SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 6-21 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 5 October 2023 (05:36 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink 6-21 group launch.

NSF Threads for Starlink 6-21: Discussion

Launch 5 October 2023, at 05:36:30 UTC (1:36 am EDT), from Canaveral SLC-40, on booster 1076-8.  The first stage successfully landed aboard Just Read the Instructions.

Payload 22 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to 43 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 284 x 293 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]

Cross-posts:

1526-EX-ST-2023  SpaceX Mission 1902 Starlink Group 6-21

Florida, NET September [NET August 31]
ASDS  North  25  41  37   West  75  5  42

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7240

Starlink Group 6-21
Launch Time
NET October, 2023
...
SLC-40 or LC-39A, Florida, USA

Discussion:

Will there be any non-Starlink September Florida Falcon 9 launches from Florida?  Apparently not (assuming the next mPower launch is not delayed into September).

Possibly USSF-124 if that September 29th launchdate from that recent presentation holds.

And now, O3b mPower is listed NET October, and USSF-124 is listed NET November.

So, we have wall-to-wall 🧱 September Florida Starlink launches! 🍎

O3b mPower 5 and 6 have not yet been delivered to Cape Canaveral.  USSF-124/HBTSS launches NET November.

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated September 22; my bold:

Falcon 9, September 23 @ between about 8:20 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. EDT (pad 40):
<snip>
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on September 23 around 8 p.m. to midnight EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on September 28. A Falcon Heavy will launch NASA's Psyche spacecraft to its namesake asteroid from pad 39A on October 5 at 10:34 a.m. EDT <snip>. The side boosters will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40.

The SLC-40 Starlink mission following 6-19 is likely to launch at the beginning of October.  Assuming (big assumption) that SpaceX continues to launch its Florida Starlink Group 6's in ascending numerical order, this launch will be 6-21.  It is currently listed with launch NET October, from either Kennedy LC-39A or Canaveral SLC-40.

However, LC-39A is not currently available due to Psyche/Falcon Heavy launch preparations for October 5.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7240

(Starlink 6-20 launched earlier this year from Vandenberg SFB; launch thread: Starlink Group 6-20 : VSFB SLC-4E : 7/8 August 2023 (03:57 UTC))


Starlink 6-17 successfully launched from SLC-40 on September 20 UTC, with a successful first stage landing aboard ASOG.

Starlink 6-18 is currently scheduled to launch from SLC-40 on September 24, with a first stage landing aboard JRTI.

Starlink 6-19 is currently scheduled to launch from SLC-40 NET September 28, with a first stage landing aboard ASOG.

Starlink 6-21 could launch from SLC-40 NET October 2,  with a first stage landing aboard JRTI.  (4 day SLC-40 turnaround, 8 day ASDS turnaround)
However, using Ben Cooper's information above as a guide, the launch may occur shortly after Psyche's.

[GewoonLukas_]

NextSpaceflight (Updated September 23rd)
Launch NET October 5th
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7240

Lift-off presumably after Psyche (14:34 UTC):

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated September 22; my bold:

Falcon 9, September 23 @ between about 8:20 p.m. and 11:50 p.m. EDT (pad 40):
<snip>
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on September 23 around 8 p.m. to midnight EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on September 28. A Falcon Heavy will launch NASA's Psyche spacecraft to its namesake asteroid from pad 39A on October 5 at 10:34 a.m. EDT <snip>. The side boosters will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40.

However, using Ben Cooper's information above as a guide, the launch may occur shortly after Psyche's.

[zubenelgenubi]

After several scheduling changes September 28, my bold:

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated September 28:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on September 29 at 6:39 p.m. or later EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on October 5. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches from pad 40. A Falcon Heavy will launch NASA's Psyche spacecraft to its namesake asteroid from pad 39A on October 12 earliest at 10:16 a.m. EDT. The side boosters will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches from pad 40. A Falcon 9 will launch the O3b mPOWER-5&6 satellites for SES from pad 40 on late October.

The next United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch the first Amazon Kuiper Protoflight internet satellites on October 6 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. The first flight of the Vulcan rocket will use the same launch pad when it sends the Peregrine lunar lander to the moon on December TBD.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas). No Rocket Launching notice yet.

271454Z SEP 23
HYDROLANT 2209/23(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0142Z TO 0842Z DAILY 05 THRU 11 OCT
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   08-53.00S 092-28.00E, 07-46.00S 089-27.00E,
   30-12.00S 061-09.00E, 40-45.00S 002-21.00W,
   42-56.00S 002-24.00W, 32-16.00S 063-10.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 110942Z OCT 23.

271454Z SEP 23
HYDROPAC 3118/23(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0142Z TO 0842Z DAILY 05 THRU 11 OCT
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   08-53.00S 092-28.00E, 07-46.00S 089-27.00E,
   30-12.00S 061-09.00E, 40-45.00S 002-21.00W,
   42-56.00S 002-24.00W, 32-16.00S 063-10.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 110942Z OCT 23.

[Ken the Bin]

From the FAA ATCSCC Current Operations Plan Advisory.

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

Note that this information is likely incomplete. It is very likely that there are actually two additional backup days.

