SpaceX F9 : Starlink Group 2-1 : VSFB SLC-4E : 13/14 September 2021 (03:55 UTC)

[Jansen]

Discussion thread for Starlink Group 2-1, the first dedicated Starlink high inclination mission

NSF Threads for Starlink 2-1: Discussion

Successful launch September 13, 2021 at 8:55pm PDT (0355 UTC on the 14th) on Falcon 9 (booster 1049-10) from Vandenberg Space Force Base pad SLC-4E. ASDS landing was successful on OCISLY. Recovery support ship is expected to be NRC Quest.  Fairing recovery is expected from the water.

Payload: A batch of 51 Starlink satellites with laser intersatellite links. Deployment orbit of 212x343km at 70 degrees inclination.

SpaceX is targeting Monday, September 13 for a Falcon 9 launch of 51 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The instantaneous window is at 8:55 p.m. PDT, or September 14 at 3:55 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Tuesday, September 14 at 8:56 p.m. PDT, or September 15 at 3:56 UTC.

The booster supporting this mission previously launched Telstar 18 VANTAGE, Iridium-8, and seven 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 stationed in the Pacific Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing halves previously supported NROL-108 and the other previously flew on GPS III-3 and Turksat-5A.

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]

0817-EX-ST-2021 Starlink RF Mission 1-5

This application uses information from previous grant 1379-EX-ST-2020. This STA is necessary to authorize launch vehicle communications for Starlink RF Mission 1-5 from SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the experimental recovery operation following the Falcon 9 launch. The application includes sub-orbital first stage and orbital second stage. Trajectory data shall be provided directly to NTIA, USAF, and NASA. All downrange Earth stations are receive-only. The recovery portion is limited to two functions: 1) pre-launch checkout test of the command uplink from an onshore station at launch site, and 2) command of landed stage from recovery boat. All operations are pre-coordinated with the Launch Range. Launch licensing authority is FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

Requested Period of Operation
Operation Start Date:   07/01/2021
Operation End Date:   01/01/2022

[Jansen]

The previous grant for 1379-EX-ST-2020 mentioned above is the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich mission, which was the last SpaceX launch from Vandenberg.

[Jansen]

ASDS recovery location is

North  29  22  32   West  117  50  59
Datum:  NAD 83

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

Actual evidence of real hard plans for launches mid/late summer from VAFB. But they still need a booster and an ASDS on the west coast to make it happen.

[niwax]

July seems a bit quick to get a ship to the west coast. Didn't the last Panama canal transfer take a few months?

[Josh_from_Canada]

What orbital inclination would that translate to?

ASDS recovery location is

North  29  22  32   West  117  50  59
Datum:  NAD 83

[Jansen]

What orbital inclination would that translate to?

97.6 degrees

[soltasto]

What orbital inclination would that translate to?

97.6 degrees

Those coordinates actually give exactly 70°

[gongora]

What orbital inclination would that translate to?

97.6 degrees

Those coordinates actually give exactly 70°

Yep.  (I'm not a graphic artist, can you tell?)

[vaporcobra]

ASDS recovery location is

North  29  22  32   West  117  50  59
Datum:  NAD 83

It's about 640 km (~400 mi) downrange, FWIW.

[vaporcobra]

Those coordinates actually give exactly 70°

No big surprise there, starting with the biggest tranche first

[Jansen]

What orbital inclination would that translate to?

97.6 degrees

Those coordinates actually give exactly 70°

Okay, I actually did the calculations, and I got:

Distance 639.8km

Azimuth 155.25

arccos(cos(34.632)∗sin(155.25))= 69.8498686 degrees

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1397997294314684417

Possible booster for this launch. It’s B1049, which had its legs taken off in Port Canaveral.

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/FarryFaz/status/1393337977238134785

Legs off for B1051. I Wonder why? 📷: JH

B1051 also had legs removed, wondering if it’s going out west as well.

slight edit by zubenelgenubi

[cwr]

https://twitter.com/FarryFaz/status/1393337977238134785

Legs off for B1051. I Wonder why? 📷: JH

B1051 also had legs removed, wondering if it’s going out west as well.

Did you mean "1049 also had it's legs removed"
and that 1051 would be joining 1049 at Vandenberg  to launch Starlink payloads?

Carl

slight edit by zubenelgenubi

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-posting for clarity:

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1392304441727111168

Not the best photo but why do you think they took the legs off B1049.9? 📷 Jon Hunter

It may have been faster if they needed it back on base with another booster inbound soon. Legs may have been giving them trouble retracting? Or maybe it's part of the inspection to have the legs off and it turns out to be less time consuming to do it at this stage.

Legs were removed from B1049, not sure why.

Now we know why!
***

Did you mean "1049 also had it's legs removed"
and that 1051 would be joining 1049 at Vandenberg to launch Starlink payloads?

Carl

Question 1: I think Jansen meant what he wrote.
Question 2: Yes, the hypothesis is: Will 1051 join 1049 at Vandenberg to launch Starlink payloads?

[klod]

I don't understand how they can do this flight in July. Drone isn't even underway to the west coast. And it would take about 2 month. Though i thought that B1049 or B1051 might be one way flight.

[Jansen]

I don't understand how they can do this flight in July. Drone isn't even underway to the west coast. And it would take about 2 month. Though i thought that B1049 or B1051 might be one way flight.

Many people have been watching McDonough Marine because that is where all of the ASDS have come from so far, including ASOG (MARMAC 302). However, I don’t believe they have extensive operations on the west coast.

From what I recall, 300 foot barges are some of the most extensively used due to large transport volumes and load-bearing capacity. There are plenty of them around, and some have them are larger and more capable that the MARMAC series.

SpaceX has been planning these west coast operations for years. Given that ASDS shortage is now holding back the launch cadence, it would make sense to have ASOG on the east coast for full recovery of Falcon Heavy and for F9 operational flexibility.

In that case, it’s entirely possible that another drone ship has been leased and modified at a west coast or Asia-Pacific shipyard.

Another theory would be that there is a MARMAC 305 built in the last 5 years since their catalog was updated. This could explain Elon’s tweets in 2018 about ASOG.

I’m not advocating for any of these theories, just putting it out there.

[DreamyPickle]

A bit strange that they're starting on the 70 degree shell. I'd expect the polar orbit shell to go first so that they can claim world-wide coverage.

Maybe lasers are not yet ready?

[klod]

In that case, it’s entirely possible that another drone ship has been leased and modified at a west coast or Asia-Pacific shipyard.

Hm, it makes more sense in order to accomplish this launch in time. Has never thought about leasing a droneship.

[gongora]

This flight is NET July.  It could happen later if the necessary equipment isn't ready on the west coast.

[Kiwi53]

But it would seem a bit strange for SpaceX to move a booster to the West coast and then not use it for weeks or months because the barge we've all assumed is ASOG is still being built and can't be in California waters until after the northern summer.

