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.
Starlink 4-15 permit request finally showed up, and the drone ship location is a bit interesting.0598-EX-ST-2022Since this was filed after the permits for higher numbered flights, I'm wondering if it's the rideshare for Spaceflight.
Rideshare for Spaceflight? To fly payloads pulled from Transporter-3 or 4?Quote from: gongora on 03/31/2022 09:41 pmStarlink 4-15 permit request finally showed up, and the drone ship location is a bit interesting.0598-EX-ST-2022Since this was filed after the permits for higher numbered flights, I'm wondering if it's the rideshare for Spaceflight.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 04/21/2022 10:34 pmRideshare for Spaceflight? To fly payloads pulled from Transporter-3 or 4?Quote from: gongora on 03/31/2022 09:41 pmStarlink 4-15 permit request finally showed up, and the drone ship location is a bit interesting.0598-EX-ST-2022Since this was filed after the permits for higher numbered flights, I'm wondering if it's the rideshare for Spaceflight.Where did we learn about a Starlink-Spaceflight rideshare? I must have missed that.
Falcon 9 | Starlink 4-15May 8Launch time: TBDLaunch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Floridahttps://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/
No booster assignment yet.
B1052 can still fly a couple more times before going back to FH side booster [for ViaSat-3 Americas] as far as I know but I haven't heard any upcoming booster assignments with that booster penciled in.
I thought B1052 and B1053 are reserved for the ViaSat 3 Falcon Heavy launch (fifth and third flights, respectively).
Quote from: ZachS09 on 04/27/2022 03:31 pmI thought B1052 and B1053 are reserved for the ViaSat 3 Falcon Heavy launch (fifth and third flights, respectively).Designated for that launch, NET September: yes.Reserved, with no intervening uses between now and then?: I don't think that was explicitly stated. At least, recently.Another SpaceX operational innovation, I presume.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 04/27/2022 03:38 pmQuote from: ZachS09 on 04/27/2022 03:31 pmI thought B1052 and B1053 are reserved for the ViaSat 3 Falcon Heavy launch (fifth and third flights, respectively).Designated for that launch, NET September: yes.Reserved, with no intervening uses between now and then?: I don't think that was explicitly stated. At least, recently.Another SpaceX operational innovation, I presume.Apparently it takes some extra time to reconfigure a booster from normal F9 to "FH side". Those two boosters are currently configured for "FH side", so it is more cost-effective to just leave them that way for the Viasat-3 launch. The only other active boosters configured as FH side are shiny new boosters that are scheduled for NSSL or the Psyche launch, which probably contractually require new boosters. NOTE: I have no inside info: this is all from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_first-stage_boosters
I'm curious, there's now two Starlink missions planned, both from Florida, and both for May 8.Although they say the best way to ensure two launches won't conflict is to schedule them for the same day, these two ended up falling together relatively close to launch day. And SpaceX HAS two pads.Would it be possible for SpaceX to do "2 for the price of 1" by handling 2 launch campaigns simultaneously from the same firing room?If so, what would be the temporal spacing required? I assume ideally flight 1 should have landed/reached at least parking orbit before flight 2 enters terminal count. That way if someone yells "HOLD HOLD HOLD" on the net it's always clear which vehicle is meant But they could also be 20+h apart in which case everyone actually gets a good nights sleep in between and we'd see nothing really groundbreaking new.But I'm kinda rooting for a launch webcast with 2 successive launches one right after the other.What does Starlink orbital mechanics say? Would launching two batches so close after each other even make sense? What planes do these birds need to go to?
