Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 2-8 : VSFB SLC-4E : 17 March 2023 (19:26 UTC) (Read 17673 times)

zubenelgenubi · « **on:** 01/26/2023 03:21 am »

Thread for the Starlink 2-8 group launch.

NSF Threads for Starlink 2-8: Discussion

Launch March 17, 2023, at 19:26 UTC (12:26 pm PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1071.8. Successful first stage landing aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 52 Starlink satellites to 70 degree inclination on a south-southeastern trajectory. Initial orbit 222 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 · « **Reply #1 on:** 01/26/2023 03:22 am »

Cross-post:

Quote from: realnouns on 01/25/2023 01:19 pm

0177-EX-ST-2023
Starlink 2-8, Mission 1800, SLC-4E
Operation Start Date = 2023 Feb 23
Trajectory ~66 deg Southeast
Landing ~660km Downrange

If the current first stage rotation is continued, 1075.2 will be used for this launch (previously launched and landed January 19).

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #2 on:** 02/27/2023 06:25 pm »

Launch schedule follow-up:
Starlink 2-6 January 31
Starlink 2-5 February 17
Starlink 2-7 March 3 ~~February 27~~ ~~February 28~~ ~~March 1~~ ~~March 2~~

This launch is, apparently, now NET mid March.
~~(Circa March 12?)~~

Edited

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #3 on:** 03/01/2023 12:01 pm »

If the current first stage rotation is continued, 1075.2 will be used for this launch (previously launched and landed January 19).

Edit March 16: It's 1071.8.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #4 on:** 03/08/2023 11:05 am »

NextSpaceflight (Updated March 8th)
Launch NET March 13th, 23:30 UTC
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7112

VLN · « **Reply #5 on:** 03/08/2023 05:20 pm »

New NGA warning:

Quote

070743Z MAR 23
NAVAREA XII 107/23(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS:
A. 132330Z TO 140109Z MAR IN AREA BOUND BY
34-40.00N 120-43.00W, 34-40.00N 120-17.00W,
34-27.00N 120-17.00W, 34-08.00N 120-05.00W,
32-03.00N 119-08.00W, 32-01.00N 119-15.00W,
33-16.00N 119-58.00W, 33-53.00N 120-23.00W,
34-21.00N 120-36.00W, 34-32.00N 120-40.00W.
B. 132330Z TO 140111Z MAR IN AREA BOUND BY
30-11.00N 118-18.00W, 30-11.00N 117-56.00W,
29-47.00N 117-39.00W, 28-33.00N 117-09.00W,
28-32.00N 117-40.00W, 29-33.00N 118-22.00W.
C. 1636Z TO 0055Z DAILY 14 THRU 18 MAR
IN AREA BOUND BY
34-40.00N 120-43.00W, 34-40.00N 120-17.00W,
34-27.00N 120-17.00W, 34-08.00N 120-05.00W,
32-03.00N 119-08.00W, 32-01.00N 119-15.00W,
33-16.00N 119-58.00W, 33-53.00N 120-23.00W,
34-21.00N 120-36.00W, 34-32.00N 120-40.00W.
D. 1636Z TO 0057Z DAILY 14 THRU 18 MAR
IN AREA BOUND BY
30-11.00N 118-18.00W, 30-11.00N 117-56.00W,
29-47.00N 117-39.00W, 28-33.00N 117-09.00W,
28-32.00N 117-40.00W, 29-33.00N 118-22.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 190157Z MAR 23.//

These 4 zones are actually two zones repeated identically, with two different definitions of the time windows. These two zones are also identical to Starlink 2-7.
3/13 at 4:30pm - 6:09pm PST
3/14-18 at 9:36am - 5:55pm PST
The backup windows appear wide enough to contain two launch opportunities each; the second is reasonably aligned with the one on Mar 13.

scr00chy · « **Reply #6 on:** 03/08/2023 07:34 pm »

Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 03/08/2023 11:05 am

NextSpaceflight (Updated March 8th)
Launch NET March 13th, 23:30 UTC
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7112

This would be the fastest SLC-4E turnaround at ~10d 5h (previous record was 11h 16h).

crandles57 · « **Reply #7 on:** 03/09/2023 08:37 pm »

Now 15th 18:18
per https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7112

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #8 on:** 03/09/2023 09:43 pm »

Cancel-and-replace NGA notice. Part of it is for March 15 through 19 and part for March 14 through 18. 😵

Quote from: NGA

091950Z MAR 23
NAVAREA XII 114/23(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS: 
   A. 1818Z TO 0042Z DAILY 15 THRU 19 MAR 
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      34-40.00N 120-43.00W, 34-40.00N 120-17.00W, 
      34-27.00N 120-17.00W, 34-08.00N 120-05.00W, 
      32-03.00N 119-08.00W, 32-01.00N 119-15.00W, 
      33-16.00N 119-58.00W, 33-53.00N 120-23.00W, 
      34-21.00N 120-36.00W, 34-32.00N 120-40.00W.
   B. 1636Z TO 0057Z DAILY 14 THRU 18 MAR 
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      30-11.00N 118-18.00W, 30-11.00N 117-56.00W, 
      29-47.00N 117-39.00W, 28-33.00N 117-09.00W, 
      28-32.00N 117-40.00W, 29-33.00N 118-22.00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA XII 107/22
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 190142Z MAR 23.