Jansen's speculation that there may be another unnoticed barge under conversion somewhere else is intriguing.

[gongora]

Who said ASOG is going to the west coast?  The obvious choice would be OCISLY.  Maybe they live with a slower flight rate on the east coast in July if they want to ship an existing ASDS out to California after the current flurry of flights.

[zubenelgenubi]

A bit strange that they're starting on the 70 degree shell. I'd expect the polar orbit shell to go first so that they can claim world-wide coverage.

Maybe lasers are not yet ready?

I >guess< coverage from the satellites in a 70 deg inclined orbit are enough for virtually the entire world population--excepting Santa Claus' crew and the realm of Emperor Mumble Happyfeet.

[Robotbeat]

Well, technically, you could still see the Starlink satellites at 70 degrees inclination and 540km (roughly?) peak up above the horizon if you were at the North pole. In fact, at 540km altitude, they could be as low as almost 67 degrees (67.212deg roughly) and still get to the horizon at the North Pole. But, it'd only be briefly.

So if you put your antenna on a tall pole and they put enough satellites at 70 degrees latitude, maybe it'd work.

(But I think they'd need an FCC modification if they wanted to transmit at such an extreme angle.)

[OneSpeed]

Those coordinates actually give exactly 70°

I measure about the same, but the S1 time of flight is about 08:35, in which time the earth rotates by about 2.15°. The ASDS recovery location is at about 29.36° north. In the flight time it will move east by about 207km. So, the inclination of the S1 trajectory is much less than 70°, somewhere around 55° from the map. I don't think you can assume that this angle is the same as the orbital inclination of the payload.

However, it is possible to calculate the launch azimuth including the earth's rotation. From https://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Launch_Azimuth, you can use β = asin(cos(mi)/cos(ϕ)) and then apply Vorbital = Vinertial - Vearth.

Azimuth is measured from North (or South), so that 70° angle is actually a launch azimuth of 20°. Using a small app I wrote, and assuming an orbital injection at 167km altitude, the resultant orbital inclination would be 71.5375°. Using Jansen's figure of 69.85°, or rather a launch azimuth of 20.15°, I get an orbital inclination of 71.4195°.

Neither of these values exactly match any of the polar tranche inclinations, so I'm not sure what's going on here.

[Orbiter]

I think F9 Starlink missions might dogleg slightly on second stage ascent. I've found the ASDS locations for missions out of the Cape would imply a 51.25 degree inclination orbit instead of the 53.00 degree one we know they end up in. That dogleg should bring the second stage inclination down from the ~71.42 you've calculated to about 70.00 degrees even.

[OneSpeed]

I think F9 Starlink missions might dogleg slightly on second stage ascent. I've found the ASDS locations for missions out of the Cape would imply a 51.25 degree inclination orbit instead of the 53.00 degree one we know they end up in. That dogleg should bring the second stage inclination down from the ~71.42 you've calculated to about 70.00 degrees even.

It is not so much a dogleg (which would be inefficient) as pointing a couple of degrees further north for the entire boost phase(S1 and S2) to compensate for the rotation of the earth.

Starlink to 53° is quite similar to Dragon to the ISS, which is at 51.6°. There is a worked example at https://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Launch_Azimuth, and I get a very similar result for Dragon (42.77°), only different because I am using an injection altitude of 196km, vs their 300km (42.76°). The difference between the inertial and orbital azimuths is about 2.2°, more than the difference you are seeing in the inertial ground track from Google Maps.

Again, there is no direct relationship between the inertial ground track of the booster and the orbital inclination of the satellite, unless it is an equatorial launch, or from one of the poles. Otherwise, you need to account for the rotation of the Earth.

Either way, this might not be the right thread to discuss this, perhaps a mod could suggest the best place.

[LouScheffer]

A bit strange that they're starting on the 70 degree shell. I'd expect the polar orbit shell to go first so that they can claim world-wide coverage.

Maybe lasers are not yet ready?

I >guess< coverage from the satellites in a 70 deg inclined orbit are enough for virtually the entire world population--excepting Santa Claus' crew and the realm of Emperor Mumble Happyfeet.

Seems reasonable.  70 degrees is well above the arctic circle at 66.5 degrees, and according to Wikipedia, only 4 million people total live within the Arctic circle (and presumably the majority of these are near the southern edge).  So 70 degrees likely covers 99.99% of the world's population.

Furthermore, the northmost point of Alaska is at a little less than 72 degrees, so a 70 degree orbit lets them claim to cover the entire United States.

A counter-argument might exist if a large customer (such as the military) was willing to pay good money for 100% coverage.

[Lars-J]

Yes 70 degrees covers 99.9% (or more) of all residential/fixed customers… but there is a significant customer of polar internet access: long haul commercial aviation where the shortest route is near polar. (Plus the military customer of course)

Since they have already launched some polar Starlinks, do we know for sure that this launch targets 70 degrees instead of polar/SSO?

[zubenelgenubi]

Who said ASOG is going to the west coast?  The obvious choice would be OCISLY.  Maybe they live with a slower flight rate on the east coast in July if they want to ship an existing ASDS out to California after the current flurry of flights.

Cross-post:

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/5333

Starlink V1 L29
Launch Time
NET July, 2021
Location
SLC-40 or LC-39A, Florida, USA

"Only" four Falcon 9 launches planned in June!

OCISLY transits to the Pacific after catching and returning the SpX-22 first stage?

More here in the manifest discussion thread.

[macpacheco]

Yes 70 degrees covers 99.9% (or more) of all residential/fixed customers… but there is a significant customer of polar internet access: long haul commercial aviation where the shortest route is near polar. (Plus the military customer of course)

Since they have already launched some polar Starlinks, do we know for sure that this launch targets 70 degrees instead of polar/SSO?

However its important to realize that long haul aircraft typically fly above 30000ft. This allows them line of sight with satellites @ 450km quite farther away than somebody on the ground with 100% flat terrain. I don't know how far Starlink terminals can talk to Starlink satellites due to attenuation and atmospheric effects.
If the issue is solely air traffic, it *might* be possible to talk to a Starlink satellite 1500 km away. No, I didn't do any math.
In the same way, a ship in the middle of the ocean, with a starlink antenna mounted 30m above SL can talk to satellites perhaps 800km away. Again, I didn't do any math.
Just pointing out that we don't know the limits of the Starlink system. And a ground customer is uneven terrain, a sea going customer and an airborne customers have very different views of the sky.
Just hoping somebody would do the math, while respecting the fact we don't know how far Starlink satellite can talk to Starlink terminal.

[DistantTemple]

Yes 70 degrees covers 99.9% (or more) of all residential/fixed customers… but there is a significant customer of polar internet access: long haul commercial aviation where the shortest route is near polar. (Plus the military customer of course)

Since they have already launched some polar Starlinks, do we know for sure that this launch targets 70 degrees instead of polar/SSO?

