SpaceX F9 : Starlink 4-20 & Varuna : CCSFS SLC-40 : 4/5 Sep 2022 (02:09 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink 4-20 group launch.

The rideshare is Sherpa-LTC2, with sole hosted payload Varuna-TDM.
Sherpa-LTC2
Varuna-TDM

NSF Threads for Starlink 4-20: Discussion

Launch September 5, 2022, 02:09 UTC (September 4, 10:09 pm EDT), from Canaveral SLC-40, on booster 1052-7.  First stage will land aboard Just Read the Instructions.

Payload 50 Starlink satellites to 53.2 degree inclination on a northeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit of 304 x 316 km

Starlink v1.5 satellite mass is now about 300kg after the addition of laser ISL terminals.

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

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

From an early Starlink 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.

L2 SpaceX:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Added a bunch of upcoming SpaceX launches to NextSpaceflight and some booster assignments. https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/agency/upcoming/1/

<snip>
Starlink Group 4-20 by the end of the month [June] (again betting on 39A but don't have confirmation on pads for [any] of these missions...well, except for the Vandy ones I guess lol).

NextSpaceFlight [May 20]


No booster assignment yet for Starlink 4-20--which one might it be?

Rotating forward the boosters by oldest available after previous recovery, but not already assigned, gives us: 1062.7 (April 29), 1073.2 (May 14), 1052.6 (May 18), and perhaps 1061.9 (May 25).

<snip>
And then in July and sort of in this order:
<snip>
Starlink Group 4-21 from Florida (I'd say pad 40 is likely) using B1058-13
<snip>
Starlink Group 4-25 from Florida (betting all my money on pad 40 for this one) using B1051-13

1062.7 may be held back for SES-22, to give an "external" customer a lower-reuse booster.

Edit May 26:

So remember that thing about B1049-11 being expended for Nilesat 301? Well, that has changed. This booster surely likes to change missions. Nilesat 301 is now launching on B1062-7 which previously flew on Starlink Group 4-16 in late April.

1073.2 may be held back for SES-22, to give an external customer a lower-reuse booster.

Oh I forgot... B1069-2 is flying on Starlink Group 4-26. NET August from Florida.

1073.2?
Edit May 26: 1052.6?

Static Fire for the above?  My predictions.

No: 1052.6, 1061.9, 1062.7, 1073.2

No Static Fire means the booster is first and only transported to the pad, with payload stacked, a day or less before liftoff.

Edited

Edit June 1: Launch NET September.  First stage deductions are moot until closer to new launch date.

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceFlight [June 1]
Launch NET September

If launch is in September, given that LC-39A will likely be occupied by the launch campaigns for Crew-5 and Psyche, then I suggest this launch will be from SLC-40.

[zubenelgenubi]

Possible rideshare?  ODAR file attached with original post.

Saw this FCC filing (SES-MOD-20220614-00645) for communication with Varuna spacecraft (0279-EX-CN-2022), which turns out to be the Sherpa-LTC that's scheduled to fly on a Starlink rideshare.  It's a V-band tech demo for Boeing, built by Astro Digital, with the Sherpa serving as the body of the satellite.  It will climb to the ~1050km, 54 degree orbit approved for the Boeing V-band constellation and be used for testing and demos.  The ODAR filed [on March 15] gave an August launch date and deployment at 280km [circular], don't know if that is still the current plan.

[SPKirsch]

Starlink 4-20, operations start NET August 24, northeastern trajectory:

1248-EX-ST-2022
Mission 1782 Starlink Group 4-20 from Cape Canaveral FL at LC-40 CCAFS or LC-39a at KSC
ASDS  North  32  36  46   West  75  50  33
NET late August

[mlindner]

Did 4-20 get skipped? I was wondering as 4-2 also got skipped.

[zubenelgenubi]

Did 4-20 get skipped? I was wondering as 4-2 also got skipped.

Yes and yes.

Why 4-20 was skipped?  I don't know that we know, yet.

Edit: Same for 4-23 and 4-24.

[zubenelgenubi]

By circumstantial evidence, I'm cross-posting here:

One of the upcoming Starlink rideshare payloads

https://spaceflight.com/good-vibes-next-propulsive-sherpa-clears-vibration-testing/
[August 1]

Our next Sherpa orbital transfer vehicle is closer to launch!

