SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 7-12 : VSFB SLC-4E : 28/29 January 2024 (05:57 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink Group 7-12 launch.

Launch 29 January 2024, 05:57:20 UTC (28 Jan 9:57 pm PST), from Vandenberg SFB SLC-4E, on booster 1075-9.  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 296 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:

Four more Starlinks from Vandy
<snip>
2092-EX-ST-2023  Mission 2194 Starlink Group 7-12
ASDS       North  29  52  50   West  116  45  3
[Launch NET Nov 12]

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7323

Starlink Group 7-12
Launch Time
NET December, 2023

Starlink 7-12 likely follows Starlink 7-11, with a launch NET January.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7323

Starlink Group 7-12
Launch Time
NET January, 2024

Currently, launch should be NET late January.  (Starlink 7-11 is currently scheduled to launch January 19.)

4 day OCISLY turnaround?  Is that possible?
What is the approximate minimum turnaround with calm seas Long Beach to the Group 7 recovery zone and back (not counting dock operations)? 🌊
 

[zubenelgenubi]

Starlink 7-11 successfully launched January 24 UTC.

Will SpaceX squeeze in launching Starlink 7-12 before the end of the month (7 days)?


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 than these other payloads.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1071.14   Dec 8
1075.9     Dec 24
1082.2     Jan 3

Edit January 27: It's B1075.9, skipping over B1071.14.

[catdlr]

Starlink 7-11 successfully launched January 24 UTC.

Will SpaceX squeeze in launching Starlink 7-12 before the end of the month (7 days)?

I was thinking the same thought, there's probably a backlog, lets see how fast the crew at SpaceX VSFB can get the pad turnaround.

[Ken the Bin]

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

241029Z JAN 24
NAVAREA XII 25/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   290210Z TO 290638Z, 300148Z TO 300616Z,
   310127Z TO 310555Z JAN, 010105Z TO 010533Z,
   020044Z TO 020512Z, 030022Z TO 030450Z AND
   040001Z TO 040429Z FEB IN AREA BOUND BY
   29-09.00N 116-24.00W, 29-18.00N 116-43.00W,
   30-31.00N 117-14.00W, 30-31.00N 117-13.00W,
   30-17.00N 116-46.00W, 29-41.00N 116-04.00W,
   29-23.00N 116-02.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 040529Z FEB 24.//

Additionally there are these two multi-launch Space Debris notices still in effect (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas).

270500Z DEC 23
HYDROPAC 4029/23(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   310001Z DEC 23 TO 210001Z FEB 24
   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 210101Z FEB 24.//

270500Z DEC 23
NAVAREA XII 885/23(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   310001Z DEC 23 TO 210001Z FEB 24
   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 210101Z FEB 24.//

[OneSpeed]

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

Maps from the NGA notices. Identical to 7-11, and the ASDS is 642km downrange.

[Martin_G]

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

SPACE X STARLINK 7-12
VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:01/29/24   0210Z-0638Z BACKUP:   01/30/24   0148Z-0616Z
   01/21/24   0127Z-0555Z   
   02/01/24   0105Z-0533Z
   02/02/24   0044Z-0512Z
   02/03/24   0022Z-0450Z
   02/04/24   0001Z-0429Z

[Zed_Noir]

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

SPACE X STARLINK 7-12
VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:01/29/24   0210Z-0638Z BACKUP:   01/30/24   0148Z-0616Z
   01/21/24   0127Z-0555Z   
   02/01/24   0105Z-0533Z
   02/02/24   0044Z-0512Z
   02/03/24   0022Z-0450Z
   02/04/24   0001Z-0429Z

Presuming the date in bold is suppose to be 01/31/24

[realnouns]

Debra C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Jan 26 @ 10:16pm PT / Jan 27 @ 1:16am ET

[realnouns]

Go Beyond (fka. Go Crusader) departed PoLB on Jan 27 @ 10:34am PT / 1:34pm ET

[Ken the Bin]

Primary launch time = 02:16 UTC. Booster = B1075.9.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-12

SpaceX is targeting Sunday, January 28 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 6:16 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 10:03 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Monday, January 29 starting at 5:49 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 ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SDA-0A, SARah-2, 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.

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit and link to Twitter livestream.

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

[catdlr]

24-hour weather update:

Looks great, what a week can make.  West Coast basking in mild weather and sunny skies.  Intense High is keeping rain away for now.

 

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Doubleheader is currently still on:

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1751665759674397178

Targeting a doubleheader of Starlink launches from Florida and California tonight → spacex.com/launches

[raptorx2]

First launch window shows launch (02:16UTC Jan29) oR 6:16PM PST Jan 28
Sunset Sothern California ~5:16PM
Astronomical Twilight begins at 6:13PM
Cloud cover permitting

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1751709830870352100

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1751713928525295727

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Now tracking 7:29 pm PST = 03:29:20 UTC.

Edit/add
https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1751771964975513668

UPDATE #1: @SpaceX is now targeting the 4th backup launch opportunity for #Starlink Group 7-12 on 2024-01-29 at 03:29:20 UTC with deployment at 04:31:59.100 UTC.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Now tracking 7:29 pm PST = 03:29:20 UTC.

Now tracking 7:45 pm PST = 03:45:20 UTC.

[catdlr]

Weather Update:

Great weather, clear, calm, no rain, low winds.