However its important to realize that long haul aircraft typically fly above 30000ft. This allows them line of sight with satellites @ 450km quite farther away than somebody on the ground with 100% flat terrain. I don't know how far Starlink terminals can talk to Starlink satellites due to attenuation and atmospheric effects.
If the issue is solely air traffic, it *might* be possible to talk to a Starlink satellite 1500 km away. No, I didn't do any math.
In the same way, a ship in the middle of the ocean, with a starlink antenna mounted 30m above SL can talk to satellites perhaps 800km away. Again, I didn't do any math.
Just pointing out that we don't know the limits of the Starlink system. And a ground customer is uneven terrain, a sea going customer and an airborne customers have very different views of the sky.
Just hoping somebody would do the math, while respecting the fact we don't know how far Starlink satellite can talk to Starlink terminal.

Assuming (I am confident this is correct!) that the 25degrees minimum elevation of signal is still relevant to communicating with aircraft, your argument will not give any greater corridor width beside the satellite orbit than what has been discussed for a ground customer, as the 25 degrees is the determining factor, not being out of sight due to the earths curvature.

[LouScheffer]

Yes 70 degrees covers 99.9% (or more) of all residential/fixed customers… but there is a significant customer of polar internet access: long haul commercial aviation where the shortest route is near polar. (Plus the military customer of course)

However its important to realize that long haul aircraft typically fly above 30000ft. This allows them line of sight with satellites @ 450km quite farther away than somebody on the ground with 100% flat terrain.  [...]

Assuming (I am confident this is correct!) that the 25degrees minimum elevation of signal is still relevant to communicating with aircraft, your argument will not give any greater corridor width beside the satellite orbit than what has been discussed for a ground customer, as the 25 degrees is the determining factor, not being out of sight due to the earths curvature.

It's not clear the 25 degree limit will apply for an airplane.   This limit (or at least a portion of it) may well be from the user terminal array structure, which can only point a limited angle from the boresight. If this is the case, it could be solved with an antenna consisting of several phased arrays (perhaps a miniature version of the Pave Paws antenna below).   This would be cost prohibitive for user terminals but perhaps not for airplanes.

A second possible reason might to be to avoid interference with (or from) ground equipment.  This could be avoided in an airplane be restricting operation to altitudes above 3000 meters above ground, or similar.

A third reason might be if the satellite can only direct its beams a certain angle from straight down.  In this case the polar airplanes are out of luck.  Though they are high enough for line of sight to a satellite, the satellite cannot send a beam in their direction.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Multiple USA launch updates from SFN Launch Schedule, updated June 7

Falcon 9 / Starlink
Launch date: July
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

[Thunderscreech]

https://twitter.com/FccSpace/status/1405622587301023748?s=20

[Jansen]

0817-EX-ST-2021 Starlink RF Mission 1-5

This application uses information from previous grant 1379-EX-ST-2020. This STA is necessary to authorize launch vehicle communications for Starlink RF Mission 1-5 from SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the experimental recovery operation following the Falcon 9 launch. The application includes sub-orbital first stage and orbital second stage. Trajectory data shall be provided directly to NTIA, USAF, and NASA. All downrange Earth stations are receive-only. The recovery portion is limited to two functions: 1) pre-launch checkout test of the command uplink from an onshore station at launch site, and 2) command of landed stage from recovery boat. All operations are pre-coordinated with the Launch Range. Launch licensing authority is FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

Requested Period of Operation
Operation Start Date:   07/01/2021
Operation End Date:   01/01/2022

Grant approved
https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=276390

[Jansen]

(PDF)

Possibly July 30, sounds about right.

[crandles57]

July 6 arrival. So July 12 for launch possible or likely some checkouts and a bit/lot tight to manage that?

(If next East coast Starlink launch is polar that can't be til 26rd July so this could point towards VSFB launch being 12th? and East coast being 30th.)

[Jansen]

I’m leaning towards July 30 for this launch. They need to conduct checkouts and ballasting, and then tow it out south for recovery.

There is nothing preventing SpaceX from launching to a mid inclination from the Eastern Range on July 12.

[wannamoonbase]

Regarding the satellites and the laser interlinks.

I'm assuming that all the polar birds are going to have lasers for communication between satellites in the same plane.

Have we heard anything about how the first 10 satellites have tested out and whether they will be on all polar launches?

Thank you

[StraumliBlight]

LaunchPhotography is calling this mission "Starlink 2-2".

EDIT: Wrong launch.

[gongora]

LaunchPhotography is calling this mission "Starlink 2-2".

That site is for Florida launches.

[gongora]

There is a thread for tracking OCISLY.  This isn't the place for it.

[aero]

Now that OCISLY has arrived on the left coast, do we have any better estimates of time for this launch?

[gongora]

No

[attathomeguy]

hearing this launch has been pushed to August due to operational cadence in Boca Chica

[Lars-J]

hearing this launch has been pushed to August due to operational cadence in Boca Chica

That seems odd. I would not expect there to be much overlap in resources needed for a Starlink launch and what goes on at Boca Chica.

[attathomeguy]

This is probably as good as we are gonna get to conformation https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52398.msg2267650#msg2267650

[Phillipsturtles]

Now NET August 10th
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/27/spacex-to-begin-launching-new-generation-of-starlink-satellites-next-month/

[scr00chy]

The SFN article also says the mission designation is Starlink 2-1.

[guckyfan]

Can somebody tell, what Starlink 2-1 stands for?

[wannamoonbase]

Can somebody tell, what Starlink 2-1 stands for?

Don’t know for sure, but my guess is that the 2 means shell two and the 1 is flight 1 for that shell.

[scr00chy]

SFN changed the launch date from NET Aug 10 to "August".

[attathomeguy]

Damn it. Freaking Starship taking all the resources

[Brian45]

Is there any information available as to why this launch has been delayed? Is it really because of the Startship push?

[attathomeguy]

I mean are you gonna find a tweet from Elon saying it no way. Here is a piece of public news https://www.valleycentral.com/spacex/hotels-near-capacity-as-several-hundred-spacex-employees-arrive-in-brownsville-in-preparation-for-orbital-launch/

I have been told privately it is all hands on deck and they can recover the Starship launch time frame and it give more time for checkouts of OCISLY. Starship first launch is the only priority right now because it is the futre of SpaceX and Starlink. SpaceX only has so many employees and they are all multidisciplinary people that they are all needed at Boca Chica. As a person who really wants to see this launch I am hoping it goes off sooner rather than later

[Brian45]

thx, kinda what I figured. glad there were no "stuck valves" or something along those lines holding the launch up.

[Vultur]

I have been told privately it is all hands on deck and they can recover the Starlink launch time frame and it give more time for checkouts of OCISLY.

