SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 4-31 : VSFB SLC-4E : 27/28 October 2022 (01:14 UTC)

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+28 minutes. Starlink separation confirmed. AOS ?

The mission audio stream has been made private.

Congratulations to SpaceX and Starlink for the successful launch!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1585809390350700544

Deployment of 53 Starlink satellites confirmed

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1585811291851018241

Falcon rockets to orbit as seen from LA

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1585816829825777664

This clip from the west coast of Mexico shows the dogleg, or bend, in the Falcon 9's track after launch from California. This steering ensures the rocket doesn't fly over populated areas.

Atwitter.com/orlandoagmz/status/1585805874433429504

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Wow, great detail

https://twitter.com/cahillcarla/status/1585816941033189377

#SpaceX #Falcon launched from #Vandenberg Airbase and arced over my home in #Ojai. #sonya7riv #sony200600mm

[OneSpeed]

Here is a comparison of the webcast telemetry from the two most recent 53 Starlink satellite launches, 4-27 and 4-31. The major difference between these launches is the launch site, 4-27 being from SLC-40 on the east coast, and 4-31 from SLC-4E on the west coast.

1. The booster profiles are very similar, although 4-31 spent less time in the throttle bucket, perhaps enough to make up for the higher launch site latitude.

2. The second stage profiles are also similar, although 4-31 does appear to have the multiple incremental throttle downs seen in mission 4-36, and a consequential longer burn for the same impulse, and orbital insertion velocity.

3. Given both Steven Pietrobon's screenshot of the mission audio webcast:

T+15 minutes and 25 seconds. Starlink separation should be happening about now.

and also, from the consistency of the webcast data, I'm seeing no evidence for any dogleg maneuvers alluded to up-thread in this mission. An optical illusion may be the more likely culprit.

[slobber91]

Another view of the launch from Los Angeles (first two photos taken shortly after 2nd stage ignition).  First stage reorientation and fairings visible to naked eye, as was the reentry burn just above the southern horizon.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Launch image from SpaceX website

[Rondaz]

Update / Update

The Falcon 9 launch history continues to grow.

https://twitter.com/SpaceNosey/status/1585873162926817281

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1586047598808289281

CelesTrak has ephemeris-based SupGP data for all 53 payloads from the launch (2022-141) of #Starlink Group 4-31 from Vandenberg SFB on 2022-10-28 at 01:14:10 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/birdsnspace/status/1586063813014495232

A #SpaceX #Falcon9 launched a minute after sunset yesterday evening from #Vandenberg SFB (B1063.8, #Starlink Group 4-31).

At 6500' though, the sun was still up...

https://twitter.com/birdsnspace/status/1586063818471354369

The sun is flattened by atmospheric refraction, and looks a bit rattled by shock (sound) waves from the rocket exhaust.

I didn't quite get everything lined up like I wanted, but being off center shows more of the wave propagation.

[Jim]

and also, from the consistency of the webcast data, I'm seeing no evidence for any dogleg maneuvers alluded to up-thread in this mission. An optical illusion may be the more likely culprit.

A dogleg is required during the first or second stage burn.   A launch azimuth of around 131 degrees would be required for a direct injection to a 52 degree inclination.  Vandenberg's minimum azimuth for range safety is 158 degrees

[ZachS09]

and also, from the consistency of the webcast data, I'm seeing no evidence for any dogleg maneuvers alluded to up-thread in this mission. An optical illusion may be the more likely culprit.

A dogleg is required during the first or second stage burn.   A launch azimuth of around 131 degrees would be required for a direct injection to a 52 degree inclination.  Vandenberg's minimum azimuth for range safety is 158 degrees

When exactly could the dogleg have been performed? Immediately after fairing separation?

[catdlr]

Launch Alert <[email protected]>
6:17 PM (44 minutes ago)
to launch-alert

Thursday evening's Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg SFB, Calif. was seen over a wide area. Here is a sample of the media coverage:

Sacramento, CA
SpaceX launches 53 satellites into orbit from California
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/spacex-launches-53-satellites-into-orbit-from-california/

Bakersfield, CA
SpaceX rocket launch from Vandenberg SFB visible to many in Bakersfield
https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/spacex-rocket-launch-from-vandenberg-sfb-visible-to-many-in-bakersfield/

Coachella Valley, CA
Rocket lights up Coachella Valley sky Thursday evening
https://kesq.com/news/2022/10/27/rocket-lights-up-coachella-valley-sky-thursday-evening/

Las Vegas, NV
That spooky sight over Las Vegas? It&rsquo;s just a SpaceX rocket
https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/that-spooky-sight-over-las-vegas-its-just-a-spacex-rocket-2665869/

Saint George, UT
Rocket launch blazes a trail across Southern Utah&rsquo;s western sky
https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2022/10/27/cdr-rocket-launch-blazes-a-trail-across-southern-utahs-western-sky/

Phoenix, AZ
Streak of light over Arizona sky came from SpaceX launch
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/streak-of-light-over-phoenix-sky-came-from-spacex-launch

Tucson, AZ
Watch now: SpaceX rocket launch seen from Tucson Thursday evening
https://tucson.com/news/local/watch-now-spacex-rocket-launch-seen-from-tucson/video_f77a342b-bc44-5b3d-9db6-964e7a9dcd86.html

El Paso, TX
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites lights up El Paso sky
https://cbs4local.com/newsletter-daily/space-x-falcon-9-elon-musk-launch-lights-up-el-paso-sky-internet-broadband-texas-california-vandenberg-space-force-base-october-27-2022

Brian Webb
______________________________________________________________
Launch-Alert mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/launch-alert

[FutureSpaceTourist]

SpaceX has posted these launch images

[OneSpeed]

A dogleg is required during the first or second stage burn.   A launch azimuth of around 131 degrees would be required for a direct injection to a 52 degree inclination.  Vandenberg's minimum azimuth for range safety is 158 degrees

I don't have a copy of the SpaceX Mission Audio Webcast for Starlink 4-31, because it was marked as private. However, I do have it for Starlink 4-29, which was from SLC-4e to the same 53.2° orbital inclination. I've attached a video of the entire launch phase below. At no point was there a dogleg maneuver.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1586477908691910658

OCISLY droneship is en-route to Port of Long Beach with B1063 from Starlink 4-31

Estimated arrival daytime Sunday

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/shorealonefilms/status/1586739580086067200

Welcome home @spacex #booster !! @SpaceOffshore 10-30-22

[LouScheffer]

and also, from the consistency of the webcast data, I'm seeing no evidence for any dogleg maneuvers alluded to up-thread in this mission. An optical illusion may be the more likely culprit.

A dogleg is required during the first or second stage burn.   A launch azimuth of around 131 degrees would be required for a direct injection to a 52 degree inclination.  Vandenberg's minimum azimuth for range safety is 158 degrees

When exactly could the dogleg have been performed? Immediately after fairing separation?

No, the dogleg should be part of the first stage burn.  A dogleg is least expensive when done at as low a velocity as possible.

Here's a picture that shows the likely location.  The more vertical line is a plot of 158^o from Vandenburg.  The other line is plotting backwards from the droneship position.  At the latitude of the droneship, a 56.2^o inclination orbit passes overhead at an azimuth of 140^o = asin(cos(56.2)/cos(29.62)).  Reversing this course yields 320^o.  Both plots were made with this GPS Visualizer.  I then superimposed the two plots.

So if done as an impulsive maneuver, it would be done a little south of the channel islands.  In practice it's more efficient to do this as a gentle curve.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacecoastpix/status/1586779202061074437

Oh, hello there! @NASASpaceflight