SpaceX F9 : Starlink 8-1 : VSFB SLC-4E : 6/7 April 2024 (02:25 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Which first stage will be used for this launch?  (semi-rhetorical question)

Falcon 9 first stages are apparently now cleared for use up to twenty times for non-human spaceflight missions, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon and Cygnus than these other payloads.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1082.3     Feb 15  (Save for USSF-62 or WorldView Legion Flight 1?)
1061.20   Feb 23
1081.6     Mar 4
1063.18   Mar 11

Edit April 5 UTC: It's B1081.6, skipping over B1082.3 and B1061.20.

Edit April 10: USSF-62 will launch on B1082.3.

[zubenelgenubi]

Likely delay to NET April 7, Starlink 7-18 did not launch tonight:

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1774306219219689959

Due to unfavorable weather, we are standing down from tonight's Falcon 9 launch of @Starlink from California. Vehicle and payload remain healthy. Teams continue to keep an eye on the weather as they work toward the next best opportunity for liftoff – we will announce a new launch date once confirmed on the Range.

[zubenelgenubi]

Launch likely delayed to NET April 8:

Now targeting Monday, April 1 for Falcon 9 to launch @Starlink satellites to orbit → http://spacex.com/launches

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1774495199726805350

SpaceX is targeting Monday, April 1 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 7:30 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:30 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Tuesday, April 2 starting at 7:30 p.m. PT.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-18

[catdlr]

Launch likely delayed to NET April 8:

Now targeting Monday, April 1 for Falcon 9 to launch @Starlink satellites to orbit → http://spacex.com/launches

SpaceX is targeting Monday, April 1 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 7:30 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:30 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Tuesday, April 2 starting at 7:30 p.m. PT.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-18

The 8th looking good weather-wise, winter storm front moves through 4th & 5th.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp now shows this on NET April 6 UTC/late 5th PDT:

SPACE X STARLINK 8-1,VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   04/06/24   0225Z-0656Z
BACKUP:      04/07/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/08/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/09/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/10/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/11/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/12/24   0225Z-0656Z

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice.

021937Z APR 24
NAVAREA XII 216/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0225Z TO 0656Z DAILY 06 THRU 12 APR
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   30-39.00N 117-24.00W, 30-41.00N 117-19.00W,
   30-04.00N 116-28.00W, 29-42.00N 116-06.00W,
   29-18.00N 115-56.00W, 28-58.00N 116-22.00W,
   29-12.00N 116-48.00W, 29-32.00N 117-06.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 120756Z APR 24.

[OneSpeed]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice.

Map from the NGA notice. ASDS 642km downrange.

[zubenelgenubi]

How is SpaceX going to turnaround OCISLY back to the landing zone in 4 days?
[Edit/add: Long Beach, to off-shore one-third down the Baja Peninsula, to Long Beach]

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp now shows this on NET April 6 UTC/late 5th PDT:

SPACE X STARLINK 8-1,VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   04/06/24   0225Z-0656Z
BACKUP:      04/07/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/08/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/09/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/10/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/11/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/12/24   0225Z-0656Z

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice.

021937Z APR 24
NAVAREA XII 216/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0225Z TO 0656Z DAILY 06 THRU 12 APR
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   30-39.00N 117-24.00W, 30-41.00N 117-19.00W,
   30-04.00N 116-28.00W, 29-42.00N 116-06.00W,
   29-18.00N 115-56.00W, 28-58.00N 116-22.00W,
   29-12.00N 116-48.00W, 29-32.00N 117-06.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 120756Z APR 24.

[cwr]

How is SpaceX going to turnaround OCISLY back to the landing zone in 4 days?

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp now shows this on NET April 6 UTC/late 5th PDT:

SPACE X STARLINK 8-1,VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   04/06/24   0225Z-0656Z
BACKUP:      04/07/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/08/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/09/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/10/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/11/24   0225Z-0656Z
      04/12/24   0225Z-0656Z

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice.

021937Z APR 24
NAVAREA XII 216/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0225Z TO 0656Z DAILY 06 THRU 12 APR
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   30-39.00N 117-24.00W, 30-41.00N 117-19.00W,
   30-04.00N 116-28.00W, 29-42.00N 116-06.00W,
   29-18.00N 115-56.00W, 28-58.00N 116-22.00W,
   29-12.00N 116-48.00W, 29-32.00N 117-06.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 120756Z APR 24.