What does "recover the Starlink launch time frame" mean? Decrease turnarounds between future launches?

[cscott]

My interpretation is that this means they are limited by starlink build rate, not F9 launch recycle times.  So after the Boca surge they can launch a couple of F9s at min recycle time and "catch up" to the backlog of starlinks ready to be launched, so that ultimately the Boca surge won't delay the starlink program any.

[Jarnis]

I actually thought the "gap" in Starlink launches is due to new generation sats not quite being ready. Higher inclination sats should be the "mass produced" version with the laser links? The previous batch was built to fill the initial constellation, which is now done (minus a couple of holes due to attrition, but as I understand it, less than 20 sats short) and new revision maybe not quite ready to start launching?

[attathomeguy]

I actually thought the "gap" in Starlink launches is due to new generation sats not quite being ready. Higher inclination sats should be the "mass produced" version with the laser links? The previous batch was built to fill the initial constellation, which is now done (minus a couple of holes due to attrition, but as I understand it, less than 20 sats short) and new revision maybe not quite ready to start launching?

The laser link satellites are already at Vandenberg and ready to go

[attathomeguy]

I have been told privately it is all hands on deck and they can recover the Starlink launch time frame and it give more time for checkouts of OCISLY.

What does "recover the Starlink launch time frame" mean? Decrease turnarounds between future launches?

I made a mistake and I have updated my post

[crandles57]

Per spaceflightnow
https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/  [updated August 15]

Starlink 2-1 is September

(next florida starlink just says TBD but FWIW placed after a late September launch)

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Some explanation of SpaceX launch hiatus:

I watched Gwynne speak at the Space Warfighting Industry Forum yesterday. 

[…]

Need to get over the chip hump and think they will in October.
Standing down on F9 Starlink launches…waiting on building more sats with newer laser terminals.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; both Tweets posted August 24.
No indication if the next Starlink launch will be from Cape Canaveral or Vandenberg SFB.

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1430302841202089984
My bold:

In a LEO constellation panel at Space Symposium,  Gwynne Shotwell confirmed that SpaceX paused Starlink launches until it can get intersatellite links in place on all future Starlink satellites.  Next Starlink launch now planned in about 3 weeks.

Shotwell says one supply chain issue for SpaceX is a lack of liquid oxygen because of demands to treat COVID-19 patients. Will impact launch plans, she says. #SpaceSymposium

Another thought: Given the temporary transfers of launch campaign staffers from both the Cape and Vandenberg, will the remaining team members have to complete one launch before starting the campaign for the next?

[zubenelgenubi]

SFN, SpaceX test-fires rocket before space station cargo mission, dated August 25

The Starlink launches are scheduled to resume in September from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

There's no statement about the next Cape Canaveral Starlink flight.

State of play at Vandenberg SFB in September:

Launched:
№ – Date - Satellite(s) - Rocket - Launch Site - Time (UTC)

Failure
September 3 NET December 22, 2020 January 2021 or Q1 NET February NET mid-March NET May NET mid-June NET late June NET July NET July 31 or Q3 NET August 31st NET September 2 - SUV [BSS1, CRESST DREAM COMET, FossaSat-1B (Fossa-1B), FossaSat-2 (Fossa-2), GENESIS-L, GENESIS-N, Hiapo, NPS-CENETIX-Orbital 1, Qubik-1, Qubik-2, TIS Serenity (TISSCCE), hosted payloads: Spinnaker 3, Firefly Capsule 1] - Firefly Alpha (first flight) - Vandenberg SLC-2W - 01:59 ~01:00-05:00 or ~20:00-22:00

September 14 mid/late summer NET July 30 NET August 10 August week of Sept 12 10 13 or - Starlink 2-1 (flight 30/high-inclination flight 1) (x51) [v1.5 v2.0 L1] - Falcon 9-125 (1049.10 S) - Vandenberg SLC-4E - 03:55:50 ~15:30 TBD ~15:40 Sept 13 or ~03:30 Sept 14

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

NET September 27 16? NET 23 (NLT end of September) - Landsat 9, Cesium M1A, Cesium M1B, ELaNa 34: [CuPID, CUTE] - Atlas V 401 (AV-092) - Vandenberg SLC-3E - 18:11-18:41
(Sun-synchronous orbit satellites: launch at approximately the same time of day year-round)

Changes on November 20th, 2020
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zubenelgenubi

Edited

[attathomeguy]

I am hearing launch date might be the week of September 12th

[zubenelgenubi]

I am hearing launch date might be the week of September 12th.

What is the minimum amount of time between launches, of any kind, from Vandenberg ?  Different from Eastern Range?
Edited

[scr00chy]

I am hearing launch date might be the week of September 12th.

What is the minimum amount of time between launches from Vandenberg?  Different from Eastern Range?

The shortest time between two launches from SLC-4E was 36 days. But the real minimum time is probably much shorter, they've just never needed to do two Vandy launches close together.

[attathomeguy]

I know from Twitter they already have 2 boosters at Vandy so I would think they have at least 2 launches ready to go and are confident in the supply chain of refurb time and get more sats to Vandy for processing and loading. I believe the original FAA request said 1 launch a month so 36 days so like a good pace.

[crandles57]

I doubt this is reliable

https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/launch/falcon-9-block-5-starlink-2-1/
says
Thu · Sep 30th, 2021
1:00 AM BST
(because it seems strangely precisely end of the month UTC time.)


Other launches from Vandenburg include:

Firefly Sep 3

Landsat 9 Sep 23 (until 3 days ago it was Sept 16)

so maybe there is now room between those two? Would be more in line with 3 weeks from Aug 24 and week of Sep 12

[WheelsStop]

I doubt this is reliable

https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/launch/falcon-9-block-5-starlink-2-1/
says
Thu · Sep 30th, 2021
1:00 AM BST
...

It's not so much they're unreliable as they have a very obtuse way of indicating TBD.  They post an exact date/time, but indicate "date/time may change".  Note they list the mPower 1-3 launch at *exactly the same time*!

For Vandy launches, this site has a good simple list with TBDs clearly noted: https://www.spacearchive.info/vafbsked.htm

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1433482186573815815

Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete – targeting later this month for first West Coast Starlink mission, will announce a target date closer to launch

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

I think that they wanted to know if all the GSE was all working correctly.

It is!!!! 

[zubenelgenubi]

B1049.10?

Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete – targeting later this month for first West Coast Starlink mission, will announce a target date closer to launch.

[Elthiryel]

B1049.10?

Yes, at least according to Next Spaceflight: https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6796

[wannamoonbase]

I think that they wanted to know if all the GSE was all working correctly.

It is!!!! 

Agreed, it’s been awhile since they exercised everything out there down to an engine firing.

[ZachS09]

Based on the ASDS position, when would the plane change to the 70-degree orbit occur? After staging or after fairing separation?

