27-00N 074-46-00W, 31-15-00N 077-17-00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 435/21.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 021916Z JUN 21.

[emmettiscool]

Does anyone know if it’s launching on the 26th or not it’s very conflicting

[Ken the Bin]

Does anyone know if it’s launching on the 26th or not it’s very conflicting

SpaceX has updated their Launches webpage for this launch.

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, May 26 for the next Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The instantaneous window is at 2:59 p.m. EDT, or 18:59 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Thursday, May 27 at 2:38 p.m. EDT, or 18:38 UTC.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported the Sentinel-6A mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported four Starlink missions, and the other previously supported a Starlink mission and the Transporter-1 mission.

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1397303062759313408

[ZachS09]

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1397315581070565379

I'm estimating the launch time to be 18:59:35 UTC (2:59:35 PM EDT).

It's the payload separation time of 20:03:23 UTC (4:03:23 PM EDT) subtracted by the mission duration (1 hour, 3 minutes, 48 seconds).

[SMS]

https://twitter.com/ken_kremer/status/1397387458967490561

Some views of 'Super Flower Blood Moon' : Moonrise over Indian River Lagoon this evening May 25
+VAB & #SpaceX #Falcon9 raised at pad 40 in background for launch tomorrow Wed May 26 at 259 PM !!!
Lunar eclipse upcoming overnight- BUT not in FL

[scr00chy]

Visual mission profile by ElonX.net

[Ken the Bin]

Sometime this morning yesterday's L-1 weather forecast was posted to the PSFB website.  (As of 01:20 EDT this morning the website still had Monday's L-2 weather forecast.)

There was no change to the forecast anyway.  Still 90% 'Go' for today and 80% 'Go' for tomorrow with all additional risks Low.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1397564186813767687

In an otherwise nondescript launch attempt, SpaceX goes for 100 successful flights in a row. Quite a milestone.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/05/is-spacex-reliable-company-goes-for-100th-successful-flight-in-a-row-today/

Edit to clarify: Eric explains that he’s not counting Amos-6 as it wasn’t a flight. So the 100 flights goes back to December 2015.

[Jansen]

NSF coverage starts at 2:15pm EDT (1815 UTC)

[Jansen]

NSF pre launch article is up

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/starlink-complete-first-shell/

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/1397611041148788736

Good afternoon from the Cape, where I promise a Falcon 9 rocket is standing at the other end of this heat haze. Liftoff of 60 Starlink satellites (29th) set for 1459 ET. Weather looks good.

[Comga]

Does anyone know if it’s launching on the 26th or not it’s very conflicting

SpaceX has updated their Launches webpage for this launch.

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, May 26 for the next Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The instantaneous window is at 2:59 p.m. EDT, or 18:59 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Thursday, May 27 at 2:38 p.m. EDT, or 18:38 UTC.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported the Sentinel-6A mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported four Starlink missions, and the other previously supported a Starlink mission and the Transporter-1 mission.

This says that coverage starts at 3:00 EDT / 19:00 UTC.
That's a minute after the launch time in the tread title.
Is launch slightly later than previously anticipated?

[Jansen]

This says that coverage starts at 3:00 EDT / 19:00 UTC.
That's a minute after the launch time in the tread title.
Is launch slightly later than previously anticipated?

SpaceX launch coverage starts 15 mins before launch.

[Ken the Bin]

This says that coverage starts at 3:00 EDT / 19:00 UTC.
That's a minute after the launch time in the tread title.
Is launch slightly later than previously anticipated?

Unfortunately SpaceX schedules the webcast videos for launch time (but on a 5-minute mark) rather than when coverage is actually going to start.

The 18:59 UTC launch time is correct.  As Jansen noted, SpaceX will start coverage around 15 minutes before that.

[Ken the Bin]

Mission Control Audio:

[FutureSpaceTourist]

NSF stream is live

[Rondaz]

It’s launch day in Florida! #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Starlink

https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1397590091879653380

[Scintillant]

Fun tidbit from the NSF stream: this flight marks a reuse milestone for the fairings, as one of the halves will be making its 5th flight. The other half is making its 3rd flight. Both fairing halves have flown more flights than the booster itself!

[Jansen]

T-20 venting

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1397623688254697482

T-20 mins vent. Falcon 9 B1063-2 (a youngster by SpaceX standards) set to launch the Starlink L28 mission from SLC-40.