Remember that west coast operations are not like East coast operations.
OCISLY shuttles between the port of Long Beach to the landing area,
then back to Long Beach with the landed rocket.
Then a barge can carry multiple Falcon 1st stages to Vandenberg.

I think of the trip from Long Beach to the landing area as about 2 days.
Hence OCISLY can support 2 landings 4 days apart.
SLC4E takes longer to turn round than LC40.
Plus the additional barge voyage and fewer rockets in the refurbishment pool
lead to a touch longer than 4 days cycle time as the norm.

I'm hand waving a bit since I've not kept detailed records of the above.
However I have followed most Falcon 9 launches in detail - hence the above is my impression of the answer to your question.

Hope this helps

Carl

[realnouns]

Lindsay C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Apr 4 @ 2:53am PT / 5:53am ET

[realnouns]

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Apr 4 @ 1:35pm PT / 4:35pm ET

[catdlr]

From Tony:  This is not happening tomorrow due to the weather conditions (yeah again) another front arrives tomorrow.  But SpaceX updates anyway.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1776061060837216635

SpaceX
@SpaceX Targeting Friday, April 5 for two Falcon 9 launches of @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida and California → http://spacex.com/launches
6:35 PM · Apr 4, 2024
·

[catdlr]

From Tony:  This is not happening tomorrow due to the weather conditions (yeah again) another front arrives tomorrow.  But SpaceX updates anyway.

SpaceX
@SpaceX Targeting Friday, April 5 for two Falcon 9 launches of @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida and California → http://spacex.com/launches
6:35 PM · Apr 4, 2024
·

Here is the 2-day forecast chart area in Red is the Launch window.

Detail Forcast summary

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1776063120001192395

Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera (Alex)
@Alexphysics13
If SpaceX pulls off the Vandenberg launch tomorrow night, that'll be the fastest turnaround time at SLC-4E. The current record is 5 days, 5 hours, 22 minutes, and 20 seconds, new record could be as short as 3 days, 23 hours, and 55 minutes.

[Ken the Bin]

Booster = B1081.6.  Primary launch opportunity = April 6 at 02:31 UTC.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-8-1

SpaceX is targeting Friday, April 5 for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites, including six with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 7:31 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:25 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Saturday, April 6 starting at 7:25 p.m. PT.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This is the sixth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, and one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

[catdlr]

Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera (Alex)
@Alexphysics13
If SpaceX pulls off the Vandenberg launch tomorrow night, that'll be the fastest turnaround time at SLC-4E. The current record is 5 days, 5 hours, 22 minutes, and 20 seconds, new record could be as short as 3 days, 23 hours, and 55 minutes.

https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1776065795937771580

Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera (Alex)
@Alexphysics13
Sorry, new record could be as low as 4 days and 1 minute.
6:54 PM · Apr 4, 2024

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit and link to Twitter livestream.

https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1ZkKzjOOYadKv

[zubenelgenubi]

Interesting.  Only 6 direct-to-cell Starlink satellites on board.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-8-1

SpaceX is targeting Friday, April 5 for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites, including six with Direct to Cell capabilities...

[Steven Pietrobon]

Interesting.  Only 6 direct-to-cell Starlink satellites on board.

That was the same number that was launched on Starlink Group 7-9 on 3 January 2024. Perhaps they are still in the testing phase.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1776300167395942582

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the @Starlink Group 8-1 launch from Vandenberg SFB on 2024-04-06 at 02:31:00 UTC: celestrak.org/NORAD/elements…. Deployment of 21 satellites at 03:33:37.620 UTC. Data for 9 backup launch opportunities also provided:

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

Starlink G8-1 Pre-Launch Là 18 m
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-8-1 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.
Launch: 2024-04-06 02:31:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-04-06 03:33:37.620 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #1 L E com Launch: 2024-04-06 03:13:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-04-06 04:15:37.620 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #2 mE co
Launch: 2024-04-06 03:39:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-04-06 04:41:37.620 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #3日
Launch: 2024-04-06 04:13:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-04-06 05:15:37.620 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #4田+
Launch: 2024-04-06 04:45:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-04-06 05:47:37.620 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #5 m 0 c
Launch: 2024-04-06 05:17:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-04-06 06:19:37.620 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #6 LE c
Launch: 2024-04-06 05:27:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-04-06 06:29:37.620 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #7日田（
Launch: 2024-04-06 05:53:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-04-06 06:55:37.620 UTC.

Backup Launch Opportunity #8 EE cm
Launch: 2024-04-06 06:23:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-04-06 07:25:37.620 UTC.