SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 6-1 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 27 February 2023 (23:13 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink 6-1 group launch.

NSF Threads for Starlink 6-1: Discussion

Launch February 27, 2023, at 23:13 UTC (6:13 pm EST), from Canaveral SLC-40, on booster 1076-3.  First stage successfully landed aboard A Shortage of Gravitas.

Payload: 21 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to 43 degree inclination on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit of 365 x 373 km.

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]

New:

NextSpaceFlight, updated December 19:
New launch Starlink 6-1
NET February 2023
Kennedy LC-39A or Canaveral SLC-40
Payload unknown number of Starlink v2.0 satellites 🛰

[kevin-rf]

Devils advocate, First launch of Phase 1 Shell 5 could also be possible.

They have -9 months worth of Starlink v1.5 launches left to finish Phase 1. Includes roughly three more launches to Shell 1 (5-1, 5-2, 5-3?).

It will be very interesting to see what 5-x and 6-x launches actually are.

[Chinakpradhan]

New:

NextSpaceFlight, updated December 19:
New launch Starlink 6-1
NET February 2023
Kennedy LC-39A or Canaveral SLC-40
Payload unknown number of Starlink v2.0 satellites 🛰

how to believe this; no FCC filing

[Alexphysics]

New:

NextSpaceFlight, updated December 19:
New launch Starlink 6-1
NET February 2023
Kennedy LC-39A or Canaveral SLC-40
Payload unknown number of Starlink v2.0 satellites 🛰

how to believe this; no FCC filing

Now there is

https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=initial&application_seq=120573&RequestTimeout=1000

2116-EX-ST-2022  Mission 1887 Starlink Group 6-1
from Florida NET early-February
ASDS North  25  40  4   West  75  2  2

[zubenelgenubi: Launch NET Feb 4]

[jketch]

The droneship location is pretty close to the location for 5-1. Looks like about 20km WNW.

1825-EX-ST-2022
Mission 1923 Starlink Group 5-1 from Cape Canaveral FL at LC-40 CCAFS or LC-39a at KSC,
NET end of November [30]

I wonder if they may have put the wrong ship coordinates, unless Group 5 is something different than we expected.
North  25  36  35   West  74  47  47

   North  25  40  4   West  75  2  2   BOAT, within 40.5 nautical miles   75.00

[kevin-rf]

Different model under the fairing? ... or is Elon getting secret pleasure from us debating how many Starlink varieties can dance on the upper stage of a Falcon 9?

[crandles57]

Different model under the fairing? ... or is Elon getting secret pleasure from us debating how many Starlink varieties can dance on the upper stage of a Falcon 9?

WNW = ~direction of CC so still 43 degree inclination?

20km nearer to CC so could mean a heavier payload so could be a different upgraded version? An alternative to this could be a higher altitude insertion/target orbit? Is there a higher approved orbit still at 43 degree inclination?

[virtuallynathan]

Different model under the fairing? ... or is Elon getting secret pleasure from us debating how many Starlink varieties can dance on the upper stage of a Falcon 9?

WNW = ~direction of CC so still 43 degree inclination?

20km nearer to CC so could mean a heavier payload so could be a different upgraded version? An alternative to this could be a higher altitude insertion/target orbit? Is there a higher approved orbit still at 43 degree inclination?

If its a new group, I would assume a new orbit -- given at least 1 launch has gone into each Gen1 orbit, that leaves 53 degree and 33 degree Gen2. Based on where users/gateways are, 53 degrees would make the most sense to me.

[kevin-rf]

Not for nothing,  but putting a group of Starlinks into each of the three defined phase 2 shells does make a claim similar to licking the last piece of dessert so your siblings wouldn't eat it. It makes it that much harder for some state sponsored US entity, say China, or Russia beating SpaceX to the orbit.

Sending one group to 53 degrees and another to 33 degrees would do that. So,  should we be looking for a 7-1 notice going to 33 degrees?

[gongora]

You don't need to send stuff to every different orbit to bring a constellation filing into use.

[zubenelgenubi]

Perhaps, Starlink 6-1 will launch in early February, from LC-39A, after Starlink 5-3 on February 1 January 31, and before Crew-6 on February 26?

(Or Starlink 5-4?)

Edit:  There may be another, brief launch opportunity at SLC-40 between Amazonas Nexus on February 5 and Inmarsat 6 F2 later in the month.

Edit Jan 26: Both launches have been assigned first stages, indicating both launches are in the near future.

[Josh_from_Canada]

B1076 according to NextSpaceFlight

[zubenelgenubi]

Perhaps, Starlink 6-1 will launch in early February, from LC-39A, after Starlink 5-3 on February 2 1 January 31, and before Crew-6 on February 26?

(Or Starlink 5-4?)

Edit:  There may be another, brief launch opportunity at SLC-40 between Amazonas Nexus on February 5 and Inmarsat 6 F2 later in the month.

Edit Jan 26: Both launches have been assigned first stages, indicating both launches are in the near future.

Starlink 5-3 launched from LC-39A today, February 2.

Starlink 5-4 takes the SLC-40 mid February slot.

Is the LC-39A mid February slot real, or will launch preparations for Crew-6 preclude that option (launch still February 26)?

We shall see. 👀

Cross-post:

SFN Launch Schedule, updated January 31:

Feb. 11 • Falcon 9 • Starlink 5-4
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of Starlink internet satellites. This will be the fourth launch into a new orbital shell for SpaceX’s second-generation Starlink constellation, called Starlink Gen2. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

[zubenelgenubi]

Is the LC-39A mid February slot real, or will launch preparations for Crew-6 preclude that option (launch still February 26)?

We shall see. 👀

A: No.