[soltasto]

As soon as the pitch maneuver begins, as long as they don't have constraints on overflying SLC-6. It wouldn't overfly any inhabited portion of land.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Is my understanding that RF Mission 1-5 is the same as Group 2-1 correct?

[Ken the Bin]

Based on this tweet from Jeff Foust ...

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1435235605559062542

At Satellite 2021, SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen says the first Starlink polar launch is coming up in the “next couple of days.” #SATShow

... I wonder if these NGA notices are for this launch.  Note that the second one is also a Rocket Launching notice, but it appears that it should be a Space Debris notice.

070252Z SEP 21
NAVAREA XII 471/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   1524Z TO 1837Z DAILY 10 AND 11 SEP
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 34-41N 120-41W, 34-40N 120-24W,
      33-16N 119-42W, 30-14N 118-10W,
      30-02N 117-43W, 28-36N 117-14W,
      28-28N 117-28W, 29-42N 118-28W,
      30-12N 118-19W, 34-26N 120-37W.
   B. 30-46N 118-08W, 28-41N 117-02W,
      28-26N 117-40W, 29-35N 118-25W,
      30-33N 118-43W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 111937Z SEP 21.

070318Z SEP 21
HYDROPAC 2523/21(61,63).
ARABIAN SEA.
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
SEYCHELLES.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   1524Z TO 1911Z DAILY 10 AND 11 SEP
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   10-21N 062-11E, 09-10N 065-06E,
   00-23S 063-49E, 06-21S 059-42E,
   05-22S 057-02E, 04-08N 058-09E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 112011Z SEP 21.

[scr00chy]

Next Spaceflight is now showing NET September 13.

[zubenelgenubi]

Has OCISLY set sail yet for booster recovery?

[WheelsStop]

At the moment, marinetraffic.com shows both NRC Quest and Adele Elise still moored at Long Beach.

[Ken the Bin]

Here's a new NGA notice, unrelated to the ones I previously posted.  It's doesn't look like a Starlink launch to me, and it doesn't start on September 13, but it does include September 13.

080337Z SEP 21
NAVAREA XII 474/21(17,18,19).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING:
   A. 1500Z TO 2005Z DAILY 12 THRU 15 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      34-56N 121-20W, 34-56N 120-33W,
      34-47N 120-33W, 34-51N 121-09W,
      34-52N 121-20W.
   B. 1500Z TO 1958Z DAILY 12 THRU 15 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      34-45N 124-16W, 35-21N 124-14W,
      35-16N 122-01W, 34-39N 122-04W.
   C. 1500Z TO 1958Z DAILY 12 THRU 15 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      34-47N 125-25W, 35-26N 125-24W,
      35-25N 124-48W, 34-46N 124-50W.
   D. 1500Z TO 1958Z DAILY 12 THRU 15 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      37-47N 132-42W, 39-38N 131-52W,
      38-57N 129-31W, 37-07N 130-24W.
   E. 1500Z TO 2030Z DAILY 12 THRU 15 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      43-59N 142-20W, 45-22N 142-47W,
      45-53N 142-34W, 46-13N 141-55W,
      46-36N 140-25W, 45-43N 138-09W,
      44-08N 138-42W, 43-09N 140-07W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 152130Z SEP 21.

[gongora]

These notices seem more like missile testing.

[Ken the Bin]

For reference only, here's another one.

080435Z SEP 21
NAVAREA XII 476/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING:
   A. 1530Z TO 1656Z DAILY 13 THRU 15 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      34-41N 120-41W, 34-40N 120-24W,
      33-16N 119-42W, 30-14N 118-10W,
      30-02N 117-43W, 28-36N 117-14W,
      28-28N 117-28W, 29-42N 118-28W,
      30-12N 118-19W, 34-26N 120-37W.
   B. 1530Z TO 1655Z DAILY 13 THRU 15 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      30-46N 118-08W, 28-41N 117-02W,
      28-26N 117-40W, 29-35N 118-25W,
      30-33N 118-43W.
   C. 0320Z TO 0446Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      34-41N 120-41W, 34-40N 120-24W,
      33-16N 119-42W, 30-14N 118-10W,
      30-02N 117-43W, 28-36N 117-14W,
      28-28N 117-28W, 29-42N 118-28W,
      30-12N 118-19W, 34-26N 120-37W.
   D. 0320Z TO 0445Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      30-46N 118-08W, 28-41N 117-02W,
      28-26N 117-40W, 29-35N 118-25W,
      30-33N 118-43W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 160545Z SEP 21.

[Ken the Bin]

Also for reference only, this one arrived a little while later, but after I had shut down for the night.

080458Z SEP 21
HYDROPAC 2530/21(61,63).
NORTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
ARABIAN SEA.
SEYCHELLES.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING:
   A. 1653Z TO 1730Z DAILY 13 THRU 15 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      10-21N 62-11E, 09-10N 65-06E,
      00-23S 63-49E, 06-21S 59-42E,
      05-22S 57-02E, 04-08N 58-09E.
   B. 0443Z TO 0520Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      10-21N 62-11E, 09-10N 65-06E,
      00-23S 63-49E, 06-21S 59-42E,
      05-22S 57-02E, 04-08N 58-09E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 160620Z SEP 21.

[gongora]

I guess those are for Starlink:

https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1435607749136723973

Launch Hazard Areas map for #Starlink Group 2-1 from VAFB SLC-4E NET 13 Sep, alternatively 14-16 Sep based on issued NOTMAR/NOTAMs. B1049.10 landing approx. 640km downrange, estim.fairing recovery ~688km downrange. S2 reentry in northwestern Indian Ocean. http://bit.do/LHA15

[gongora]

So it seems they'll have two launch windows about 12 hours apart starting on the 13th, around 9am and 9pm local.  They've done similar things with Starlink launches from Florida before.

[gongora]

Here's one reason the NOTMARs got so confusing:

https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1436057076921511940

A U.S. Missile Defense Agency flight test of a Ground-based Interceptor missile is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 12, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
https://www.independent.com/2021/09/09/missile-defense-test-rescheduled/

[scr00chy]

Of Course I Still Love You droneship has departed from the Port of Long Beach for SpaceX's first Starlink mission from Vandenberg.

OCISLY will be stationed approximately 639 km downrange.

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1436382789415354382

[Ken the Bin]

New cancel-and-replace notices from the NGA.  The afternoon (UTC) launch opportunities have been eliminated, leaving just the morning (UTC) launch opportunities.

Note that the second notice should be Space Debris, not Rocket Launching.