Our chemical propulsion OTV, Sherpa-LTC, which will fly on an upcoming Starlink mission, recently underwent rigorous vibration testing at NTS’s Santa Clarita facility.
<snip>
Next, the Benchmark Space Systems’ Polaris propulsion subsystem successfully underwent environmental tests and integrated hotfire testing with the Command and Control System. Subsequently the team completed our Integration Readiness Review. The system is now undergoing final integration for flight at Spaceflight’s new headquarters.

Earlier this year:

Possible rideshare?  ODAR file attached with original post.

Saw this FCC filing (SES-MOD-20220614-00645) for communication with Varuna spacecraft (0279-EX-CN-2022), which turns out to be the Sherpa-LTC that's scheduled to fly on a Starlink rideshare.  It's a V-band tech demo for Boeing, built by Astro Digital, with the Sherpa serving as the body of the satellite.  It will climb to the ~1050km, 54 degree orbit approved for the Boeing V-band constellation and be used for testing and demos.  The ODAR filed [on March 15] gave an August launch date and deployment at 280km [circular], don't know if that is still the current plan.

[zubenelgenubi]

First stage change for Starlink 4-26, according to NextSpaceFlight, updated August 3.
It's now 1073.3.

1069.2 will now launch Starlink 4-20 from SLC-40, same source.


SpaceX will most likely Static Fire this first stage at the pad directly before launch.

Edit August 25: 1069.2 Static Fire for use on Starlink 4-23.

[butters]

First stage change for Starlink 4-26, according to NextSpaceFlight, updated August 3.
It's now 1073.3.

1069.2 will now launch Starlink 4-20, same source.

Of course. If SpaceX can't do Booster 4 with Ship 20, then they'll do Starlink 4-20 on B1069. Why didn't we see this coming?

[AmigaClone]

Did 4-20 get skipped? I was wondering as 4-2 also got skipped.

Yes and yes.

Why 4-20 was skipped?  I don't know that we know, yet.

Edit: Same for 4-23 and 4-24.

My speculation is that the mission designation is assigned when planning for that mission starts, much like NASA did in the shuttle era. Back then not all missions launched in order.

It is possible that part of the payload for 4-2, 4-20, 4-23, and 4-24 is not standard Starlinks v1.5. Whether that involves some modified Starlinks on those missions that were delayed, or there might be rideshares involved.

There also could have been some issues detected with the satellites assigned to those missions and SpaceX decided to repair them.

[gongora]

Varuna is a test spacecraft for Boeing that is based on a Spaceflight Sherpa LTC vehicle.  It will be used for V-band communications testing and demonstrations.  Expected launch will be on a Starlink Group 4 rideshare in 2022.

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightInc/status/1555262833583161345

The team from @aerothreads is here and are doing incredible work, hand-sewing the heat shield for our next Sherpa-LTC mission. Putting the "craft" in space craft - incredibly talented ladies!

[gongora]

SPACEFLIGHT INC. PREPARES PROPULSIVE SHERPA OTV TO LAUNCH ON UPCOMING STARLINK MISSION
By Jodi Sorensen

Once deployed from the rocket, the chemical propulsion OTV will ignite and transport a customer payload from 310km circular orbit to a 1,000km orbit

SEATTLE/Logan, UT. – August 8, 2022 – Spaceflight Inc., the leading global launch services provider, today announced it shipped the fully integrated Sherpa-LTC orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) and customer payload to Cape Canaveral to launch aboard an upcoming Starlink mission scheduled for next month. The high-thrust propulsive Sherpa will deploy from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 targeting a 310-kilometer circular orbit, before igniting and transporting an undisclosed customer payload, booked through Astro Digital, to a 1,000-kilometer circular orbit.

Sherpa-LTC features a bi-propellant, green propulsion subsystem utilizing Benchmark Space Systems’ new Polaris propulsion technology. The revolutionary OTV provides a low-cost, rapid orbital transfer for many sizes of small spacecraft.