Not that it needed any confirmation but SpaceX removed the top insert of 39A's strongback (and this can be seen done this morning on SCL) which means it's being converted to Dragon configuration. Next launch from there is Crew-6.

Edit February 9: Starlink 5-4 will launch in mid February, and it could be the second and last February Florida Starlink launch.  The second O3b mPower launch is apparently going forward in late February from SLC-40.

This launch apparently NET March.

[crandles57]

Ben Coopers Launch photography (12th Feb update) has pad 40 doing I6-f2 on 17/18 then a starlink launch then O3b mPower in late Feb.
5 day gaps now possible: 18th 23rd 28th ?

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Inmarsat 6 F2 satellite from pad 40 on February 17 at 10:58 p.m. EST. A Falcon 9 from pad 40 will launch a Starlink batch on late February TBD. A Falcon 9 from pad 39A will launch four astronauts to the ISS on Crew-6 on February 26 at 2:07 a.m. EST (Saturn V Center tickets on sale here). And a Falcon 9 from pad 40 will launch the next pair of O3b mPOWER satellites for SES on late February.

Seems likely Starlink launch after I6-f2 would be 6-1. O3b likely slipping to March?

So maybe still Feb for 6-1?

[ATPTourFan]

NextSpaceflight now directly lists this as the first launch of V2 Starlink satellites, in a batch of 22. This was recently hinted by AlexPhysics on twitter.
https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1624665701184053248

First launch of Starlink Gen 2 satellites. These are half-scale versions of the V2 satellites intended to launch on Starship built to fit within Falcon 9's payload fairing and are colloquially known as "Starlink V2 Mini."

SpaceX will launch a batch of Starlink v2 satellites for their second generation high-speed low earth orbit internet satellite constellation.
Payloads: 22

Depending on how many Starlink satellites SpaceX decides to put on the Starlink Group 2-5 mission, Starlink Group 6-1 should be the one to launch the 4000th Starlink satellite by SpaceX.

And yet that's not what's going to stand out on that mission...

[crandles57]

~64% scale 

They were calling sats on 5-1, 5-2 ... Gen 2 satellites. So I think you should be saying

"First launch of Starlink V2 satellites (sort of)" rather than "First launch of Starlink Gen 2 satellites" on your NextSpaceFlight website.

[Elthiryel]

So this is most likely what’s named “Bus F9-2” in FCC documents (and reportedly being called “Starlink V2 Mini” internally according to vaporcobra).

The satellite mass is supposed to be around 800 kg, so 22 satellites would make it around 17,600 kg. It makes sense, Starlink Group 5-2 total payload mass was over 17,400 kg, and these will likely go to 33 or 53 deg. inclination orbit, delta-V required may be a bit lower if it’s 33.

[russianhalo117]

~64% scale 

They were calling sats on 5-1, 5-2 ... Gen 2 satellites. So I think you should be saying

"First launch of Starlink V2 satellites (sort of)" rather than "First launch of Starlink Gen 2 satellites" on your NextSpaceFlight website.

Quick and dirty rushed response:
The 5-x groups so far are using the F9-1 spacecraft bus. The F9-0 spacecraft bus was what v1.0-v1.4 series sats flew. The F9-1 spacecraft bus was what the v1.5-v1.9 and potentially prototype or early v2.0 series sats flew.

The 6-x and potentially 7-x (future Group 5-x might and replenishment of earlier shell groups) will use the F9-2 spacecraft bus. The F9-2 spacecraft bus is what the v2.0+ series sats will fly.

[crandles57]

Given
https://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs/download.do?attachment_key=18792277
said

SpaceX currently anticipates that it will begin launching Gen2 satellites before the end of
December 2022.

5-1 was launched 28 Dec 2022, so this seems a clears case of SpaceX referring to the Satellites on 5-1 as "Gen 2 satellites".

Yes I agree the sats on 5-1 are F9-1 bus same as v1.5 satellites. But if SpaceX is referring to these as "Gen 2 satellites" then a later launch cannot be the first launch of "Gen 2 satellites".

I am assuming that "Gen 2 satellites" just means satellites launched to Gen 2 orbits. I could be wrong with this assumption but don't see any sensible alternative. Even if this assumption is wrong, it doesn't seem to alter the logic in the  preceding paragraph.

[Robotbeat]

Yeah, we should just use the terminology SpaceX uses in the fcc documents.

[Alexphysics]

That seems to have been a change done after I changed it to show they're the first Starlink v2 satellites. It shouldn't have been changed to Starlink Gen 2 satellites and I'll fix that in a sec.

The original said

First launch of Starlink v2 satellites. These are sized for Falcon 9's fairing rather than Starship's payload bay and therefore are smaller in size; they're colloquially called "Starlink v2 mini".

[GewoonLukas_]

NextSpaceflight (Updated February 14th/15th)
Launch NET February 23rd
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7055

[ATPTourFan]

Weird how Nextspaceflight lists this launch as LC 39A OR SLC 40. To me, there is zero chance this flies from 39A given Crew-6 on the 26th and relatively comfortable 6 day pad 40 turnaround.

NET Feb 23, 2023
SLC-40 or LC-39A, Florida, USA

[GewoonLukas_]

Weird how Nextspaceflight lists this launch as LC 39A OR SLC 40. To me, there is zero chance this flies from 39A given Crew-6 on the 26th and relatively comfortable 6 day pad 40 turnaround.

NET Feb 23, 2023
SLC-40 or LC-39A, Florida, USA

It was probably missed when it got updated. Ben Cooper lists SLC-40 and Alex also confirmed that the next launch from LC-39A will be Crew-6

A Falcon 9 from pad 40 will launch a Starlink batch on February 23.

https://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.html

Not that it needed any confirmation but SpaceX removed the top insert of 39A's strongback (and this can be seen done this morning on SCL) which means it's being converted to Dragon configuration. Next launch from there is Crew-6

[Alexphysics]

Weird how Nextspaceflight lists this launch as LC 39A OR SLC 40. To me, there is zero chance this flies from 39A given Crew-6 on the 26th and relatively comfortable 6 day pad 40 turnaround.

