Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Starlink Group 4-4 : VSFB SLC-4E : 18 December 2021 (12:41 UTC) (Read 88310 times)

gongora · « **on:** 09/20/2021 10:46 pm »

Discussion thread for Starlink Group 4-4

NSF Threads for Starlink Group 4-4: Discussion

Successful launch December 18, 2021 at 4:41am PST (12:41 UTC) on Falcon 9 (booster 1051-11) from SLC-4E. Successful booster landing on OCISLY. Fairing recovery is expected from the water. The fairing halves were previously used, with this being the 4th flight of one half and 3rd flight of the other half.

Payload: A batch of 52 Starlink satellites. Expected deployment orbit of approximately 210x340km at 53.2? degrees inclination.

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:

Quote

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.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1 on:** 09/21/2021 07:42 am »

Is this the same as RF Mission 2-5?

gongora · « **Reply #2 on:** 09/21/2021 02:49 pm »

Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 09/21/2021 07:42 am

Is this the same as RF Mission 2-5?

We have no idea how to map those numbers (if they even map).

realnouns · « **Reply #3 on:** 09/21/2021 03:24 pm »

SpaceX revised their FCC application for Starlink 2-3 (1423-EX-ST-2021, was previously RF 3-5 0842-EX-ST-2021). Why don't we see specific revised FCC applications for all launches?

Quote from: gongora on 09/03/2021 04:01 am

https://fcc.report/ELS/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp-SpaceX/1423-EX-ST-2021
Starlink Group 2-3 from Vandy NET October to 70 degrees
[submitted September 1]

Quote from: gongora on 05/26/2021 09:04 pm

Six permits requested for Starlink flights from Vandenberg NET July, missions 1-5 through 6-5, with ASDS landing.
0817-EX-ST-2021 1-5
0826-EX-ST-2021 2-5
0842-EX-ST-2021 3-5 [submitted May 25]
0843-EX-ST-2021 4-5
0844-EX-ST-2021 5-5
0845-EX-ST-2021 6-5

[zubenelgenubi edited]

StraumliBlight · « **Reply #4 on:** 10/07/2021 07:05 am »

SpaceFlightNow is now showing a "Mid-October" launch date. [dated October 6]

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #5 on:** 10/08/2021 02:50 am »

My hypothesis is there are currently only enough SpaceX employees to handle one launch campaign at Vandenberg at a time.

The rest are in Boca Chica working on the first Starship launch.

Starlink 2-1 September 14 UTC
Starlink 2-2 mid-October
DART November 24

(Same situation in Florida for the duration.)

wannamoonbase · « **Reply #6 on:** 10/09/2021 05:30 pm »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 10/08/2021 02:50 am

My hypothesis is there are currently only enough SpaceX employees to handle one launch campaign at Vandenberg at a time.

The rest are in Boca Chica working on the first Starship launch.

Starlink 2-1 September 14 UTC
Starlink 2-2 mid-October
DART November 24

(Same situation in Florida for the duration.)

Starship is the future but launches and Starlinks provide the revenue.

I’d bet they are launching as fast as the payloads and boosters are ready.

A few more upcoming West coast flights too, it’s going to be fun out there.

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #7 on:** 10/12/2021 03:12 pm »

These NGA notices are not labeled as "Rocket Launching" and "Space Debris", but they look like a Starlink launch from VSFB and stage 2 splashdown.

Quote from: NGA

120908Z OCT 21
NAVAREA XII 588/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1522Z TO 2047Z DAILY
17 AND 18 OCT IN AREA BOUND BY
34-40N 120-43W, 34-40N 120-24W,
33-48N 119-57W, 30-14N 118-05W,
29-56N 117-39W, 28-33N 117-14W,
28-33N 117-28W, 29-29N 118-19W,
30-17N 118-19W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 182147Z OCT 21.

Quote from: NGA

120917Z OCT 21
HYDROPAC 2906/21(61,63).
ARABIAN SEA.
NORTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1644Z TO 2120Z DAILY
17 AND 18 OCT 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 182220Z OCT 21.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #8 on:** 10/12/2021 05:56 pm »

BOLO (Be On the LookOut) for a possible SF (Static Fire).
(I know, the geography makes it much more difficult than at Canaveral.)

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/12/2021 10:48 pm »

The NGA notices that I posted above have been cancel-and-replaced with new notices (still just generic Hazardous Operations) with narrower time periods.

