SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 4-35 : Canaveral SLC-40 : 24 Sep 2022 (23:32 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink 4-35 group launch.

NSF Threads for Starlink 4-35: Discussion

Launch September 24, 2022 at 7:32pm EDT (23:32 UTC) from Canaveral SLC-40, on booster 1073-4.  ASDS landing on ASOG is expected.

Payload 52 Starlink satellites to 53.2 degree inclination on a northeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit of approximately 230 x 335 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.



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

[zubenelgenubi]

Starlink 4-35:

1428-EX-ST-2022
Mission 1830 Starlink Group 4-35
ASDS North  32  38  54   West  75  47  55
[northeastern trajectory]
NET September [15]

This STA is necessary to authorize launch vehicle communications for Mission 1830 Starlink Group 4-35 from Cape Canaveral FL at LC-40 CCAFS or LC-39a at KSC, and the experimental recovery operation following the Falcon 9 launch.

If this is the next Florida Falcon 9 launch after Starlink 4-34, and if alternating use of Kennedy LC-39A and Canaveral SLC-40 continues, then this launch will be from Kennedy LC-39A.

But, Crew-5 launches from LC-39A in early October.  So, I hypothesize that Starlink 4-35 will follow Starlink 4-34 from SLC-40, maybe 10 to 14 days later.

Edited

[crandles57]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/08/spacex-starlink-4-27/

This will also be the third of at least nine consecutive Starlink missions that SpaceX plans to conduct over the span of a month and a half.

I take that 9 is likely to be 4-26, 3-3, 4-27, 4-23, 3-4, 4-2, 4-20, 4-34 and 4-35.

So both the 'consecutive' and the 'month and a half' from 10 Aug this seems to be suggesting 4-35 will be before SDA Transport and Tracking Layer launch currently planned for 29 September.

SpaceX has at least four more Starlink missions on the schedule for September, two of them with rideshares, alternating between their SLC-40 and LC-39A launch sites.

Could be room for 4-35 to be from 39A - from 7 Sept to 1 Oct is 24 days and above quote seems to support that.

[crandles57]

spaceflightnow
https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

has this Mid / Late Sept

possibly 3rd of 4 launches from pad 40 in the month

[realnouns]

The usage at SLC-40 over the next month seems unlikely.  Starlink 4-35 would best fit over at LC-39A between Starlink 4-2 (Sept 10) and Crew-5 (Oct 3).  If you split those 2 dates, you get Sept 22.  Group 4 missions have been averaging about 9 days between their launch day and their FCC Operations Start Date (OSD).  4-35 has an OSD of Sept 15 (+9 = Sept 24).  Starlink 4-36 has an OSD of Sept 20

[Alexphysics]

Tmk, next launch from 39A after 4-2 will be Crew-5.

[realnouns]

That would be 5 launches (Starlink 4-34, Starlink 4-35, Starlink 4-36, Intelsat Galaxy 33/34, Eutelsat (Hotbird F1)) going on average every 8.5 days.  I can't wait to see it!

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Spaceflight Now lists a September 19 launch date

[jackvancouver]

This is awfully close to the potential Artemis WDR, but it's on SLC-40 so it's a ways away from 39B.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

This is awfully close to the potential Artemis WDR, but it's on SLC-40 so it's a ways away from 39B.

Not any more, as the Artemis I tanking test is now September 21st.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

Because the current date for the 4-34 is 13 Sept. The availability of an ASDS or pad constraints would be such that the 19 Sept date may move a day or three.

[Alexphysics]

ASOG should be able to support the 19th, the pad is probably the long pole but an under 6 day turnaround may not be that far from the realm of what's possible. Droneship turnaround will likely be the long pole for 4-36 but we'll see.

[crandles57]

Because the current date for the 4-34 is 13 Sept. The availability of an ASDS or pad constraints would be such that the 19 Sept date may move a day or three.

Re pad 40: They did plan on 5th Sept to 11th 6 days - didn't make it because static fire was rained off. If there is no static fire for this launch then the 5 day gap 14 to 19th should be sufficient? I am thinking 8 day pad turnaround usually more limited by ASDS than pad issue but in this case 39A not in rapid reuse, so...

Re ASDS: JRTI won't be ready but ASOG 11th September to 19th can be enough time so delay of 4-34 has little or no effect here assuming ASOG is ok to do short turnaround.

So, anything could happen to cause a delay but no particular reason to expect one from 19th?

[Ken the Bin]

NGA notice.

92120Z SEP 22
NAVAREA IV 930/22(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   191756Z TO 191903Z SEP, ALTERNATE 
   201734Z TO 201841Z, 211703Z TO 211820Z, 
   221651Z TO 221758Z, 231630Z TO 231737Z, 
   241608Z TO 241715Z, 251546Z TO 251653Z
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.84N 080-37.57W, 28-43.00N 080-34.00W,
      28-50.00N 080-26.00W, 28-55.00N 080-19.00W,
      28-49.00N 080-15.00W, 28-41.00N 080-21.00W,
      28-35.00N 080-27.00W, 28-30.12N 080-32.89W.
   B. 32-02.00N 076-46.00W, 33-11.00N 075-55.00W,
      33-22.00N 075-07.00W, 33-01.00N 074-42.00W,
      32-22.00N 075-03.00W, 31-52.00N 076-36.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251753Z SEP 22.//

[Galactic Penguin SST]

SFN now showing the launch on September 19 at 17:56 UTC = 1:56 pm EDT.

[zubenelgenubi]

ASDS is ASOG:

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1570521367321399298

B1058 has already been unloaded from ASOG droneship. Bob has unloaded the fairing halves and is being refueled.

Why so fast? SpaceX has another Starlink launch lined up (surprise) NET Sep 19th.

Another rapid turnaround required...[Sep 15]

nasaspaceflight.com/fleetcam

NET September 19 because the previous launch from SLC-40 is scheduled this evening, September 16 UTC.

Also, the weather forecast for the above-mentioned launch is relatively poor: 40% GO.

We shall see. 👀

[Ken the Bin]

Unsurprisingly, this launch is pushed back to NET September 23 per this cancel-and-replace NGA Rocket Launching notice.

170511Z SEP 22
NAVAREA IV 944/22(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   230010Z TO 230315Z SEP, ALTERNATE
   232348Z TO 240254Z, 242327Z TO 250232Z,
   252305Z TO 260210Z, 262244Z TO 270149Z,
   272222Z TO 280127Z AND 282201Z TO 290106Z SEP
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.84N 080-37.57W, 28-43.00N 080-34.00W,
      28-50.00N 080-26.00W, 28-55.00N 080-19.00W,
      28-49.00N 080-15.00W, 28-41.00N 080-21.00W,
      28-35.00N 080-27.00W, 28-30.12N 080-32.89W.
   B. 32-02.00N 076-46.00W, 33-11.00N 075-55.00W,
      33-22.00N 075-07.00W, 33-01.00N 074-42.00W,
      32-22.00N 075-03.00W, 31-52.00N 076-36.00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 930/22.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 300206Z SEP 22.

[OneSpeed]

NGA notice.

Map from the NGA notice.

[Ken the Bin]

L-3 weather forecast.  80% 'Go' for September 22/23.  60% 'Go' for September 23/24.  Booster Recovery Weather risk is Moderate for both days.  All other Additional Risk Criteria are Low for both days.

[crandles57]

Nextspaceflight
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/?search=SpaceX
has updated today (19th) to say

23rd 00:20
That might just be following the NGA from 17th? But maybe the L-3 weather forecast also helps suggest this date might have a chance.