NET Feb 23, 2023
SLC-40 or LC-39A, Florida, USA

I forgot to update that as well, usually near the bottom of the stuff that is "updatable" on the app so it's easy to miss or forget

[crandles57]

https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ 16 feb update has time as 18:37

[Ken the Bin]

NGA notice.

170400Z FEB 23
NAVAREA IV 183/23(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   231837Z TO 240037Z FEB, ALTERNATE 
   241812Z TO 250012Z, 251837Z TO 260037Z, 
   261812Z TO 270011Z, 271837Z TO 280037Z, 
   281812Z FEB TO 010011Z MAR AND 
   011837Z TO 020037Z MAR IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.52N 080-37.35W, 28-37.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-27.00N 080-07.00W, 28-23.00N 080-09.00W,
      28-32.20N 080-33.75W.
   B. 26-11.00N 075-59.00W, 26-19.00N 075-56.00W,
      25-53.00N 074-29.00W, 25-30.00N 074-04.00W,
      25-10.00N 074-16.00W, 25-12.00N 074-47.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 020137Z MAR 23.

[Alexphysics]

B1076-3 with second stage passed earlier today in front of the Space Coast Live cams at around 12:47pm EST at KSC.

[GewoonLukas_]

B1076-3 with second stage passed earlier today in front of the Space Coast Live cams at around 12:47pm EST at KSC.

[OneSpeed]

NGA notice.

Map from the NGA notice. ASDS 634km downrange from SLC-40.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1627402641906225152

Departure! Doug and ASOG are outbound from Port Canaveral to support the Starlink 6-1 mission, launching NET Feb 23rd.

Timelapse from: nsf.live/spacecoast

[Ken the Bin]

L-3 weather forecast. 95% 'Go' for both February 23 and February 24. All Additional Risk Criteria are Low for both days.

[jackvancouver]

Based on launch trajectories, do we know the inclination of these yet? 53, 43 or 33?

[kevin-rf]

Someone noted way up thread that the drone ship location was similar to 5.1. So most likely 43 degrees

[jackvancouver]

Ah, gotta wait for the 53 degree ones before those of us living near the 49th parallel get any benefit. Mostly interested in these because of the extra capacity they provide. LTE beamforming... meh.

[Ken the Bin]

L-2 weather forecast. 95% 'Go' for both February 23 and February 24. All Additional Risk Criteria are Low for both days.

[realnouns]

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1627402641906225152

Departure! Doug and ASOG are outbound from Port Canaveral to support the Starlink 6-1 mission, launching NET Feb 23rd.

Timelapse from: nsf.live/spacecoast

Is there an Archive where all past Space Coast Live recordings can be viewed?  I'm trying to track exact times for ASDS movements.

[Alexphysics]

Someone noted way up thread that the drone ship location was similar to 5.1. So most likely 43 degrees

The droneship location supports both 43º and 53º inclinations. Group 4 launches (53º) landed in the same area when they were doing southeast trajectories in early 2022. All that changes is how pronounced the second stage dogleg is.

[jackvancouver]

Someone noted way up thread that the drone ship location was similar to 5.1. So most likely 43 degrees

The droneship location supports both 43º and 53º inclinations. Group 4 launches (53º) landed in the same area when they were doing southeast trajectories in early 2022. All that changes is how pronounced the second stage dogleg is.

So you're saying there's a chance of 53 degrees for us 49th parallel people?

Will be eagerly awaiting the Celestrak for this launch then.

[GewoonLukas_]

Inclination will be 43°:

LHA map for #Starlink Group 6-1 from CCSFS SLC-40 NET 23 Feb 18:37 UTC, altern. 24 Feb to 01 Mar based on NOTAM/NOTMARs. B1076.3 planned landing with estimated fairing recovery ~637km downrange. Final inclination 43°. S2 reentry area south of Cape Town. http://bit.ly/LHA-23

https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1628404812126597121

[Ken the Bin]

L-1 weather forecast. 95% 'Go' for both February 23 and February 24. All Additional Risk Criteria are Low for both days.

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1628581684898861059

Team is completing pre-flight checkouts and setting up for no earlier than Sunday, February 26 for launch of Starlink; launch of Crew-6, which has priority, is currently targeted for Monday, February 27

If weather and all other aspects of Crew-6 are go, we’ll stand down from Sunday’s launch attempt of Starlink

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1628581684898861059

Team is completing pre-flight checkouts and setting up for no earlier than Sunday, February 26 for launch of Starlink; launch of Crew-6, which has priority, is currently targeted for Monday, February 27

If weather and all other aspects of Crew-6 are go, we’ll stand down from Sunday’s launch attempt of Starlink

While probably less likely, I do have a doubt if this is talking about 2-7 instead of 6-1 as neither were targeting the 26th per public sources (though 2-7 is from Vandenberg so I do think 6-1 is more likely, still I would like confirmation).

[gongora]

FAA:

SPACE OPERATION(S):         
SPACEX STARLINK 6-1 (X1624), CCSFS, FLORIDA
PRIMARY:   02/26/23   1812-00011Z
BACK-UP:   TBD

SPACEX CREW-6 (X1511), CCSFS, FLORIDA
PRIMARY:   02/26/23   0702-0739Z
BACK-UP:   02/27/23   0639-0716Z
      02/28/23   0617-0654Z

[Ken the Bin]

Here's the cancel-and-replace NGA notice.