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #9 on:** 03/11/2023 12:30 pm »

New cancel-and-replace NGA notice.

Quote from: NGA

110531Z MAR 23
NAVAREA XII 118/23(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1805Z TO 0030Z
   DAILY 16 THRU 20 MAR IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 34-40.00N 120-43.00W, 34-40.00N 120-17.00W, 
      34-27.00N 120-17.00W, 34-08.00N 120-05.00W, 
      32-03.00N 119-08.00W, 32-01.00N 119-15.00W, 
      33-16.00N 119-58.00W, 33-53.00N 120-23.00W, 
      34-21.00N 120-36.00W, 34-32.00N 120-40.00W.
   B. 30-11.00N 118-18.00W, 30-11.00N 117-56.00W, 
      29-47.00N 117-39.00W, 28-33.00N 117-09.00W, 
      28-32.00N 117-40.00W, 29-33.00N 118-22.00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA XII 114/23
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 210130Z MAR 23.

Elthiryel · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/11/2023 02:32 pm »

Next Spaceflight is now indicating that the launch is NET March 16 (18:05 UTC), which is consistent with the recent NGA notice.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7112

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #11 on:** 03/12/2023 01:25 pm »

NGA Space Debris notice.

Quote from: NGA

120935Z MAR 23
HYDROPAC 831/23(22,83).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   162115Z TO 170200Z, ALTERNATE 172101Z TO 180146Z,
   182047Z TO 190132Z, 192033Z TO 200118Z,
   202020Z TO 210104Z, 212006Z TO 220050Z,
   AND 221952Z TO 230036Z MAR.
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   58-15.00S 102-16.00W, 57-25.00S 098-33.00W,
   26-58.00S 120-51.00W, 27-48.00S 123-05.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 230136Z MAR 23.//

OneSpeed · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/12/2023 09:13 pm »

Quote from: Ken the Bin on 03/12/2023 01:25 pm

NGA Space Debris notice.

Map from the NGA notice.

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/13/2023 02:59 pm »

From the FAA ATCSCC Current Operations Plan. Note that these times reflect that the launch moves 14 minutes earlier each day, whereas the NGA notice did not.

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp

Quote from: FAA

SPACEX STARLINK 2-8 - VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:        03/16/23        1915-17/0030Z
BACKUP:         03/17/23        1901-18/0016Z
                03/18/23        1847-19/0002Z
                03/19/23        1833-2348Z

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/14/2023 04:50 pm »

Postponed one day per this cancel-and-replace NGA actually-a-Rocket-Launching notice.

Quote from: NGA

141721Z MAR 23
NAVAREA XII 125/23(18, 21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1805Z TO 0030Z
   DAILY 17 THRU 20 MAR IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 34-40.0N 120-43.0W, 34-40.0N 120-17.0W, 
      34-27.0N 120-17.0W, 34-08.0N 120-05.0W, 
      32-03.0N 119-08.0W, 32-01.0N 119-15.0W, 
      33-16.0N 119-58.0W, 33-53.0N 120-23.0W, 
      34-21.0N 120-36.0W, 34-32.0N 120-40.0W.
   B. 30-11.0N 118-18.0W, 30-11.0N 117-56.0W, 
      29-47.0N 117-39.0W, 28-33.0N 117-09.0W, 
      28-32.0N 117-40.0W, 29-33.0N 118-22.0W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA XII 118/23.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 210130Z MAR 23.

alugobi · « **Reply #15 on:** 03/15/2023 02:29 am »

Looks like rain on Friday. Clear on Saturday.

realnouns · « **Reply #16 on:** 03/15/2023 02:18 pm »

Scorpius + OCISLY departed Port of Long Beach yesterday (3/14) @ 4:56pm PT (7:56pm ET)

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #17 on:** 03/15/2023 03:10 pm »

https://twitter.com/raul74cz/status/1635996031199395842

Quote

LHA map for #Starlink Group 2-8 from VSFB SLC-4E NET 17 Mar 19:01 UTC, alternatively 18 to 20 Mar based on issued NOTAM/NOTMARs. Booster planned landing with estimated fairing recovery 660km downrange. Stage2 debris reentry in South Pacific. https://bit.ly/LHA-23

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #18 on:** 03/15/2023 03:24 pm »

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1636022818713247745

Quote

Of Course I Still Love You droneship departed Long Beach last night and is heading downrange to support the upcoming Starlink 2-8 launch, NET Friday.

