SpaceX F9 : Starlink 7-8 : VSFB SLC-4E : 8 December 2023 (08:03 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink Group 7-8 launch.

Launch 8 December 2023, at 08:03:40 UTC (12:03 am PST), from Vandenberg SFB SLC-4E, on booster 1071-13.  The first stage successfully landed aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 22 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to 53 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 286 x 295 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:

1631-EX-ST-2023  Mission 2190 Starlink Group 7-8/Dogleg Trajectory Option
ASDS North  28  55  50   West  119  5  24

1633-EX-ST-2023  Mission 2190 Starlink Group 7-8/Flyover Option
ASDS North  29  52  50   West  116  45  3

[Both] NET September [8] from Vandy

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7256

Starlink Group 7-8
Launch Time
NET November, 2023
...
SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

425 Project EO/IR:

Yonhap News Agency Defense chief says N. Korea could launch spy satellite in late Nov. with Russian aid, 3 November, by Kim Eun-jung

...

In response to Pyongyang's efforts to put its first spy satellite into space, Shin vowed to boost the South Korean military's surveillance capability to fend off North Korea's advancing missile and nuclear threat.

He disclosed the South Korean military's plan to launch its first indigenous reconnaissance satellite on Falcon 9, U.S. aerospace company SpaceX's two-stage rocket, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Nov. 30, as well as a plan to launch a homegrown solid propellant rocket later this year.

...

Starlink 7-8 likely follows both Starlink 7-7 and 425 Project EO/IR, with a launch NET early December.

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight, updated December 1:
Launch NET December 8

[wannamoonbase]

Forgive the question if this is in the wrong location, but is this the last '7-X' flight?

Is it onto Shell 8 after this one?

[striver]

Forgive the question if this is in the wrong location, but is this the last '7-X' flight?

Is it onto Shell 8 after this one?

I saw 7-13.

[Alexphysics]

Yeah SpaceX has FCC permits going all the way up 7-13. Whether they make use of them or not, who knows.

[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.  However, as of the Project 425 rideshare launch, non-Starlink launches apparently qualify as well.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1075.8     Oct 29
1071.13   Nov 11

Edit December 8 UTC: It's B1071.13, skipping over B1075.8.  Does the other booster need repair, or is it being held back for a different launch? 🤔 Maybe Starlink 8-1?  Or for SARah-2/3 or the first WorldView Legion launch?

[Martin_G]

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

SPACE-X STARLINK 7-8, VANDERBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY: 12/08   0800Z-1041Z
BACKUPS: 12/09   0800Z-1200Z
    12/10   0737Z-1202Z
    12/12   0645Z-1119Z

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice (the equivalent of a Rocket Launching notice).

050022Z DEC 23
NAVAREA XII 839/23(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   080800Z TO 081041Z DEC, 090800Z TO 091200Z DEC, 
   100737Z TO 101202Z DEC, 110718Z TO 111141Z DEC,
   120654Z TO 121119Z DEC, 130633Z TO 131058Z DEC, 
   AND 140611Z TO 141036Z DEC IN AREA BOUND BY
   30-33.00N 117-11.00W, 29-56.00N 116-14.00W,
   29-20.00N 116-01.00W, 29-03.00N 116-38.00W,
   29-21.00N 116-52.00W, 30-31.00N 117-14.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 141136Z DEC 23.

Edit to add: Two NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas).

050018Z DEC 23
NAVAREA XII 840/23(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   DAILY 0750Z TO 1344Z 08 THRU 14 DEC 
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   34-20.00S 090-24.00W, 31-22.00S 090-24.00W,
   00-10.00S 115-17.00W, 01-19.00S 116-54.00W. 
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 141444Z DEC 23.

HYDROPAC 3826/23(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   DAILY 0750Z TO 1344Z 08 THRU 14 DEC 
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   34-20.00S 090-24.00W, 31-22.00S 090-24.00W,
   00-10.00S 115-17.00W, 01-19.00S 116-54.00W. 
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 141444Z DEC 23.

[raptorx2]

Forgive the question if this is in the wrong location, but is this the last '7-X' flight?

Is it onto Shell 8 after this one?