230350Z FEB 23
NAVAREA IV 200/23(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   261812Z TO 270011Z FEB, ALTERNATE 
   271837Z TO 280037Z, 281812Z FEB TO 010011Z MAR, 
   011837Z TO 020037Z, 021902Z TO 030011Z, 
   031837Z TO 040037Z AND 041902Z TO 050012Z MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.52N 080-37.35W, 28-37.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-27.00N 080-07.00W, 28-23.00N 080-09.00W,
      28-32.20N 080-33.75W.
   B. 26-11.00N 075-59.00W, 26-19.00N 075-56.00W,
      25-53.00N 074-29.00W, 25-30.00N 074-04.00W,
      25-10.00N 074-16.00W, 25-12.00N 074-47.00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 183/23.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 050112Z MAR 23.//

[Ken the Bin]

New L-3 weather forecast. 95% 'Go' for both February 26 and February 27. All Additional Risk Criteria are Low for both days.

Note: What is supposed to be the Crew-6 weather forecast is actually yesterday's Starlink Group 6-1 L-1 forecast. 😠

[Ken the Bin]

Launch window is 18:36:30 to 19:15:00 UTC.

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1628975158039023616

.
@SpaceX
 has notified us that the launch window for the Group 6-1 launch is set for 2023-02-26 18:36:30 to  19:15:00 UTC. I am modifying my code to handle the non-instaneous launch window and modified format and will post SupGP data sometime later today (Feb 24 UTC).

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-2 launch weather forecast still at 95% GO and additional risk criteria all low

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1629225233952669696

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the #Starlink Group 6-1 launch set for 2023-02-26 between 18:36:30 UTC and 19:15:00 UTC. Deployment of 21 Gen 2 satellites is set for 64.8 minutes after launch (19:41:15.660 UTC). Data can be found at: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g6-1

[gongora]

NOTMAR shows a delay to the 27th (h/t to Alex)

242205Z FEB 23
NAVAREA IV 207/23(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   271837Z TO 280037Z FEB, ALTERNATE
   281812Z FEB TO 010011Z MAR,
   011837Z TO 020037Z MAR,
   021902Z TO 030011Z MAR,
   031837Z TO 040037Z MAR,
   041902Z TO 050012Z MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.52N 080-37.35W, 28-37.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-27.00N 080-07.00W, 28-23.00N 080-09.00W,
      28-32.20N 080-33.75W.
   B. 26-11.00N 075-59.00W, 26-19.00N 075-56.00W,
      25-53.00N 074-29.00W, 25-30.00N 074-04.00W,
      25-10.00N 074-16.00W, 25-12.00N 074-47.00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 183/23.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 050112Z MAR 23.

[TJL]

Are there now 3 Falcon 9 launches scheduled for Monday, February 27?

[jackvancouver]

Well, looks like will be waiting for just a while longer for 53 degree inclination Starlink V2s.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

I now wonder if this really is planned for the 27th given Starlink 2-7 on West Coast has been confirmed for launch less than an hour after this, but this one hasn’t.

On the other hand Crew-6 launching half a day earlier shouldn’t be an issue (4-29 launched 7 hours after Crew-5).

[Ken the Bin]

A new NGA Rocket Launching notice, but it is NOT a cancel-and-replace. (Note that the notice that gongora posted above was screwy itself in that it canceled NAVAREA IV 183/23 instead of NAVAREA 200/23.  NAVAREA 200/23 had already canceled 183/23.) So at this point there are actually three Rocket Launching notices in effect for this launch. 😵

This one has slightly different coordinates for location A from the one that gongora posted.

251706Z FEB 23
NAVAREA IV 208/23(11, 26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   271837Z TO 280037Z FEB 23, ALTERNATE
   281812Z TO 010011Z MAR, 011837Z TO 020037Z,
   021902Z TO 030011Z, 031837Z TO 040037Z, 
   041902Z TO 050012Z MAR 
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.31N 080-37.21W, 28-37.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-27.00N 080-07.00W, 28-23.00N 080-09.00W,
      28-32.10N 080-33.45W.
   B. 26-11.00N 075-59.00W, 26-19.00N 075-56.00W,
      25-53.00N 074-29.00W, 25-30.00N 074-04.00W,
      25-10.00N 074-16.00W, 25-12.00N 074-47.00W.
2.  CANCEL THIS MSG 050112Z MAR 23.

[SpaceFinnOriginal]

A new NGA Rocket Launching notice, but it is NOT a cancel-and-replace. (Note that the notice that gongora posted above was screwy itself in that it canceled NAVAREA IV 183/23 instead of NAVAREA 200/23.  NAVAREA 200/23 had already canceled 183/23.) So at this point there are actually three Rocket Launching notices in effect for this launch. 😵

This one has slightly different coordinates for location A from the one that gongora posted.

251706Z FEB 23
NAVAREA IV 208/23(11, 26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   271837Z TO 280037Z FEB 23, ALTERNATE
   281812Z TO 010011Z MAR, 011837Z TO 020037Z,
   021902Z TO 030011Z, 031837Z TO 040037Z, 
   041902Z TO 050012Z MAR 
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-38.31N 080-37.21W, 28-37.00N 080-24.00W,
      28-27.00N 080-07.00W, 28-23.00N 080-09.00W,
      28-32.10N 080-33.45W.
   B. 26-11.00N 075-59.00W, 26-19.00N 075-56.00W,
      25-53.00N 074-29.00W, 25-30.00N 074-04.00W,
      25-10.00N 074-16.00W, 25-12.00N 074-47.00W.
2.  CANCEL THIS MSG 050112Z MAR 23.

Triple launch on the same day - can SpaceX handle this?

[alugobi]

Crew is the 26th local, the 27th UTC time.  The two Starlinks are Monday on opposite coasts.  The Vandenberg launch will likely be weather delayed. 