➡️youtube.com/watch?v=eKfJPq…

[Jansen]

SpaceX coverage is live with Youmei Zhou hosting

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/spacex/status/1397626461742190593

Today's flight will mark the 40th time SpaceX has reflown Falcon fairing halves since November 2019

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1397626470776795138

This will also be the first time we fly a fairing half on its fifth mission

[Jansen]

T-5 min

[Jansen]

Liftoff!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1397628691178524677

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1397628837568020480

[Jansen]

MECO & stage sep
Fairing sep

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1397629602218971137

[matthewkantar]

SpaceX feed mentions this is the fortieth fairing recovery. Not sure how much the program cost, but nearly a quarter billion dollars worth of fairings is a gaudy number.

[Jansen]

Entry burn

[HVM]

Can we get a picture of the sonic boom mist cone? Near MaxQ [Doh] (That scared me $hitless)
Ok, I do it myself.

[Jansen]

Stuck the landing

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1397630808937009152

[Jansen]

Coverage resumes at T+44:30

[kevinof]

Can we get a picture of the sonic boom mist cone. (That scared me $hitless)

https://twitter.com/djsnm/status/1397629068917436417?s=21


It’s impressive. I need to change my boxers.

[Mongo62]

Can we get a picture of the sonic boom mist cone. (That scared me $hitless)

Scared me as well. The condensation cloud happened just as the vehicle went supersonic, and I had an instant flashback to CRS-7 for a few moments.

[HVM]

Can we get a picture of the sonic boom mist cone. (That scared me $hitless)

Scared me as well. The condensation cloud happened just as the vehicle went supersonic, and I had an instant flashback to CRS-7 for a few moments.

Maybe it was ice cloud (Cirrus) and both position of sun and ice crystals made it so bright as sonic boom hit it?

Quick checking of basic of meteorology tells me that only cirrus clouds (plus massive thunderstorm tops) exits that altitude.

[Jansen]

Second burn was 1.58 seconds, nominal orbit insertion

[rsdavis9]

Can we get a picture of the sonic boom mist cone. (That scared me $hitless)

Scared me as well. The condensation cloud happened just as the vehicle went supersonic, and I had an instant flashback to CRS-7 for a few moments.

Maybe it was ice cloud (Cirrus) and both position of sun and ice crystals made it so bright as sonic boom hit it?

Quick checking of basic of meteorology tells me that only cirrus clouds (plus massive thunderstorm tops) exits that altitude.

Was that audio of the sonic boom? I could have sworn I heard something at that exact moment.

[tleski]

There was a frame of LOX tank shown just before the second burn. Looks like nicely settled.

[Jansen]

Deployment successful

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1397640478766649346

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1397645077053325314

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1397644910828789760

[HVM]

Can we get a picture of the sonic boom mist cone. (That scared me $hitless)

Scared me as well. The condensation cloud happened just as the vehicle went supersonic, and I had an instant flashback to CRS-7 for a few moments.

Maybe it was ice cloud (Cirrus) and both position of sun and ice crystals made it so bright as sonic boom hit it?

Quick checking of basic of meteorology tells me that only cirrus clouds (plus massive thunderstorm tops) exits that altitude.

Was that audio of the sonic boom? I could have sworn I heard something at that exact moment.

Yes, some tell stories how they can hear Aurora Borealis and this was ten times lower, and sonic...
(It was SpaceXer puffing into the mic before saying the line in the loop...)

[Herb Schaltegger]

100 consecutive launch successes for Falcon 9!

Since CRS-7? Or since the AMOS-6 pad RUD?

[Nomadd]

100 consecutive launch successes for Falcon 9!

Since CRS-7? Or since the AMOS-6 pad RUD?

CRS-7 was F9 flight 19. This was 119. Amos 6 isn't part of the count, and was between 28 and 29. The in flight abort test is part of the count.

[allio]

missed the live launch earlier. just caught the stream off youtube. anyone else get nervous with the telemetry dropouts? you kinda expext video dropouts but can't remember telemetry dropouts like that before that didnt indicate a booster issue..... happy they got it back. well done spacex!

[jketch]

I was watching live and felt the same way.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1397655991647358980

Liftoff for the 100th consecutive successful #Falcon9 mission!

This #Starlink mission will complete the 1st orbital "shell" of the internet satellites, and allow SpaceX to offer the service to non-beta users.

Overview by Justin Davenport (@Bubbinski): nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/starli…

https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1397655998366638080

To clarify, this batch still has a few months of checkouts and maneuvering into their final orbits before the service can be made available to the general public.