SpaceFinnOriginal · « **Reply #19 on:** 03/15/2023 06:51 pm »

Booster number is not known yet?

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #20 on:** 03/15/2023 07:39 pm »

Quote from: SpaceFinnOriginal on 03/15/2023 06:51 pm

Booster number is not known yet?

That is correct. SpaceX knows, but it's not publicly known.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #21 on:** 03/16/2023 04:52 pm »

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl2-8

Quote

SpaceX is targeting Friday, March 17 at 12:21 p.m. PT (19:21 UTC) for a Falcon 9 launch of 52 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. If needed, there is an additional launch opportunity the same day at 4:19 p.m. PT (23:19 UTC). Backup opportunities are also available on Saturday, March 18 at 12:07 p.m. PT (19:07 UTC) and 4:05 p.m. PT (23:05 UTC).

The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, and three Starlink missions. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

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

Booster B1071

alugobi · « **Reply #22 on:** 03/16/2023 05:55 pm »

Looks like the rain cell that was heading this way moved south. Should be a sunny, calm day at Vandenberg tomorrow.

soltasto · « **Reply #23 on:** 03/16/2023 06:32 pm »

"Press kit" capture with OCR

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #24 on:** 03/16/2023 10:30 pm »

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1636506267329118209

Quote

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the #Starlink Group 2-5 Launch from Vandenberg SFB on 2023-03-17 19:21:40 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g2-8. Deployment of 52 satellites is set to occur at 19:37:08.740 UTC.

virtuallynathan · « **Reply #25 on:** 03/17/2023 01:09 am »

52 Sats is the most ever launched in Group 2, others were 51.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #26 on:** 03/17/2023 02:34 am »

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1636564257570709504

The shift is also now shown on SpaceX's mission page (primary window = 19:26(:40) UTC/12:26 pm PDT; back-up window = 23:24 UTC/4:24 pm PDT)

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #27 on:** 03/17/2023 02:38 pm »

Quote

All systems and weather are looking good for Falcon 9’s Starlink launch today at 12:26 p.m. PT from SLC-4E in California → http://spacex.com/launches

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1636751800031412225

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #28 on:** 03/17/2023 03:51 pm »

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1636771803438923776

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #29 on:** 03/17/2023 05:36 pm »

Mission Control Audio (video id mqMMXW7yJ68):

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #30 on:** 03/17/2023 06:08 pm »

https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1636788011110367232

Quote

Two SpaceX Falcon 9 launches are on tap today! First, a Starlink mission from Vandenberg at 12:26 PM PDT (19:26 UTC), then a pair of SES communications satellites from Cape Canaveral at 7:38 PM EDT (23:38 UTC).

Article by William Graham (@w_d_graham):

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/03/spacex-starlink-ses/

Comga · « **Reply #31 on:** 03/17/2023 06:21 pm »

Webcast at SpaceX.com is live with usual introduction.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl2-8

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #32 on:** 03/17/2023 06:21 pm »

Pad view from SpaceX stream

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #33 on:** 03/17/2023 06:23 pm »

Strongback arms opening at T-4

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #34 on:** 03/17/2023 06:25 pm »

T-3 strongback retracting & S1 LOX load complete

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #35 on:** 03/17/2023 06:25 pm »

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #36 on:** 03/17/2023 06:26 pm »

T-1 F9 in startup

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #37 on:** 03/17/2023 06:27 pm »

Liftoff!

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #38 on:** 03/17/2023 06:28 pm »

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1636811749604171776

Quote

SpaceX Falcon 9 B1071-8 launches Starlink Group 2-8 from Vandenberg SLC-4E.

Overview: nasaspaceflight.com/2023/03/spacex…

SpaceX livestream:
youtube.com/watch?v=HT2F37…

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #39 on:** 03/17/2023 06:29 pm »

Max Q

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #40 on:** 03/17/2023 06:30 pm »

MECO, stage sep and SES-1

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #41 on:** 03/17/2023 06:30 pm »

Fairing sep

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #42 on:** 03/17/2023 06:32 pm »

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #43 on:** 03/17/2023 06:33 pm »

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1636812192702922752

Quote

Staging 1-2.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #44 on:** 03/17/2023 06:33 pm »

Entry burn

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #45 on:** 03/17/2023 06:35 pm »

Landed!