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Also worth noting that, unlike Crew-6 launch, no updated launch weather forecast was issued on Saturday (25th) by the 45th for this launch. Should have been a new L-2 forecast if this launch was firm for Monday.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Now have an L-1 launch weather forecast, 95% GO with all additional risk criteria low

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl6-1

SpaceX is targeting Monday, February 27 at 1:38 p.m. ET (18:38 UTC) for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 second-generation Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Tuesday, February 28 at 1:49 p.m. ET (18:49 UTC).

The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched CRS-26 and OneWeb Launch 16. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1629898468373192707

We call them “V2 Mini”. They represent a step forward in Starlink capability

twitter.com/spacex/status/1629898472722776066

V2 minis include key technologies—such as more powerful phased array antennas and the use of E-band for backhaul—which will allow Starlink to provide ~4x more capacity per satellite than earlier iterations

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1629898475042140160

This means Starlink can provide more bandwidth with increased reliability and connect millions of more people around the world with high-speed internet → starlink.com/resources

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Have started a new thread for V2 minis: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=58374.0

Keep this as a normal launch thread.

twitter.com/spacex/status/1629898794874687489

Among other enhancements, V2 minis are equipped with new argon Hall thrusters for on orbit maneuvering

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1629898798968328201

Developed by SpaceX engineers, they have 2.4x the thrust and 1.5x the specific impulse of our first gen thrusters. This will also be the first time ever that argon Hall thrusters are operated in space

[GewoonLukas_]

Falcon 9 will be able to carry ~3x fewer V2 Mini satellites per launch, but this means that each V2 Mini launch will deploy almost 50% more bandwidth than a V1.5 launch!

V2 minis include key technologies—such as more powerful phased array antennas and the use of E-band for backhaul—which will allow Starlink to provide ~4x more capacity per satellite than earlier iterations

https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/1629906902896480257

[Tomness]

Falcon 9 will be able to carry ~3x fewer V2 Mini satellites per launch, but this means that each V2 Mini launch will deploy almost 50% more bandwidth than a V1.5 launch!

V2 minis include key technologies—such as more powerful phased array antennas and the use of E-band for backhaul—which will allow Starlink to provide ~4x more capacity per satellite than earlier iterations

https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/1629906902896480257

Not going matter after they start launching them on Starship later this year hopefully.

[GewoonLukas_]

Rocket has been raised vertical:

And as we wait for #Crew6 to head on out, we watch the @SpaceX #Starlink 6-1 going vertical from the @NASA press site!

https://twitter.com/TJWallerPhotos/status/1629932696976629760

[soltasto]

"Press kit" capture with OCR (So many!)

[kevin-rf]

How many of us looked at the pictures and immediately started counting satellites? 

Raises hand sheepishly....

[eeergo]

Have started a new thread for V2 minis: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=58374.0

Keep this as a normal launch thread.

twitter.com/spacex/status/1629898794874687489

Among other enhancements, V2 minis are equipped with new argon Hall thrusters for on orbit maneuvering

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1629898798968328201

Developed by SpaceX engineers, they have 2.4x the thrust and 1.5x the specific impulse of our first gen thrusters. This will also be the first time ever that argon Hall thrusters are operated in space

Interestingly, argon as electric propulsion propellant has been used since the 60s (see Wikipedia's non-exhaustive list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spacecraft_with_electric_propulsion

However, the claim that no Hall-effect thruster has ever used argon *in space* appears to hold water. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding SpaceX's stated performance for these new Starlink v2 thrusters, Ar was routinely, seamlessly and interchangably used with more precious noble gases, such as the industry-standard Xe and the Starlink v1 (and others) Kr, for ground testing. Translation to space-bound Hall thrusters was not generally undertaken because of its comparatively worse performance compared to the former: in simple terms, being a much lighter and smaller atom, it requires more energy to ionize and -weaker effect- provides less thrust.

There is quite a rich literature of recent (from the late 90s) revisiting of Ar as an in-space electric propellant though, especially in mixtures with low amounts of Xe, which provide some interesting advantages in performance beyond pure cost: from a cursory reading, it appears collective effects of xenon atoms banging into an argon environment can greatly increase the exhaust's kinetic energy (while perhaps relatively increasing erosion). Of course, there is a pervasive industry-wise xenon scarcity that is affecting all manufacturers, so there's that facet to take into account too.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Slight slip of 4+ hours to 6:13 pm EST = 23:13 UTC due to space weather concerns.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1630237890432364544

[FutureSpaceTourist]

UK met office space weather details:

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/space-weather

Space Weather Forecast Headline: G1/Minor to G2/Moderate storms expected, and chance G3/Strong storms 27-28 Feb. R1-R2 Blackouts likely throughout.

Some further details on the webpage.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1630251745443188736

The first launch of Starlink v2 satellites is still slated for today, with a liftoff time of 6:13 PM EST (23:13 UTC).

Full details on the new satellites from Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera (@Alexphysics13):

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/02/starlink-6-1-2-7/

[zubenelgenubi]

UK met office space weather details:
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/specialist-forecasts/space-weather

Space Weather Forecast Headline: G1/Minor to G2/Moderate storms expected, and chance G3/Strong storms 27-28 Feb. R1-R2 Blackouts likely throughout.

Some further details on the webpage.

https://spaceweather.com/
GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING: Strong G3-class geomagnetic storms are possible on Feb. 27th and 28th when another CME could strike Earth's magnetic field--the second in as many days. The first CME, which arrived during the late hours of Feb. 26th, has already sparked multiple episodes of strong storming with widespread auroras in northern Europe and North America. A double blow could intensify the storm even more. Stay tuned. [Feb 27]

https://spaceweather.com/images2023/25feb23/halocme.gif

[ZachS09]

That’s what caused most of the Starlink 4-7 satellites to fail last year after launch.

