Deployment of 21 @Starlink satellites confirmed. The six with Direct to Cell capabilities have an advanced modem on board that act as a cellphone tower in space, allowing network integration similar to a standard roaming partner.
William Harwood@cbs_spacenewsF9/Starlink 8-1 (04/06/24 11:33 PM EDT/0333 UTC): SpaceX confirms deploy of 21 Starlink internet satellites. The company has now launched 6,168 Starlinks in 155 missions8:35 PM · Apr 6, 2024
Updated orbital launch count as of Apr. 6 (Apr. 7 UTC):Earth 🌎 — 65/66USA 🇺🇸 — 39/39China 🇨🇳 — 15/15* (1 partial failure)Russia 🇷🇺 — 5/5Japan 🇯🇵 — 2/3Iran 🇮🇷 — 2/2India 🇮🇳 — 2/21/3Orbital launches by organization:🇺🇸 — 34 SpaceX, 4 Rocket Lab, 1 ULA🇨🇳 — 11 CASC (1 partial failure), 2 CASIC, 1 OrienSpace, 1 CAS Space🇷🇺 — 5 TsSKB Progress🇯🇵 — 2 MHI, 1 Space One ❌🇮🇳 — 2 ISRO🇮🇷 — 1 IRGC, 1 ISA2/3Launches by spaceport:🇺🇸 — 16 CCSFS, 12 Vandy, 7 KSC, 1 Wallops🇨🇳 — 5 Xichang, 4 Jiuquan, 3 Wenchang, 2 offshore, 1 Taiyuan🇳🇿 — 3 Māhia🇷🇺 — 3 Baikonur, 1 Plesetsk, 1 Vostochny🇯🇵 — 2 Tanegashima, 1 Space Port Kii🇮🇳 — 2 Satish Dhawan🇮🇷 — 1 Shahrud, 1 Semnan3/3
Jonathan McDowell@planet4589The recent shells bear no relation to the ones specified in the FCC filings, but it seems that this launch is heading for 53 deg like Group 7. Unclear what their operational altitude will be.7:32 PM · Apr 6, 2024
https://twitter.com/michaelnicollsx/status/1776801323528122382QuoteWith tonight’s first Group 8 launch we kick off deployment of our commercial direct to cell constellation! @Starlink
With tonight’s first Group 8 launch we kick off deployment of our commercial direct to cell constellation! @Starlink
Falcon 9 launches 21 @Starlink satellites – including six with Direct to Cell capabilities – to orbit from California following the first successful demo of Direct to Cell texting in early 2024
rykllan@_rykllanRecent 23rd #Starlink launch of this year via #SpaceX's #Falcon9 vehicle
rykllan@_rykllanBooster that supported this mission
Tonight’s #Falcon9 launch during first stage flight. Taken from Mesa, Arizona with my Canon T7i and zoom lens.
Road-tripping through Arizona remembering there’s a rocket launch in 8 minutes. 😅 Thankfully it’s all sky through these parts. Another gorgeous Vandy Starlink mission.
And it looks like Stage 2 has a Mission Extension Kit installed, hence the gray band on the bottom half.
Quote from: ZachS09 on 04/07/2024 02:23 amAnd it looks like Stage 2 has a Mission Extension Kit installed, hence the gray band on the bottom half.Wonder why. Also wondering what 1081 will look like upon return. - Ed Kyle
The next extra-long Falcon 9 mission is coming soon, Galileo.Maybe SpaceX wanted to test something at this launch, if a “Mission Extension Kit” was on board.This kit probably includes further extensions that cannot be seen from the outside.
View of last night's deployment of 21 @Starlink satellites, six of which have Direct to Cell capabilities that help eliminate mobile network dead zones around the world → https://www.starlink.com/business/direct-to-cell
I saw the launch "comet" seen from Albuquerque tonight. I did not look for some of the first stage stuff so I don't know how much of that would be visible above the horizon.Now that I know its doable, I might have to go to a place with a more unobstructed view for a future launch.
Apr 7, 2024Caught the 2nd Starlink launch from Vandenberg SFS in a week. Higher vantage point this time (240m) and slightly shorter distance (370 km). Stills, nearly a minute of flight time before the rocket was visible, passing 7000m altitude. The 20-second gap in the middle of the sequence due to loss of focus and stopping/restarting recording to switch to manual. Tracked 1st stage return entry burn in the final sequence of recording. The Inset video is SpaceX's video feed. Audio commentary is SpaceFlightNow narrator.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 04/07/2024 02:29 pmQuote from: ZachS09 on 04/07/2024 02:23 amAnd it looks like Stage 2 has a Mission Extension Kit installed, hence the gray band on the bottom half.Wonder why. Also wondering what 1081 will look like upon return. - Ed KyleWhat does B1081 have to do with the MEK? The MEK is installed on the RP-1 tank of Stage 2, which I'm not sure if it did something else after payload separation.