102339Z SEP 21
NAVAREA XII 485/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING:
   A. 0320Z TO 0446Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      34-41N 120-41W, 34-40N 120-24W,
      33-16N 119-42W, 30-14N 118-10W,
      30-02N 117-43W, 28-36N 117-14W,
      28-28N 117-28W, 29-42N 118-28W,
      30-12N 118-19W, 34-26N 120-37W.
   B. 0320Z TO 0445Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      30-46N 118-08W, 28-41N 117-02W,
      28-26N 117-40W, 29-35N 118-25W,
      30-33N 118-43W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA XII 476/21.   
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 160546Z SEP 21.

102350Z SEP 21
HYDROPAC 2564/21(61,63).
NORTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
ARABIAN SEA.
SEYCHELLES.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   0443Z TO 0520Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   10-21N 62-11E, 09-10N 65-06E,
   00-23S 63-49E, 06-21S 59-42E,
   05-22S 57-02E, 04-08N 58-09E.
2. CANCEL HYDROPAC 2530/21.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 160620Z SEP 21.

[deruch]

New cancel-and-replace notices from the NGA.  The afternoon (UTC) launch opportunities have been eliminated, leaving just the morning (UTC) launch opportunities.

Do you maybe mean that the morning launch opportunities have been eliminated, leaving just the evening ones?

The notice you quoted said "0320Z TO 0446Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP", which I convert as 8:20 PM to 9:46 PM in California on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of September.  Or am I reading that wrong?

EDIT:  Oops.  I reread after posting and I think I misunderstood what you were saying.  I think we are in agreement and you are correct that the afternoon times in UTC (which are the mornings locally in California) that were listed in prior notices have been eliminated.  Meaning that the launch will be in the morning UTC (which is the evening locally in California).  Sorry for confusion.

[Orbiter]

8:55pm PDT on Monday, September 13 (03:55 UTC, Tuesday September 14) carrying 51 Starlink satellites.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1436520274736730112

[ZachS09]

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

Per the launch timeline, this Starlink mission will involve a direct-insertion launch profile, meaning Stage 2 could deorbit on the first orbit.

[vaporcobra]

51 - not 60 - satellites, as well. Combined with polar dV losses, that strongly implies that Starlink's "Group 2" laser interlink variant is only marginally heavier than the ~260 kg V1.0 design - maybe 5% but definitely less than 10%.

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1436541063406264320

These are V1.5 Starlinks with laser inter-satellite links, which are needed for high latitudes & mid ocean coverage

[Rondaz]

Looks like booster recovery is drawing near as a big ol' crane is being assembled at Port of Long Beach. Also, OCISLY has left the building.

https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1436431132241776641

[soltasto]

PDF of online press kit.

And my version as well since I already made it before checking here, so might as well upload it

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1436738157039558656

West Coast fairing recovery ship NRC Quest and ASDS support ship Adele Elise departed from Long Beach overnight.

They are heading south towards the Starlink 2-1 landing zone.

[Ken the Bin]

Here's something strange.  NGA notices NAVAREA XII 485/21 and HYDROPAC 2564/21 are for this launch (see https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53965.msg2288508#msg2288508) for September 14 through 16 (UTC dates).

I've received these two notices today saying Operations Completed.

(Emphasis added.)

121847Z SEP 21
NAVAREA XII 495/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
CANCEL NAVAREA XII 485/21 AND THIS MSG, OPERATIONS
COMPLETED

121855Z SEP 21
HYDROPAC 2591/21(61,63).
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
ARABIAN SEA.
SEYCHELLES.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
CANCEL HYDROPAC 2564/21 AND THIS MSG, OPERATIONS
COMPLETED.

Edit: Fixed minor typos.

[Ken the Bin]

I think the NGA considered the wrong notices as Operations Completed.

https://twitter.com/SLDelta30/status/1437158183865225221

A Ground-based Interceptor missile, an element of the nation’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, was launched from North Vandenberg today at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time by Space Launch Delta 30 officials, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, and U.S. Northern Command.

[Zed_Noir]

Is there any launch weather forecast for this mission?

[soltasto]

Is there any launch weather forecast for this mission?

The 30th Space Wing never posted the weather forecasts on their website and only posted them a few times on their social media. I doubt things changed when they became Space Launch Delta 30, se the best we can do is to periodically check their Twitter and Facebook pages. Even tho it is safe to guess that the POV is <10% like for most launches at Vandenberg

[scr00chy]

Visual mission profile

[Ken the Bin]

Here's something strange.  NGA notices NAVAREA XII 485/21 and HYDROPAC 2564/21 are for this launch (see https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53965.msg2288508#msg2288508) for September 14 through 16 (UTC dates).

I've received these two notices today saying Operations Completed.

(Emphasis added.)

121847Z SEP 21
NAVAREA XII 495/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
CANCEL NAVAREA XII 485/21 AND THIS MSG, OPERATIONS
COMPLETED

121855Z SEP 21
HYDROPAC 2591/21(61,63).
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
ARABIAN SEA.
SEYCHELLES.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
CANCEL HYDROPAC 2564/21 AND THIS MSG, OPERATIONS
COMPLETED.

Edit: Fixed minor typos.

As expected, the NGA has issued new notices for the ones that were canceled in error.  As before, for this launch, both notices are Rocket Launching even though the second one should be Space Debris.

131340Z SEP 21
NAVAREA XII 497/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING:
   A. 0320Z TO 0446Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      34-41N 120-41W, 34-40N 120-24W,
      33-16N 119-42W, 30-14N 118-10W,
      30-02N 117-43W, 28-36N 117-14W,
      28-28N 117-28W, 29-42N 118-28W,
      30-12N 118-19W, 34-26N 120-37W.
   B. 0320Z TO 0445Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      30-46N 118-08W, 28-41N 117-02W,
      28-26N 117-40W, 29-35N 118-25W,
      30-33N 118-43W.   
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 160546Z SEP 21.

131346Z SEP 21
HYDROPAC 2603/21(61,63).
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
ARABIAN SEA.
SEYCHELLES.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   0443Z TO 0520Z DAILY 14 THRU 16 SEP
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   10-21N 62-11E, 09-10N 65-06E,
   00-23S 63-49E, 06-21S 59-42E,
   05-22S 57-02E, 04-08N 58-09E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 160620Z SEP 21.

[Conexion Espacial]

Livestream:
(it is still private so it does not load the whole page)

[Conexion Espacial]

FAA Launch Alert in its latest webinar
https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/advADB.jsp

[Rondaz]

The second shell of the Starlink constellation begins tonight. Falcon 9 B1049 will make its tenth flight, lifting off from Vandenberg, California at 8:55 PM Pacific time (03:55 UTC).

Article by Tobias Corbett (@tobycorbett01):

https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1437566588828389378

[Rondaz]

SpaceX recovery fleet status as of September 13th.

Did someone say dual-ocean operations...

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1437461076073910283

[M.E.T.]

Question:

Absent a link to follow from a thread like this one, how does one find the live SpaceX launch webcast on Youtube? These days when one searches for a SpaceX live mission broadcast it seems like a hundred copycat Youtube streams pop up first, but the authentic SpaceX broadcast is nowhere to be found.