[zubenelgenubi]

Is someone(s) free to cover this launch?  I can't.  Thanks.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[FutureSpaceTourist]

NSF is live

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1630337304802762753

Go for prop load.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

T-20 min vent

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1630340531204108290

T-20 minute vent.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-16 minutes. Second stage LOX load has started.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Coast guard helicopter?

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-10 minutes.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

SpaceX webcast started

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-7 minutes. Engine chill has started.

SpaceX webcast has begun.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-6 minutes. First stage RP-1 load is complete.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-5 minutes. Pressurising tanks for strongback retract.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-4 minutes. Strongback is retracting.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-3 minutes. First stage LOX load is complete.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T-2 minutes. Second stage LOX load is complete.

[Steven Pietrobon]

ASDS.

T-1 minute. Falcon 9 is in startup.

LD is go for launch.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Liftoff!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1630345729624641536

Liftoff!

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+1 minute.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1630345829780209665

LAUNCH! SpaceX Falcon 9 B1076-3 launches with Next Gen Starlink V2 Mini Satellites (Starlink Group 6-1) from SLC-40.

Overview:
nasaspaceflight.com/2023/02/starli… - by  @Alexphysics13

NSF Livestream:
youtube.com/watch?v=tpRefL…

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+2 minutes.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1630346425014919168

Staging 1-2

[Steven Pietrobon]

First stage separation.

Ignition.

T+3 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Fairing separation.

T+4 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+5 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+6 minutes.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1630346730402205696

Fairing sep revealing the Starlink V2 minis.

Camera is on the TOP of the stack!

Edit to add: both fairing halves flew for the 2nd time on this mission

[Steven Pietrobon]

Entry burn.

T+7 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+8 minutes. Landing burn.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1630347885744205824

SpaceX Falcon 9 B1076-3 lands on drone ship "A Shortfall Of Gravitas."

The 100th successful landing in a row for Falcon!

youtube.com/watch?v=tpRefL…

[matthewkantar]

Got to see some fire fighting/hosing at the end ther.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Touchdown!

Cutoff.

T+9 minutes. Good orbit.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1630347950810439681

Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship

[Steven Pietrobon]

Upcoming events.

00:54:22    2nd stage engine starts (SES-2)
00:54:24    2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
01:04:36    Starlink satellites deploy

[FutureSpaceTourist]

SpaceX just successfully landed its 100th consecutive booster.

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1630348776459100161

For perspective: There is no rocket active today, aside from the Falcon 9, that has 100 consecutive successful launches. Let alone landings.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1630349457693847553

Falcon 9 streaks to space at sunset this evening with 21 second-generation Starlink satellites

[Steven Pietrobon]

Some captures from the end of the stream.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1630348806507069441

SpaceX has now landed successfully as many Falcon 9 boosters in a row as Delta II rockets launched successfully in a row. If my math is right, Delta II holds the second longest streak of successful launches for a US rocket, the first on the list currently being Falcon 9.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/drphiltill/status/1630348859913248768

I wasn’t paying attention but now I see there was a launch. #MissedIt

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/cygnusx112/status/1630349198594801664

SpaceX providing us with a postcard launch tonight! So many colors as Falcon 9 carried Starlink group 6-1 to orbit.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+20 minutes. Over South America.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/superclusterhq/status/1630350371271987202

SpaceX launches 21 Starlink second-generation V2 Mini satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida.

(@JennyHPhoto for Supercluster)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1630352635479076864

Just received @SpaceX confirmation of launch at 2023-02-27 23:13:00 UTC and updated pre-launch SupGP to reflect deployment time of 2023-02-28 00:17:45.660 UTC.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/esherifftv/status/1630353870231576577

Congrats SpaceX team on the first Starlink V2 Mini launch 🚀@spacex #starlink photo by EIS photographer Mark Usciak

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+40 minutes. Over the Southern Ocean.

[zubenelgenubi]

Just received @SpaceX confirmation of launch at 2023-02-27 23:13:00 UTC and updated pre-launch SupGP to reflect deployment time of 2023-02-28 00:17:45.660 UTC. [Feb 27]

So this is wrong?

William Harwood @cbs_spacenews
F9/Starlink 6-1: LIFTOFF! At 6:13:50pm EST ([23]13 UTC)
[Feb 27, typo in original]

[FutureSpaceTourist]

AOS Western Australia

[scr00chy]

Just received @SpaceX confirmation of launch at 2023-02-27 23:13:00 UTC and updated pre-launch SupGP to reflect deployment time of 2023-02-28 00:17:45.660 UTC. [Feb 27]

So this is wrong?

William Harwood @cbs_spacenews
F9/Starlink 6-1: LIFTOFF! At 6:13:50pm EST ([23]13 UTC)
[Feb 27, typo in original]

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1630358022064312325

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+54 minutes and 22 seconds. Expected second stage ignition for two seconds.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

SECO-2 and nominal orbit insertion

[Steven Pietrobon]

SECO 2. Nominal orbit insertion.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Expected LOS Western Australia.

[Steven Pietrobon]

T+1 hour 4 minutes and 36 seconds. Expected separation.

AOS Guam.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Deploy confirmed!

[Steven Pietrobon]

Deploy confirmed.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1630362082595176450

Deployment of 21 Starlink V2 Mini satellites confirmed

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1630362337717747717

Look y’all! We DID get a launch today!

A pretty cool one, too. Falcon 9 carried the first batch of 21 V2 mini Starlink satellites, and B1076 pulled off the 100th successful landing in a row.

Mission overview: nasaspaceflight.com/2023/02/starli…

[FutureSpaceTourist]

So congratulations to SpaceX on the first Starlink V2 Mini launch and an incredible 100 consecutive booster landings. I think it could easily be a decade before anyone else matches that feat. Astonishing!