“Sherpa-LTC’s transportation capabilities coupled with the reliability and consistency of Starlink missions create an ideal solution for the customer’s unique mission needs,” said Curt Blake, CEO and president of Spaceflight. “Our OTV eliminates the barriers that make it more challenging for spacecraft to access uncommon orbits in LEO and beyond. We’re eager to continue to provide innovative, cost-effective, and dependable in-space transportation services for our customers and partners like Astro Digital.”

Spaceflight’s customer and technology partner on this mission, Astro Digital, designed and manufactured the payload launching on Sherpa-LTC, and provided the command and control system known as Makalu, for the Sherpa OTV.

“Astro Digital has been proud to partner with Spaceflight’s Sherpa product line, providing command and control solutions for a wide range of OTVs,” said Jack Cohen, program manager of Astro Digital’s Makalu OTV bus platform flown on Sherpa-LTE1 and Sherpa-AC1.

“We enjoy collaborative and innovative missions, so we were eager to support this customer in developing the payload and finding a cost-effective launch option to a higher altitude,” said Chris Biddy, CEO and co-founder of Astro Digital. “To ensure mission success, we turned to Spaceflight’s Sherpa OTVs to deliver the customization needed. This approach to launch enabled us to launch our customer’s payload in a timely manner exactly where they want.”

Sherpa-LTC is the fourth iteration of Spaceflight’s Sherpa OTV program and will be its fifth vehicle to launch. The OTV’s modular design enables Spaceflight to adapt its features to accommodate specific customer needs, providing customizable in-space transportation services that get spacecraft to their target destinations in a cost-effective and timely manner.

In 2021, Spaceflight launched three Sherpa OTVs – Sherpa-FX1, Sherpa-FX2 and Sherpa-LTE1 – that successfully carried 50 spacecraft in total to orbit. Sherpa-AC, which made its debut on SpaceX’s Transporter 5 mission in May 2022, carried two hosted payloads to their desired orbital destinations.

Following this Starlink mission, Spaceflight will have successfully launched more than 550 spacecraft across more than 50 missions. Its next notable OTV mission will take place in mid-2023, launching Spaceflight’s Sherpa-ES, a bipropellant, high delta-V OTV, aboard the much-anticipated lunar slingshot mission, GEO Pathfinder.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; September launch; circumstantial evidence intensifies; but there could be two September Group 4 Starlink plus rideshares launches planned?

SPACEFLIGHT INC. PREPARES PROPULSIVE SHERPA OTV TO LAUNCH ON UPCOMING STARLINK MISSION
By Jodi Sorensen

Once deployed from the rocket, the chemical propulsion OTV will ignite and transport a customer payload from 310km circular orbit to a 1,000km orbit

SEATTLE/Logan, UT. – August 8, 2022 – Spaceflight Inc., the leading global launch services provider, today announced it shipped the fully integrated Sherpa-LTC orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) and customer payload to Cape Canaveral to launch aboard an upcoming Starlink mission scheduled for next month. The high-thrust propulsive Sherpa will deploy from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 targeting a 310-kilometer circular orbit, before igniting and transporting an undisclosed customer payload, booked through Astro Digital, to a 1,000-kilometer circular orbit.

Sherpa-LTC features a bi-propellant, green propulsion subsystem utilizing Benchmark Space Systems’ new Polaris propulsion technology. The revolutionary OTV provides a low-cost, rapid orbital transfer for many sizes of small spacecraft.

“Sherpa-LTC’s transportation capabilities coupled with the reliability and consistency of Starlink missions create an ideal solution for the customer’s unique mission needs,” said Curt Blake, CEO and president of Spaceflight. “Our OTV eliminates the barriers that make it more challenging for spacecraft to access uncommon orbits in LEO and beyond. We’re eager to continue to provide innovative, cost-effective, and dependable in-space transportation services for our customers and partners like Astro Digital.”

Spaceflight’s customer and technology partner on this mission, Astro Digital, designed and manufactured the payload launching on Sherpa-LTC, and provided the command and control system known as Makalu, for the Sherpa OTV.

“Astro Digital has been proud to partner with Spaceflight’s Sherpa product line, providing command and control solutions for a wide range of OTVs,” said Jack Cohen, program manager of Astro Digital’s Makalu OTV bus platform flown on Sherpa-LTE1 and Sherpa-AC1.