Even if you go to the official SpaceX channel shortly before a launch, the current day Mission Livestream never seems to be around. I inevitably have to pop into the thread here to find the link that is kindly provided, in order to get to the video.

So am I just stupid (probably), and can someone share the easiest way to find the SpaceX livestreams on launch day?

Thanks👍

[Captain Crutch]

Question:

Absent a link to follow from a thread like this one, how does one find the live SpaceX launch webcast on Youtube? These days when one searches for a SpaceX live mission broadcast it seems like a hundred copycat Youtube streams pop up first, but the original SpaceX broadcast is nowhere to be found.

Even if you go to the official SpaceX channel shortly before a launch, the current day Mission Livestream never seems to be around. I inevitably have to pop into the thread here to find the link that is kindly provided, in order to get to the video.

So am I just stupid (probably), and can someone share the easiest way to find the SpaceX livestreams on launch day?

Thanks👍

The SpaceX website is a pretty reliable way to find the mission broadcast. Unfortunately tonight’s still isn’t available yet, normally they’re up a bit sooner…

[M.E.T.]

Question:

Absent a link to follow from a thread like this one, how does one find the live SpaceX launch webcast on Youtube? These days when one searches for a SpaceX live mission broadcast it seems like a hundred copycat Youtube streams pop up first, but the original SpaceX broadcast is nowhere to be found.

Even if you go to the official SpaceX channel shortly before a launch, the current day Mission Livestream never seems to be around. I inevitably have to pop into the thread here to find the link that is kindly provided, in order to get to the video.

So am I just stupid (probably), and can someone share the easiest way to find the SpaceX livestreams on launch day?

Thanks👍

The SpaceX website is a pretty reliable way to find the mission broadcast. Unfortunately tonight’s still isn’t available yet, normally they’re up a bit sooner…

Thanks. Never knew that. I always just go straight to Youtube and then end up spending frustrating minutes typing in ever more specific search terms, all the while worrying that I’ve missed the final countdown.

Especially when watching on a Smart TV with the Youtube app.

[alugobi]

This is the SX webcast link.

Bookmark it and you'll have it every time.

[AndyH]

We're under an hour to launch, and still no video link, or link for the launch net audio.  Kinda odd...

[Conexion Espacial]

Still targeting for tonight but fog at the launch site, awaiting official update from SpaceX.
https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1437612074729881600
https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1437612258243321857

[kessdawg]

Video is no longer private:

[Conexion Espacial]

Just as a reminder to everyone, this mission will be different from the others, the deployment of the satellites will be 15 minutes after liftoff.

[Conexion Espacial]

[Josh_from_Canada]

Just as a reminder to everyone, this mission will be polar so it will be different from the others, the deployment of the satellites will be 15 minutes after liftoff.

Not polar, 70° is targeted.

[Conexion Espacial]

https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1437617455363411968

[Conexion Espacial]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1437618779203125248

[AndyH]

Funky music

[AndyH]

100% GO at T-8:00

[HVM]

ducking mountain

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1437626535821946886

LAUNCH! SpaceX Falcon 9 B1049 launches from Vandenberg SLC-4E with the opening salvo of the second shell for the Starlink constellation.

Overview:
nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/spacex…

SpaceX Webcast:
youtube.com/watch?v=4372QY…

[AndyH]

Max Q

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1437627247817641993

Staging 1-2.

[AndyH]

S1 Entry Burn

[Lars-J]

Successful landing!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1437628824854880258

B1049 becomes the second Falcon 9 to hit the 10 orbital launches milestone, landing on Of Course I Still Love You.

Really feels routine, but it's still stunning.

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1437629445809057795

Looks like a bullseye for good measure. Actually more important these days with the upcoming catches of Boosters and Starships.

[AndyH]

Landing

[MATTBLAK]

90th! Wow, that's cool.

[Paul Moir]

.. our second stage will coast for about 35 minutes until we reach apogee or the highest point of the orbit where we will conduct that second stage burn...

Did they forget to update the script?   I protest the production values! 

[Elthiryel]

The launch host said they will be back for SES-2 around T+44m, so apparently their website and HUD got it wrong with a single burn insertion, as it's still coasting.

EDIT: Well, disregard...

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/peregrinedev/status/1437629509910421509

Starlink Group 2-1 lifts off from Vandenberg SLC 4E

📷 by me for @space_explored

[hektor]

Maybe this first deploy is for another undisclosed payload?

[tleski]

Already deployed!
The webcast host just corrected the previous information. This was the direct insertion but deployment out of the range of ground stations.

[edkyle99]

They'll update with confirmation in a few minutes when  within range of a ground station.

[tleski]

They just confirmed successful deployment.

[HVM]

Reaction wheels?

[matthewkantar]

Reaction wheels?

"Lasers"?

[gongora]

Reaction wheels?

Looks like it.  I really wanted to see the new sats deploy.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/_tomcross_/status/1437664473641152514

Starlink G2-1 launch from California. Reaching higher latitudes. 10th flight and landing of Falcon 9.

https://twitter.com/opbphotos/status/1437633453843828738

Went flying for tonight's @SpaceX Starlink launch out of Vandenberg SFB! Here's the Falcon 9 poking out of the marine layer!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

For completeness:

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1437633506595811337

Deployment confirmed. 51 Starlinks were successfully sent on their way to kick off the second shell for the Starlink constellation.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/spacex-begin-second-starlink-shell/

Article lead photo:

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1437631737660469252

Challenging conditions tonight for Starlink 2-1, but at least I managed to get something. @NASASpaceflight

[Helodriver]

The automated Surfline Jalama Beach surf cam caught the first stage burn of Starlink 2-1 illuminating the fog free beach as it launched. The booster itself was just to the right of the camera frame and is not seen directly.

The video starts in night mode until the rapidly increasing brightness triggers it to go back into daylight mode, with the plume lighting up the entire beach in full color before it goes back to night mode as the glow fades after staging.

Jalama Beach is a public park right at the southern border of Vandenberg Space Force Base 10.5 miles from SLC-4E The site was closed to visitors for this flight as the launch trajectory passed directly overhead the park.

[OneSpeed]

Here is a comparison between the Starlink 27 and 2-1 mission telemetry. There were some unfortunate freezes in the Starlink 28 telemetry, so 27 seemed the next best option.

From the S1 telemetry, you can see that both boosters got their second stages to about the same inertial velocity. The reduced payload from 60 to 51 satellites compensated almost exactly for the lack of assistance from the rotation of the earth due to the 158° polar launch azimuth.

The same reduction in payload then enabled the 2-1 second stage to both loft the payload some 46km higher, and gain an additional 112m/s of inertial velocity at insertion.