[Steven Pietrobon]

Audio stream still going.

Congratulations to SpaceX and Starlink for the successful launch!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Launch photos from SpaceX website

[OneSpeed]

Here is a comparison of the webcast telemetry from the Starlink 5-4 and 6-1 missions.

Both launches were to a 43° orbital inclination, and both inserted at the new low altitude of 152km. 6-1 insertion velocity was 7,539m/s, 20m/s faster than 5-4 at 7,519ms.

This implies that the 6-1 payload mass was perhaps slightly less than the 17,100kg of 5-4. This in turn implies that the 21 Starlink V2 Mini satellites mass around 810kg each.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1630372010072195072

It is always cool to see the shadow cast by Falcon 9's contrail when it launches close to sunset

[alugobi]

I really liked that the view at fairing separation was looking down on the stack instead of up from the base of stage 2. 

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1630377685200551936

Falcon 9 launches 21  second-generation Starlink satellites to orbit

Photos by Ben Cooper

[weepingdragon]

starlink 6-01 v2-mini top down view screencaps from 1080p webcast

  brain bent trying figure out what expected of tension rod with normal 2nd stage fairing view, then WONDER of CAM on TOP of the stick!!!   

[weepingdragon]

should've known to check the boss man's twitter feed for great clip 1st 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1630346730402205696

[wannamoonbase]

Love the stack to camera. 

I want to see that during deployment

[crandles57]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1630394434847227909

[matthewkantar]

Wow! Took a second to figure out what I was looking at. Looks like no more free flying tension rods, deployment system will reenter with stage?

[kevin-rf]

Wonder if the tension rods have some sort of post deployment locking mechanism to prevent them flopping around during the deorbit burn.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/planet4589/status/1630455524666867712

First few SupTLE orbit datasets are in for Starlink Group 6-1 and it's very ineresting: as expected the deploy orbit is 365 x 372 km x 43.0 deg, so same inclination as Group 5; but the satellite *names* are a new sequence:

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1630455878921994240

Existing Starlinks had names up to Starlink-5800 or so; these ones are in the Starlink-30000 series  (2023-026A is Starlink 30050). This will make it easy to distinguish the V2Minis from the V1.5 sats

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/1630435132808237056

Love the janky-but-it-works vibes from the new Starlink V2 Mini deployment mechanism lol. Starlink V2 launches will no longer create guaranteed debris (however short-lived) in the form of tensioning rods, as they will now reenter with the Falcon upper stage!

twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/1630435370193293314

For example, I think this block on the crossbeam is aluminum honeycomb that's meant to crush against the upper stage to prevent the rod assembly from bouncing back up! Falcon booster legs have a similar 'crush cores' that act like single-use suspension during hard landings.

https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/1630438575321022466

Also the supersized zip ties holding the wire harness to the rod, probably for the camera at the top! If it works, it works 😂

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Ltwitter.com/tskelso/status/1630500476310659072

CelesTrak has ephemeris-based SupGP data for all 21 v2 mini satellites from the #Starlink Group 6-1 launch (2023-026) from Cape Canaveral on Feb 27 at 23:13:50 UTC: spaceflightnow.com/2023/02/27/fal…. The latest data for that launch can be found at: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?INTDES=2023-026

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1630504126261129217

A quick visual check of the pre-launch & ephemeris-based SupGP data for #Starlink Group 6-1 shows the single-satellite (72001) in the pack of the ephemeris-based results, with the stack (72000) not far behind, confirming the drag modeling for the v2 minis.

[scr00chy]

What altitude will these sats be operated at? I thought 530 km because that's what the FCC license has for Gen2 sats with 43° inclination, but Jonathan McDowell seems to have the first 21 sats listed at some Group 5 subshells with altitudes of 553 and 559 km: https://planet4589.org/space/con/conlist.html

Also, how does this work together with the Starlink 5-X missions which are also deployed to 43°? I'm very confused with the nomenclature and constellation configuration...

[OceanCat]

It looks like they exercised freedom to move shells. From the authorization:

80. Orbital Tolerances. The satellites authorized in this grant are planned for operations in
orbital shells centered at altitudes from 525 km to 535 km. SpaceX has requested orbital tolerances of
+70 km and -50 km, i.e., the satellites in any orbital shell can be maintained for regular operations
anywhere within an altitude range of 70 kilometers above or 50 kilometers below the center altitude...

82. The record does not reflect with any specificity a need for Gen2 Starlink satellite
operations at altitudes above 580 km, as opposed to the +45 to +55 km tolerance that can be achieved if
operations are maintained below 580 km. We also note that one of the reasons for larger orbital
tolerances that SpaceX identifies—effects of solar radiation on the orbits of spacecraft—is less
pronounced for the particular orbital shells authorized by this grant than for lower altitudes. We will
follow the approach of the SpaceX Third Modification Order, and require SpaceX to restrict its Gen2
Starlink operations to below 580 km.

The satellites at 553 km looks like drifting to their final spots at 559 km. They all arrived at 553 km first, now the majority moved to 559 km.

[jacqmans]

One I took from the beach...

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1630574980332224513

[scr00chy]

It looks like they exercised freedom to move shells. From the authorization:

80. Orbital Tolerances. The satellites authorized in this grant are planned for operations in
orbital shells centered at altitudes from 525 km to 535 km. SpaceX has requested orbital tolerances of
+70 km and -50 km, i.e., the satellites in any orbital shell can be maintained for regular operations
anywhere within an altitude range of 70 kilometers above or 50 kilometers below the center altitude...