Quote from: NGA

122155Z OCT 21
NAVAREA XII 590/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1649Z TO 1916Z DAILY
17 AND 18 OCT IN AREA BOUND BY
34-40N 120-43W, 34-40N 120-24W,
33-48N 119-57W, 30-14N 118-05W,
29-56N 117-39W, 28-33N 117-14W,
28-33N 117-28W, 29-29N 118-19W,
30-17N 118-19W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA XII 588/21.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 182016Z OCT 21.

Quote from: NGA

122221Z OCT 21
HYDROPAC 2915/21(61,63).
ARABIAN SEA.
NORTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1811Z TO 1949Z DAILY
17 AND 18 OCT 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 HYDROPAC 2906/21.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 182049Z OCT 21.

Conexion Espacial · « **Reply #10 on:** 10/12/2021 11:32 pm »

Quote from: Ken the Bin on 10/12/2021 10:48 pm

The NGA notices that I posted above have been cancel-and-replaced with new notices (still just generic Hazardous Operations) with narrower time periods.

Quote from: NGA
122155Z OCT 21
NAVAREA XII 590/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1649Z TO 1916Z DAILY
17 AND 18 OCT IN AREA BOUND BY
34-40N 120-43W, 34-40N 120-24W,
33-48N 119-57W, 30-14N 118-05W,
29-56N 117-39W, 28-33N 117-14W,
28-33N 117-28W, 29-29N 118-19W,
30-17N 118-19W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA XII 588/21.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 182016Z OCT 21.
Quote from: NGA
122221Z OCT 21
HYDROPAC 2915/21(61,63).
ARABIAN SEA.
NORTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1811Z TO 1949Z DAILY
17 AND 18 OCT 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 HYDROPAC 2906/21.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 182049Z OCT 21.

That's right, this NOTMAR coincides with the launch of Starlink 2-1.

Rondaz · « **Reply #11 on:** 10/13/2021 12:01 am »

SpaceX will launch a batch of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg SFB this Sunday, Oct. 17. Launch time will be between 10:34 am and 11:34 am Pacific.

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1448064326124773376

crandles57 · « **Reply #12 on:** 10/13/2021 12:58 am »

What is record minimum time from announcement of date of launch to launch date (excluding after recycle/scrub)?

4.5 days for this one seems low?

John Santos · « **Reply #13 on:** 10/13/2021 04:31 pm »

Quote from: crandles57 on 10/13/2021 12:58 am

What is record minimum time from announcement of date of launch to launch date (excluding after recycle/scrub)?

4.5 days for this one seems low?

Many launches were not announced until AFTER they were in orbit, so zero or negative days.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #14 on:** 10/13/2021 04:37 pm »

Quote from: John Santos on 10/13/2021 04:31 pm

Quote from: crandles57 on 10/13/2021 12:58 am
What is record minimum time from announcement of date of launch to launch date (excluding after recycle/scrub)?

4.5 days for this one seems low?
Many launches were not announced until AFTER they were in orbit, so zero or negative days.

I think, from context, crandle's question refers to Falcon 9 launches?

Conexion Espacial · « **Reply #15 on:** 10/13/2021 11:43 pm »

Departure!
https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1448430315039506435

gongora · « **Reply #16 on:** 10/14/2021 01:42 am »

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1448458859320791050

Quote

Expect Falcon booster B1051 to fly the upcoming Starlink mission from Vandenberg – setting a new SpaceX reuse record at 11 flights.

Rondaz · « **Reply #17 on:** 10/14/2021 01:05 pm »

LHA map for #Starlink Group 2-2 from VSFB SLC-4E NET 17 Oct 17:34 UTC, alternatively 18 Oct based on issued NOTMARs. Booster landing ~640km downrange, estimated fairing recovery ~680km downrange. S2 reentry in northwestern Indian Ocean on the first orbit.

https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1448295159649775624

Orbiter · « **Reply #18 on:** 10/14/2021 05:25 pm »

Possible delay incoming?

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1448700622405054468

Quote from: Gav Cornwell tweet

OCISLY has turned around and appears to be heading back home to the Port of Long Beach. The droneship departed yesterday [October 13] for the upcoming Starlink mission out of Vandenberg.

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #19 on:** 10/14/2021 10:32 pm »

Per these NGA notices, the marine hazard warnings are canceled, so the launch is postponed indefinitely.

Quote from: NGA

142203Z OCT 21
NAVAREA XII 597/21(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
CANCEL NAVAREA XII 590/21 AND THIS MSG,
OPERATIONS POSTPONED.

Quote from: NGA

142222Z OCT 21
HYDROPAC 2935/21(61,63).
ARABIAN SEA.
NORTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 02, DNC 03, DNC 10.
CANCEL HYDROPAC 2915/21 AND THIS MSG,
OPERATIONS POSTPONED.