Deployment of @Starlink satellites confirmed. Falcon 9’s second stage has an additional deorbit burn remaining
Doug + ASOG departed PC on Feb 20 @ 6:04pm ET
Falcon 9 launches 24 @Starlink satellites from Florida
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1761897755663114406QuoteFalcon 9 launches 24 @Starlink satellites from Florida
Recent 11th #Starlink launch of this year via #SpaceX's #Falcon9 vehicle
Due to continued design improvements, this Falcon 9 carried its highest-ever payload of 17.5 tons of useful load to a useful orbit
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1762019803630563800QuoteDue to continued design improvements, this Falcon 9 carried its highest-ever payload of 17.5 tons of useful load to a useful orbit
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1762019803630563800QuoteDue to continued design improvements, this Falcon 9 carried its highest-ever payload of 17.5 tons of useful load to a useful orbit17,500 kg / 24 = 729.17 kg for each satellite on this down-range-first-stage-recovery flight, assuming "useful load" means Starlinks.
- Ed Kyle
A more interesting question is why Musk said "design improvements" instead of "optimized operations".
The suggestion made earlier is that the first stage burns were shifted to before MECO from the entry burn, making the staging velocity greater and dealing with less entry braking.
How that could be due to a "design improvement" is a good question.
Doug + ASOG departed PC on Feb 20 @ 6:04pm ET
Looks like possibly we'll see Kurt J Crosby tow ASOG back into Port Canaveral. Swapped with Doug so he could scoop up the fairings?
SpaceX's Doug arrived at Port Canaveral this morning towing Falcon 9 B1069 atop ASOG droneship + both fairing halves from Starlink 6-39... all in one neat package! 😇
nsf.live/spacecoast
NORAD SATNAME INTLDES PERIOD INCL APO/PERI
59023 STARLINK-30996 2024-038A 90.47 43.01 299 297
59024 STARLINK-31006 2024-038B 90.22 43.01 286 284
59025 STARLINK-31178 2024-038C 90.47 43.01 298 296
59026 STARLINK-31227 2024-038D 90.46 43.01 298 296
59027 STARLINK-30863 2024-038E 90.45 43.01 298 296
59028 STARLINK-31206 2024-038F 90.46 43.01 298 296
59029 STARLINK-31224 2024-038G 90.45 43.01 298 295
59030 STARLINK-31186 2024-038H 90.44 43.01 298 295
59031 STARLINK-31211 2024-038J 90.44 43.01 297 295
59032 STARLINK-30892 2024-038K 90.43 43.01 297 294
59033 STARLINK-31210 2024-038L 90.43 43.01 297 294
59034 STARLINK-31231 2024-038M 90.42 43.01 296 294
59035 STARLINK-31207 2024-038N 90.42 43.01 296 294
59036 STARLINK-31217 2024-038P 90.41 43.01 296 294
59037 STARLINK-31208 2024-038Q 90.24 43.01 288 284
59038 STARLINK-31235 2024-038R 90.40 43.00 296 293
59039 STARLINK-31220 2024-038S 90.41 43.01 296 293
59040 STARLINK-31225 2024-038T 90.40 43.00 295 292
This was the only Starlink launch with 24 satellites so far, instead of the usual 23 from the Cape. And Space-Track so far has catalogued only 18 of them. What is going on here?
NORAD SATNAME INTLDES PERIOD INCL APO/PERI
59023 STARLINK-30996 2024-038A 90.47 43.01 299 297
59024 STARLINK-31006 2024-038B 90.22 43.01 286 284
59025 STARLINK-31178 2024-038C 90.47 43.01 298 296
59026 STARLINK-31227 2024-038D 90.46 43.01 298 296
59027 STARLINK-30863 2024-038E 90.45 43.01 298 296
59028 STARLINK-31206 2024-038F 90.46 43.01 298 296
59029 STARLINK-31224 2024-038G 90.45 43.01 298 295
59030 STARLINK-31186 2024-038H 90.44 43.01 298 295
59031 STARLINK-31211 2024-038J 90.44 43.01 297 295
59032 STARLINK-30892 2024-038K 90.43 43.01 297 294
59033 STARLINK-31210 2024-038L 90.43 43.01 297 294
59034 STARLINK-31231 2024-038M 90.42 43.01 296 294
59035 STARLINK-31207 2024-038N 90.42 43.01 296 294
59036 STARLINK-31217 2024-038P 90.41 43.01 296 294
59037 STARLINK-31208 2024-038Q 90.24 43.01 288 284
59038 STARLINK-31235 2024-038R 90.40 43.00 296 293
59039 STARLINK-31220 2024-038S 90.41 43.01 296 293
59040 STARLINK-31225 2024-038T 90.40 43.00 295 292