[leovinus]

A small movie clip of today’s Starlink launch. I love how fast it climbs.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[ugordan]

[OneSpeed]

Here is a comparison between the Starlink L27 and L28 telemetry.

Some points of interest are:

1. The younger L28 booster B1063.2 took a more conservative path through MaxQ, possibly to the advantage of the now 5 times re-used payload fairing half.
2. L28 ran a little harder later in the boost phase, perhaps with the confidence of youth.
3. The L28 S1 telemetry drop-outs on entry had no impact on the success of the landing, as you would expect from an autonomous flight controller.
4. The S2 profiles were practically identical.
5. How it looked from my place.

[eeergo]

From Northern Spain and Southern France:

https://twitter.com/jarimakinen/status/1397782164683509763

[leovinus]

Any ETA when the booster will be back in Port Canaveral?

[SPKirsch]

twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1398041070924148736

Estimating OCISLY droneship and B1063 to arrive at Port Canaveral on Saturday late afternoon/evening.

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1398048533492781062

I MEAN JUST READ THE INSTRUCTIONS**

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1398036037427875840

GO Searcher and GO Navigator are due to arrive at Port Canaveral on Friday evening.

Each ship should hopefully have a fairing half from the latest Starlink launch.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Here's the archived link to the SpaceX web page and my poor attempt at converting it to a pdf file.

https://web.archive.org/web/20210526125140/https://www.spacex.com/launches/index.html

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1398419713378684928

It's a busy evening in Port Canaveral as GO Navigator rolls in with one fairing half followed by OCISLY with a party going on deck. GO Searcher is expected later this evening. OCISLY has been completing inspections/sea trials

At least one half looks good.

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1398417832182964227

First fairing half has arrived in great shape. GO Searcher and the other half are due in around 90 minutes time.

SpaceX workers have sent two collection trucks to Port Canaveral so safe to assume both halves are good.

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1398448142610227202

[Rondaz]

JRTI droneship is slowly closing in on Port Canaveral.

Looking more like dawn tomorrow at this point but still a possibly of late tonight. More to follow later.

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1398651985394601984

[Rondaz]

The slowdowm to 1.3 kn. is a guarantee we won't see arrival till morning. See yall then!

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1398764429622325248

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1398944977611280387

https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1398951411774263296

Welcome back JRTI and B1063-2 #SpaceXFleet #SpaceX

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1398950850266083337

B1063 is arriving at Port Canaveral and you can watch along on the @NASASpaceflight Fleetcam and join us in chat while we watch the view from @RustysInThePort

[Rondaz]

One of the youngsters of the #Falcon9 fleet, B1063 has returned from its 2nd mission. Even in its infancy, this booster has already launched from both coasts, getting its start launching Sentinel-6 from Vandenberg.

https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1398967167798939653

[Rondaz]

B1063 back in Port Canaveral after two trips to space and back

https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1398983745982586883

[Rondaz]

JRTI and B1063-2 have finished berthing

https://twitter.com/Kyle_M_Photo/status/1398963190550208513

[Rondaz]

Starlink dishes for scale?

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1399027359886544904

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1399056896389267461

Starlink L28 has officially completed with the return of B1063-2. This launch featured the fifth flight of a fairing half (40th reuse of fairing halves to date), the 85th landing of a booster and completion of the first Starlink shell. #SpaceX

Overview:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/starlink-complete-first-shell/

[Jansen]

No holiday at Pier 6. Booster moved to the stand

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/mike_seeley/status/1399450853346533387

Monday afternoon at Port Canaveral: #SpaceX #Falcon9 booster B1063 has one landing leg retracted. (Person for scale.)

That landing leg seems whiter than usual, no?

📷: me / @WeReportSpace

https://twitter.com/mike_seeley/status/1399454963982536711

Closer view. Unusually white; the legs on either side are definitely darker.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tylerg1998/status/1399454995012014086

Meanwhile, in Port Canaveral: #Falcon9 B1063-3 appears to have all its landing legs locked up once again, so it can be transported back to #SpaceX’s processing facilities at the Cape before its next mission.

Via the @NASASpaceflight / Rusty’s #FleetCam: youtu.be/gnt2wZBg89g

[Jansen]

Booster is already horizontal. That is some quick processing!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/jennyhphoto/status/1399499210081320960

B1063-2 resting at port.
#spacex #spacexfleet

[Jansen]

Wrapping and shipping likely tomorrow

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[Rondaz]

People always ask how wide a Falcon 9 is this should give you size reference... That's a 2 lane road

https://twitter.com/goaliebear88/status/1399740597095878658

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1399853398015365125