[zubenelgenubi]

Belated post:
SFN, New version ofSpaceX's Starlink internet satellites to begin launching Monday, dated September 13

Launch at 8:55:50 pm September 13 PDT = 0355:50 September 14 UTC.

[Conexion Espacial]

First official SpaceX photo of the launch, taken from the web page code, as it says in the file name SL_2-1 that was the name SpaceX gave to the photo and the mission.

[crandles57]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/spacex-begin-second-starlink-shell/

SpaceX begins second Starlink shell with Vandenberg launch

Flight Profile

The Falcon 9 booster, which lofted the Starlink 2-1 mission into orbit, made its tenth trip to space and back. Falcon 9 B1049 first flew in September 2018 when it lofted the Canadian Telstar 18 Vantage communications satellite into orbit. 123 days later, B1049 launched on its second flight, launching the eighth and final batch of Iridium NEXT satellites into space.

Since then, the booster has been dedicated to Starlink flights, having launched 420 individual satellites over the course of seven missions prior to the Group 2-1 mission.

I think that 420 should be 418 Starlink plus 3 skysat satellites. 

[Rondaz]

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupTLEs for the @SpaceX  V2.0-1 launch of 51 #Starlink satellites from Vandenberg SFB on Sep 14 at 0355 UTC. Deployment is set for 2021-09-14 04:11:26.880 UTC, just over 15 minutes after launch:

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1437464139266281472

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/alejandro_debh/status/1437857519326613514

Pre-Launch TLE showed a 213x343km 70.01ş orbit

Actual orbit achieved is 212x343km 70.01ş

This is orbital accuracy shown right there to y'all

twitter.com/tskelso/status/1437848911515840513

CelesTrak has ephemeris-based SupTLEs for 15 of the 51 #Starlink satellites launched on Sep 14 at 0355 UTC: https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

[scr00chy]

Launch photos from SpaceX's Flickr

[SPKirsch]

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1437866686552674305

NRC Quest and the fairing from the Starlink mission should arrive in Long Beach around 9am PDT tomorrow.

OCISLY and B1049 are departing the LZ at the moment. Should be able to estimate an arrival time soon.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1438142519125102594

Fairing recovery ship NRC Quest is approximately two hours away from arriving at the Port of Long Beach.

The ship should hopefully be carrying two halves from the recent Starlink mission.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/birdsnspace/status/1438255629395644420

I have a camera.

NRC Quest arrived this morning at the Port of Long Beach, carrying two fairing halves from the Starlink launch two days ago.

[SPKirsch]

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1438151242434367507

OCISLY and B1049 are underway too and due at the Port of Long Beach between 5 - 9am PT, Thursday morning.

[RocketLover0119]

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1438528134408642560

[Rondaz]

What. A. Spectacle.

Booster 1049 dangling at Port of Long Beach as it is lifted onto the inspection mount.

https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1438631934842707969

[Rondaz]

Live booster processing at the Port of Long Beach via @thejackbeyer on Fleetcam.

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1438608471239233556

[Rondaz]

The entire #SpaceX West Coast booster recovery fleet back in the Port of Long Beach.  Adele Elise arrived this morning with OCISLY and B1049.  Scorpius, in the foreground, handles the towing of OCISLY to and from the landing zone.

https://twitter.com/BirdsNSpace/status/1438634885585932288

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1438633338848247808

Falcon 9 B1049-11 lifted by crane off droneship Of Course I Still Love You, and back onto dry land. @NASASpaceflight

[Rondaz]

#octograbber

A ⁦@SpaceX⁩ #Falcon9 booster arrives into its new home in @portoflongbeach⁩ this morning. Booster 1049 has launched in to space & landed from space 10 times.

https://twitter.com/ShorealoneFilms/status/1438706376520257538

[Rondaz]

Find the human….

A ⁦@SpaceX⁩ #Falcon9 booster arrives into its new home in @portoflongbeach⁩ this morning. Booster 1049 has launched in to space & landed from space 10 times. #SpaceX #AvGeek 09-16-21 DDFF

https://twitter.com/ShorealoneFilms/status/1438707350261551104

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1438944120785936384

Ahhh, the sweet smell of rocket reusability… Landing leg removal has begun on booster 1049 at Port of LB.
@NASASpaceflight

[r8ix]

Ahhh, the sweet smell of rocket reusability… Landing leg removal has begun on booster 1049 at Port of LB.

https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1438944120785936384

Anyone know why removal instead of closing/folding up?

[abaddon]

Anyone know why removal instead of closing/folding up?

Someone on this site (I forget who, sorry!) speculated that the legs would be removed because the booster would be too wide to transport otherwise.  Presumably they are refurbished at Hawthorne, so quite a bit further to go than at the Cape.

[zubenelgenubi]

Anyone know why removal instead of closing/folding up?

Someone on this site (I forget who, sorry!) speculated that the legs would be removed because the booster would be too wide to transport otherwise.  Presumably they are refurbished at Hawthorne, so quite a bit further to go than at the Cape.

Then by road back to Vandenberg, also sans legs?

[Paul_G]

Anyone know why removal instead of closing/folding up?

Someone on this site (I forget who, sorry!) speculated that the legs would be removed because the booster would be too wide to transport otherwise.  Presumably they are refurbished at Hawthorne, so quite a bit further to go than at the Cape.

Then by road back to Vandenberg, also sans legs?

I don’t think the lifting cap used on the west coast includes the cables to retract the legs, so they have no way of stowing the legs like we see on the east coast.

[D_Dom]

Pure speculation but I expect they will refurb the booster in their warehouse onsite. Shipping it to Vandenberg by sea would be worth investigating.

[attathomeguy]

Do we have a thread for the next Vandenberg launch? I have already heard a launch date has been set.

[Comga]

Do we have a thread for the next Vandenberg launch? I have already heard a launch date has been set.

There is as yet no date on the SpaceX Manifest.
If you have a source you can quote, please post it.

[vaporcobra]

Do we have a thread for the next Vandenberg launch? I have already heard a launch date has been set.

There is as yet no date on the SpaceX Manifest.
If you have a source you can quote, please post it.

I'm sure attathomeguy would also be more than welcome on L2 if he isn't comfortable sharing information quite so publicly

[zubenelgenubi]

Do we have a thread for the next Vandenberg launch? I have already heard a launch date has been set.

There is as yet no date on the SpaceX Manifest.
If you have a source you can quote, please post it.

I'm sure attathomeguy would also be more than welcome on L2 if he isn't comfortable sharing information quite so publicly

Or communicate directly with Chris B, giving Chris permission to post from "a source" in L2.

[harrystranger]

https://twitter.com/Harry__Stranger/status/1445556259302694923?s

[gongora]

Do we have a thread for the next Vandenberg launch? I have already heard a launch date has been set.

Thread for that launch is: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=54823.0

If we have a thread for a SpaceX launch then it should be linked in the  top post of the manifest thread:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43418.0