82. The record does not reflect with any specificity a need for Gen2 Starlink satellite
operations at altitudes above 580 km, as opposed to the +45 to +55 km tolerance that can be achieved if
operations are maintained below 580 km. We also note that one of the reasons for larger orbital
tolerances that SpaceX identifies—effects of solar radiation on the orbits of spacecraft—is less
pronounced for the particular orbital shells authorized by this grant than for lower altitudes. We will
follow the approach of the SpaceX Third Modification Order, and require SpaceX to restrict its Gen2
Starlink operations to below 580 km.

The satellites at 553 km looks like drifting to their final spots at 559 km. They all arrived at 553 km first, now the majority moved to 559 km.

So basically any of the authorized Gen2 sats can be operated anywhere between 475 and 580 km?

[r1279]

The satellites at 553 km looks like drifting to their final spots at 559 km. They all arrived at 553 km first, now the majority moved to 559 km.

Are we sure it's final?  I'm not an expert in orbital mechanics but wondered if these G5-1 sats were at a higher altitude so the gap to the drifting/raising groups of G5-2, G5-3,... sats closes faster [getting the first planes into position faster]

[vaporcobra]

It looks like they exercised freedom to move shells. From the authorization:

80. Orbital Tolerances. The satellites authorized in this grant are planned for operations in
orbital shells centered at altitudes from 525 km to 535 km. SpaceX has requested orbital tolerances of
+70 km and -50 km, i.e., the satellites in any orbital shell can be maintained for regular operations
anywhere within an altitude range of 70 kilometers above or 50 kilometers below the center altitude...

82. The record does not reflect with any specificity a need for Gen2 Starlink satellite
operations at altitudes above 580 km, as opposed to the +45 to +55 km tolerance that can be achieved if
operations are maintained below 580 km. We also note that one of the reasons for larger orbital
tolerances that SpaceX identifies—effects of solar radiation on the orbits of spacecraft—is less
pronounced for the particular orbital shells authorized by this grant than for lower altitudes. We will
follow the approach of the SpaceX Third Modification Order, and require SpaceX to restrict its Gen2
Starlink operations to below 580 km.

The satellites at 553 km looks like drifting to their final spots at 559 km. They all arrived at 553 km first, now the majority moved to 559 km.

So basically any of the authorized Gen2 sats can be operated anywhere between 475 and 580 km?

Correct!

[billh]

The launch caused quite a stir in the Virgin Islands. My son lives on St. Croix and he sent me this picture from social media. There was also this article:
https://viconsortium.com/vi-technology/virgin-islands-not-aliens-just-satellites-spacex-launch-on-monday-night-lights-up-skies-in-the-northern-caribbean

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1631282683111243776

Doug arrived at Port Canaveral last night with both fairing halves from Starlink 6-1 on board.

Unloading now live here: nsf.live/spacecoast

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/jerrypikephoto/status/1631323293348143107

Welcome back B1076.3! Falcon 9 returns to Port Canaveral, after delivering the first batch of Starlink V2 mini satellites

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1631329924081491968

B1076 is back at Port Canaveral aboard A Shortfall of Gravitas, returned from the Starlink Group 6-1 mission!

nsf.live/spacecoast

[FutureSpaceTourist]

SpaceX update (from Starlink 2-7 webcast): all 21 satellites on this mission successfully deployed, solar arrays deployed and checked out. Now moving to final orbits

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1631783038634926080

Booster 1076 has completed a third mission. The Starlink 6-1 mission sent the first batch of V2 satellites to orbit, among those being the 4,000th Starlink. This landing also celebrated the 100th consecutive successful landing!

@NASASpaceflight views:
nsf.live/spacecoast

[virtuallynathan]

SpaceX update (from Starlink 2-7 webcast): all 21 satellites on this mission successfully deployed, solar arrays deployed and checked out. Now moving to final orbits

Based on this AM TLE update, 16/21 have begun orbit raising.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/heorobotics/status/1632967220560265216

This is a prime example of a successful solar panel deployment! Congrats on the launch @SpaceX.

Our space-based sensors captured a newly launched Starlink V2 Mini satellite 7 days after deployment.

Powered by @Satellogic

[Chinakpradhan]

Starlink 6-1 launch 12 Feb 2023, plus 19 hours. Filmed at 7:39PM Eastern, looking West from Fenn Road exit, US Interstate 69N, Coldwater Township, Michigan USA. Lat 41.8974, Long -84.9879. Canon G9X camera. Taken by SparkyPedia
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:STARLINK_12_FEB_2023_LAUNCH_PLUS_19_HOURS.ogg

[Conexion Espacial]

Starlink 6-1 launch 12 Feb 2023, plus 19 hours. Filmed at 7:39PM Eastern, looking West from Fenn Road exit, US Interstate 69N, Coldwater Township, Michigan USA. Lat 41.8974, Long -84.9879. Canon G9X camera. Taken by SparkyPedia
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:STARLINK_12_FEB_2023_LAUNCH_PLUS_19_HOURS.ogg

On February 12, the Starlink 5-4 mission was launched with V1.5 satellites; the "V2 Mini" version was not launched until February 27.

[cohberg]

https://mobile.twitter.com/starlinkinsider/status/1636289350366543872

[jackvancouver]

Seems Johnathan has changed the scale on that graph for 6-1 to make it more apparent if the V2 minis are encountering atmospheric drag or re-entry if that is the eventual outcome.

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1637952810510606339

[jackvancouver]

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1637952660866252803

[Conexion Espacial]

In response to these observations, SpaceX’s CEO Elon Musk confirmed on Wednesday that these satellites are experiencing issues and some of them will be deorbited as a consequence. Sources indicate these issues are not affecting all satellites in the same manner and are of varying natures. Some of these issues are related to power or communications dropouts, and some may be experiencing sporadic attitude control issues as well.
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/03/starlink-5-5/