“We enjoy collaborative and innovative missions, so we were eager to support this customer in developing the payload and finding a cost-effective launch option to a higher altitude,” said Chris Biddy, CEO and co-founder of Astro Digital. “To ensure mission success, we turned to Spaceflight’s Sherpa OTVs to deliver the customization needed. This approach to launch enabled us to launch our customer’s payload in a timely manner exactly where they want.”

Sherpa-LTC is the fourth iteration of Spaceflight’s Sherpa OTV program and will be its fifth vehicle to launch. The OTV’s modular design enables Spaceflight to adapt its features to accommodate specific customer needs, providing customizable in-space transportation services that get spacecraft to their target destinations in a cost-effective and timely manner.

In 2021, Spaceflight launched three Sherpa OTVs – Sherpa-FX1, Sherpa-FX2 and Sherpa-LTE1 – that successfully carried 50 spacecraft in total to orbit. Sherpa-AC, which made its debut on SpaceX’s Transporter 5 mission in May 2022, carried two hosted payloads to their desired orbital destinations.

Following this Starlink mission, Spaceflight will have successfully launched more than 550 spacecraft across more than 50 missions. Its next notable OTV mission will take place in mid-2023, launching Spaceflight’s Sherpa-ES, a bipropellant, high delta-V OTV, aboard the much-anticipated lunar slingshot mission, GEO Pathfinder.

[gongora]

I expect them [BlueWalker 3 and Varuna] to be on separate launches.  I don't know that for sure.

[zubenelgenubi]

I expect them to be on separate launches.  I don't know that for sure.

Agreed.
I amended my cross-post, adding the possibility that there could be two September Group 4 Starlink plus rideshares launches.

[zubenelgenubi]

The end if the SFN webcast of the August 10 UTC launch of Starlink 4-26 gave mention of the other upcoming August Starlink launches.  Starlink 4-20 was not on the list.  Therefore, it must be NET the beginning of September.

This launch could be in the very first days of next month, if SpaceX continues to launch as soon as possible.  September 1 is 13 16 days after August 19 16.

Attached is a screencap.

Edited August 11

[crandles57]

The end if the SFN webcast of the August 10 UTC launch of Starlink 4-26 gave mention of the other upcoming August Starlink launches.  Starlink 4-20 was not on the list.  Therefore, it must be NET the beginning of September.

Maybe they (SpaceX & Range) are just too unsure for a date to be confirmed yet? If 4-27 is delayed and Artemis is not then there wouldn't be an available slot.

But if 4-27 launches 16 Aug and Artemis delay then perhaps there is time for another SpaceX launch in August.

If 4-27 launches 16 Aug and no Artemis delay then a record equalling 8 day turnaround is Aug 24. Perhaps that is too close to Artemis?

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

https://twitter.com/JasonRainbow/status/1557761031233060870

Jason Rainbow @JasonRainbow
Spaceflight's Sherpa-LTC2 orbital transfer vehicle is on its way to Cape Canaveral for a second attempt to debut the chemically powered space tug on a SpaceX launch - SpaceNews

https://spacenews.com/spaceflights-chemically-powered-space-tug-heads-for-launch/ [Aug 11]

LOGAN, Utah — Spaceflight shipped its Sherpa-LTC2 orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) Aug. 10 to Cape Canaveral in Florida, where it will make a second attempt to debut the chemically powered space tug on a SpaceX launch.
...
Spaceflight CEO Curt Blake said Sherpa-LTC2 has “gone through all kinds of checks to get things right” ahead of its launch in September.

Ahead of its four-to-five-day journey via truck from Seattle to Cape Canaveral, the OTV was integrated with a payload for Boeing’s Varuna Technology Demonstration Mission (Varuna-TDM). The demonstrator aims to test V-band communications for a proposed constellation of 147 non-geostationary broadband satellites.
...
SpaceX is slated to launch the OTV as part of a mission to deploy a batch of Starlink broadband satellites that Spaceflight expects will launch to low Earth orbit this fall.

If the mission goes according to plan, the Sherpa-LTC2 will deploy from Falcon 9 around 310 kilometers above the Earth, from where the OTV will ignite and transport its customer payload to a 1,000-kilometer low Earth orbit.