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #46 on:** 03/17/2023 06:36 pm »

SECO and nominal orbital insertion

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #47 on:** 03/17/2023 06:36 pm »

Live stream ended

chrisking0997 · « **Reply #48 on:** 03/17/2023 06:38 pm »

is it me, or was one of the landing legs fluttering before deployment?

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #49 on:** 03/17/2023 06:39 pm »

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1636813687791992848

Quote

SpaceX Falcon 9 B1071-8 becomes -9 following successful landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You.

179th landing of the orbital class rocket. The sort of experience that will play into Starship's return accuracy.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #50 on:** 03/17/2023 06:41 pm »

Quote from: chrisking0997 on 03/17/2023 06:38 pm

is it me, or was one of the landing legs fluttering before deployment?

I didn’t notice. Maybe an artefact of movement in the landing burn flames?

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #51 on:** 03/17/2023 06:42 pm »

Starlinks should have deployed now

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #52 on:** 03/17/2023 06:47 pm »

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1636816323027288064

Quote

Deployment of 52 Starlink satellites confirmed

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #53 on:** 03/17/2023 06:54 pm »

Congratulations to SpaceX on their 18th mission of the year (and 19th due in a few hours).

It's only the middle of March and yet SpaceX has already comfortably exceeded the number of launches that nearly any other launch provider will do for the whole year.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #54 on:** 03/17/2023 07:00 pm »

https://twitter.com/inbarspace/status/1636819307370823692

Quote

During today's Falcon 9 launch I noticed a debri of some sort, falling from stage 1 during re-entry. I never saw this before. Any thoghts?

Alexphysics · « **Reply #55 on:** 03/17/2023 07:08 pm »

It's ice and it happens on pretty much every flight, people either just forget or don't pay enough attention. Over 200 launches and still happens heh

smoliarm · « **Reply #56 on:** 03/17/2023 07:22 pm »

Quote from: Alexphysics on 03/17/2023 07:08 pm

It's ice and it happens on pretty much every flight, people either just forget or don't pay enough attention. Over 200 launches and still happens heh

Yes, this happens frequently, the only thing - it seems to me it's not an ice (aka frozen water).
I would guess it is a solid oxygen, which forms during engine purge.

Comga · « **Reply #57 on:** 03/17/2023 07:36 pm »

Quote from: smoliarm on 03/17/2023 07:22 pm

Quote from: Alexphysics on 03/17/2023 07:08 pm
It's ice and it happens on pretty much every flight, people either just forget or don't pay enough attention. Over 200 launches and still happens heh
Yes, this happens frequently, the only thing - it seems to me it's not an ice (aka frozen water).
I would guess it is a solid oxygen, which forms during engine purge.

The engines are a long way from the camera, which is at the top of the stage, as can be seen by the grid fins.
That would have to be an enormous ring at that distance.

And my guess would be that it's solid nitrogen from one of the cold gas thrusters.
It might be solid condensation around a vent that cools when the gas expands as the thrusters are used.
Then the nozzels warm up and these delicate frost rings float away.
Does anyone know the diameter of the cold gas thruster nozzels and their locations on the first stage?
We could see if those correspond to the image using the grid fin for scale.

Lars-J · « **Reply #58 on:** 03/17/2023 08:53 pm »

Quote from: smoliarm on 03/17/2023 07:22 pm

Quote from: Alexphysics on 03/17/2023 07:08 pm
It's ice and it happens on pretty much every flight, people either just forget or don't pay enough attention. Over 200 launches and still happens heh
Yes, this happens frequently, the only thing - it seems to me it's not an ice (aka frozen water).
I would guess it is a solid oxygen, which forms during engine purge.

Yes, most likely during the upper stage engine purge/chilldown that happens shortly before staging.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #59 on:** 03/17/2023 11:40 pm »

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1636889890700029952

Quote

Congrats to the SpaceX team on launching two Falcon 9 missions ~4 hours apart today, completing our 18th and 19th missions of 2023 so far

Vettedrmr · « **Reply #60 on:** 03/18/2023 10:08 am »

Quote from: chrisking0997 on 03/17/2023 06:38 pm

is it me, or was one of the landing legs fluttering before deployment?

I saw that, and wondered the same thing. My gut feel is that is was a video artifact, because if the leg was "loose" during the entry phase it would probably have ripped off during the ascent phase. That and it worked fine on deployment and landing.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #61 on:** 03/18/2023 04:38 pm »

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1637141419717722112

Quote

CelesTrak has ephemeris-based SupGP data for all 52 satellites from the #Starlink Group 2-8 launch (2023-037) atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB on Mar 17 at 1926 UTC: spaceflightnow.com/2023/03/17/fal…. Data for the launch can be found at: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?INTDES=2023-037