Filed Dec.1 STA Narative
SES-STA-INTR2023-06753
"SpaceX expects to launch its first tranche of direct-to-cellular-enabled Gen2 satellites within the next two weeks, and seeks to test those payloads in orbit as soon as possible. SpaceX will use the PCS G Block spectrum licensed to T-Mobile for this testing with T-Mobile’s consent. SpaceX will rely on its existing, authorized frequencies of its Gen2 system for the backhaul and TT&C component of these satellites."

If it's launching out of Vandenberg in that timeline.  Then it will have to replace 7-8

[OneSpeed]

1633-EX-ST-2023  Mission 2190 Starlink Group 7-8/Flyover Option
ASDS North  29  52  50   West  116  45  3

NET September from Vandy

NGA Space Debris notice (the equivalent of a Rocket Launching notice).

Maps from the NGA notices. ASDS 642km downrange.

[realnouns]

Debra C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Nov 5 @ 5:02pm PT / 8:02pm ET

[realnouns]

Go Beyond (fka. Go Crusader) departed PoLB on Dec 6 @ 10:44am PT / 1:44pm ET

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1732852400954941563

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the #Starlink Group 7-8 launch from Vandenberg SFB on 2023-12-08 at 08:00:50 UTC: celestrak.org/NORAD/elements…. Deployment of 22 satellites at 09:03:25.020 UTC. Data for 6 backup launch opportunities also provided: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

[zubenelgenubi]

How is the weather forecast to be at Vandenberg tonight?

[catdlr]

How is the weather forecast to be at Vandenberg tonight?

I'm not the weather guy, I live on the coast south of there.  It's a beautiful day right now, sight winds from the ocean (onshore). No fog.  But it's windy at VSFB, typical out there this time of year, small craft warnings.  Can get rather cold at night with a wind chill.  I have no idea of the upper-level winds.  Those reports will come out closer to the launch time.

as for VSFB, here is NWS:

Wind Advisory
12/7/2023 05:06 PST through 12/8/2023 03:00 PST

Wind Advisory issued December 7 at 5:06AM PST until December 8 at 3:00AM PST by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
* WHAT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph
expected.

* WHERE...Santa Barbara County Central Coast Beaches, Santa
Barbara County Inland Central Coast and Santa Ynez Valley.

* WHEN...From noon today to 3 AM PST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and
make driving difficult, especially for drivers of high profile
vehicles. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages
may result.
Instructions
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-8

SpaceX is targeting Friday, December 8 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 12:01 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 2:15 a.m. PT on Friday, December 8. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Saturday, December 9 starting at 12:00 a.m. PT.

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

This is the 13th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and six Starlink missions. 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.

B1071-13
= 08:01 UTC

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1732920410566762945

Targeting Friday, December 8 for a Falcon 9 launch of @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from California → http://spacex.com/launches

Edit/add: zubenelgenubi

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-8

SpaceX is targeting Friday, December 8 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 12:01 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 2:15 a.m. PT on Friday, December 8. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Saturday, December 9 starting at 12:00 a.m. PT.

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

This is the 13th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and six Starlink missions. 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.

Well the launch time quickly got updated, away from the ones Celestrak got:

Liftoff is targeted for 12:03 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 2:15 a.m. PT on Friday, December 8. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Saturday, December 9 starting at 12:06 a.m. PT.

[Perchlorate]

Well the launch time quickly got updated, away from the ones Celestrak got:

Liftoff is targeted for 12:03 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 2:15 a.m. PT on Friday, December 8. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Saturday, December 9 starting at 12:06 a.m. PT.

Just a guess, but NOAA forecast shows a 5 mph jump in steady surface wind speed and gust speed from 3 am to 4 am PT.  Maybe they're trying to hedge their bets against increasing winds trend.

[catdlr]

Well the launch time quickly got updated, away from the ones Celestrak got:

Liftoff is targeted for 12:03 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 2:15 a.m. PT on Friday, December 8. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Saturday, December 9 starting at 12:06 a.m. PT.

Just a guess, but NOAA forecast shows a 5 mph jump in steady surface wind speed and gust speed from 3 am to 4 am PT.  Maybe they're trying to hedge their bets against increasing winds trend.

I think the upper level is also important and I have no info on that.  I assume SpaceX or the Base Weather group will be sending ballons to get that data.