SPACE X STARLINK 6-21 CAPE CANAVERAL SFS, FL
PRIMARY:    10-05-23    0216Z-0646Z
BACKUP:     10-06-23    0150Z-0621Z
            10-07-23    0125Z-0556Z
            10-08-23    0100Z-0531Z
            10-09-23    0035Z-0506Z

[OneSpeed]

NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas). No Rocket Launching notice yet.

Map from the NGA notice. The coordinates are in the expected order this time, identical to Starlink 6-18.

Edit:

NGA Rocket Launching notice, with the expected full set of backup days.

Map from the NGA notice. ASDS 630km downrange.

[zubenelgenubi]

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

The May 16 press briefing revealed Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to twenty times for Starlink launches.

1064.4 and 1065.4 are reserved as the Falcon Heavy side boosters for Psyche.

1072.1 is reserved for Cygnus NG-20.

1076.8 and 1073.11 may undergo modifications to become Falcon Heavy side boosters for a future launch, but are apparently still available for "single-stick" launches at the current time.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1062.16  Jul 28 (after "deep" inspection?)
1067.14  Aug 17
1081.2    Aug 26
1080.4    Aug 27
1077.8    Sep 1
1073.11  Sep 4
1076.8    Sep 9
1078.6    Sep 16 (maybe)

Edit October 4:  It's B1076.8, skipping over several boosters last used in July, August, and September.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching notice, with the expected full set of backup days.

251942Z SEP 23
NAVAREA IV 1131/23(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   050216Z TO 050646Z OCT, ALTERNATE
   060150Z TO 060621Z, 070125Z TO 070556Z
   080100Z TO 080531Z, 090035Z TO 090506Z
   100009Z TO 100440Z AND 102344Z TO 110415Z OCT
   IN AREAS BOUND BY
   A. 28-38.85N 080-37.58W, 28-40.00N 080-37.00W,
      28-36.00N 080-24.00W, 28-23.00N 080-03.00W,
      28-19.00N 080-07.00W, 28-30.73N 080-33.15W.
   B. 26-01.00N 076-00.00W, 26-25.00N 076-00.00W,
      26-05.00N 074-59.00W, 25-36.00N 074-03.00W,
      25-23.00N 073-53.00W, 25-09.00N 074-01.00W,
      25-06.00N 074-16.00W, 25-08.00N 074-38.00W,
      25-18.00N 075-00.00W, 25-43.00N 075-37.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 110515Z OCT 23.

[realnouns]

Signet Titan on its way back to Port Canaveral.  Maybe to take JRTI out for this mission?

Welcome back Titan

[realnouns]

Signet Titan + JRTI departed PC on Oct 1 @ 8:39pm ET

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1708938811369984138

JRTI droneship got underway from Port Canaveral last night to support the upcoming Starlink 6-21 mission.

Charter tug Signet Titan is towing.

[spacenuance]

I doubt Psyche would already be rolling to 39A, sooo . . .

Starlinks for this mission headed to pad 40 this evening.

[realnouns]

Fairing recovery ships Bob & Doug are still in Port Canaveral.  With mission 1.5 days away, unclear whether this indicates possible delay to launch, as typically Bob/Doug depart minimum 2 days before launch.

Maybe Signet Titan underwent refurbishment that allows it to recover fairings?

[Update:  Doug departed PC on Oct 3 @ 11:39am ET (approx. 4 hour turnaround).  It's going to have to double-time it to make it to fairing LZ in time.]

[Ken the Bin]

L-1 weather forecast. 50% 'Go' for October 4/5. 70% 'Go' for October 5/6. All Additional Risk Criteria for both days.

Edit: Fixed the month. (I'm still in September.)

[zubenelgenubi]

Starlinks for this mission headed to pad 40 this evening.

Cross-post; perhaps also for Starlink 6-21:

https://twitter.com/jacqmans1972/status/1708980471659479080

#SpaceX moved a Falcon-9 rocket for an upcomming #starlink flight to the launchpad this morning.

📸 for @ROOM__Space  (taken from #KSC tour bus I was in)

I don't see/can't read any identifying marks, but I could be wrong.

[Ken the Bin]

Booster B1076-8.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-6-21

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, October 4 at 10:45 p.m. ET for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. If needed, four backup opportunities are available starting at 11:38 p.m. ET until 1:57 a.m. ET on Thursday, October 5. Six backup opportunities are also currently available on Thursday, October 5 starting at 10:29 p.m. ET until 1:49 a.m. ET on Friday, October 6.

This is the eighth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

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

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1709448122169209271

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the #Starlink Group 6-21 launch from Cape Canaveral on 2023-10-05 at 02:45:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g6-21 . Deployment of 22 satellites is set for 03:50:23.380 UTC. Data for 4 backup launch opportunities is also provided. [Oct 4]

Launch and deployment, October 5 UTC
Primary
02:45:00; 03:50:23.380

Backup Launch Opportunity #1
03:38:50; 04:44:13.380

Backup Launch Opportunity #2
04:48:00; 05:53:23.380

Backup Launch Opportunity #3
05:36:30; 06:41:53.380

Backup Launch Opportunity #4
05:57:00; 07:02:23.380


https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1709379535052140987

Targeting Wednesday, October 4 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida. Weather is currently 50% favorable for liftoff → http://spacex.com/launches

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.

[catdlr]