SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 7-13 : VSFB SLC-4E : 9/10 February 2024 (00:34 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink Group 7-13 launch.

Launch 10 February 2024, at 00:34:00 UTC (9 Feb 4:34 pm PST), from Vandenberg SFB SLC-4E, on booster 1071-14.  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

Four more Starlinks from Vandy
<snip>
2091-EX-ST-2023  Mission 2195 Starlink Group 7-13
<snip>
ASDS       North  29  52  50   West  116  45  3
[Launch NET Nov 12 2023]

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7324

Starlink Group 7-13
Launch Time
NET December 2023

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7324

Starlink Group 7-13
Launch Time
NET January 2024

Circa January 22nd, the listing was further updated to NET February 2024.

Starlink 7-13 likely follows Starlink 7-12, with a launch NET early February.  Starlink 7-12 is currently scheduled to launch NET January 29.  SpaceX is attempting a five day turnaround?

Starlink 7-11 Jan 24 UTC

+ 5 days
Starlink 7-12 Jan 29 UTC

+ 5 days
Starlink 7-13 Feb 3 UTC?

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NET early February 3rd UTC per this 2nd stage de-orbit zone NOTAM:

A0193/24 NOTAMN
Q) SEFG/QXXLW/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/0110S11654W999
A) SEXX B) 2402030443 C) 2402090702
D) FEB 03 0443-0911, FEB 04 0422-0850, FEB 05 0400-0828, FEB 06
0339-0807, FEB 07 0317-0745, FEB 08 0256-0724 AND FEB 09 0234-0702.
E) FALCON 9 STARLINK 7-13 STAGE 2 REENTRY AND SPLASHDOWN IN THE
UNASSIGNED FIR, SECT DELIMITED BY THE FOLLOWING COORD 0119S 11654W,
0010S 11517W, 1500S 10441W, 1500S 10724W AND 0119S 11654W.
F) SFC G) UNL

[zubenelgenubi]

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 and Cygnus than these other payloads.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1071.14   Dec 8
1082.2     Jan 3
1061.19   Jan 14 (maybe)

Edit February 7 UTC: It's B1071.14.

[catdlr]

Glad this launch is this weekend,  High winds and a storm front pass arrive Tuesday with winds and rain through Thursday.

[Ken the Bin]

No NGA notices yet, but it is now in the FAA ATCSCC Current Operations Plan Advisory. As always, bear in mind that this is advisory information and while helpful is not necessarily correct nor complete.

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

SPACE X STARLINK 7-13, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:02/03/24        0304Z-0733Z
BACKUP: 02/04/24        0243Z-0712Z
        02/05/24        0221Z-0650Z

[wannamoonbase]

If they can pull of this kind of west coast cadence the wow just wow

[catdlr]

If they can pull of this kind of west coast cadence the wow just wow

weather permitting.

https://twitter.com/US_Stormwatch/status/1752465844544958949

https://twitter.com/jason61987/status/1752497128101048679

[Ken the Bin]

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

312111Z JAN 24
NAVAREA XII 45/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS  
   040243Z TO 040712Z FEB, ALTERNATE
   050221Z TO 050650Z, 060200Z TO 060629Z,
   070138Z TO 070607Z, 080117Z TO 080546Z,
   090055Z TO 090524Z, 100034Z TO 100503Z FEB
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   29-05.00N 116-26.00W, 29-25.00N 116-52.00W, 
   30-28.00N 117-21.00W, 30-39.00N 117-20.00W, 
   30-30.00N 117-03.00W, 29-51.00N 116-17.00W, 
   29-23.00N 116-02.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 100603Z FEB 24.

Here are the two multi-launch NGA Space Debris notices that are 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 notice. Area B (Booster landing) is slightly more symmetrical than for previous group 7 launches, but Area C (Second stage space debris) is identical. The ASDS will be 742km 642km downrange, as for previous group 7 launches.

[ZachS09]

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

Maps from the NGA notice. Area B (Booster landing) is slightly more symmetrical than for previous group 7 launches, but Area C (Second stage space debris) is identical. The ASDS will be 742km downrange, as for previous group 7 launches.

742 kilometers downrange? I never knew the first stage was programmed to burn several more seconds than usual to reach that ASDS position. Usually, the drone ship would be 100 kilometers closer.

[Ken the Bin]

No NGA notices yet, but it is now in the FAA ATCSCC Current Operations Plan Advisory. As always, bear in mind that this is advisory information and while helpful is not necessarily correct nor complete.

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

SPACE X STARLINK 7-13, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:02/03/24        0304Z-0733Z
BACKUP: 02/04/24        0243Z-0712Z
        02/05/24        0221Z-0650Z

This information has been changed to start on February 4, matching the NGA notice.
Edit: Matching the first four days of the seven days on the NGA notice.

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

SPACE X STARLINK 7-13, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:        02/04/24        0243Z-0712Z
BACKUP:         02/05/24        0221Z-0650Z
        02/06/24        0200Z-0629Z
                02/07/24        0138Z-0607Z

[realnouns]

Debra C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Feb 1 @ 10:15am PT / 1:15pm ET

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1753185698952126850

[catdlr]

The weather is not looking good for any launch attempt from February 6 through February 7th. A series of storm fronts will hook up with a massive Atmospheric River, drenching the Central Coast of California. In addition to the large amount of rain predicted, the passing of the front(s) will bring high winds and shifting directions. To make matters worse, rough seas are predicted. Our landing crews might need to head for San Diego again to seek refuge.

Video credit: KSBY Santa Barbara

Atmospheric River Chart: San Diego NWS

[catdlr]

Weather Part 2

Pete's special request pays off.  The 4-day rain prediction is on the chart highlighted in red.  It's the brown line.  Note it's a high probability for the duration of this shart.

[catdlr]

Weather Up T-24 hr.  Very unlikely for Saturday and very unlikely thru next Wednesday.

This weather video up says it all:

Attachments:
Detail forecast at VSFB through Tuesday
Hourly forecast chart.  The Red Border is the Launch Window.  The brown horizontal line is the rain potential (in %) and the green bars accumulate rain per period.

Note: this storm is considered a large event in Los Angeles with all sorts of warnings going up and requesting people to stay home.  The biggest issue is continuous heavy rain and then afterward extreme winds.  For us, that means mud-slides, trees blown over, cars trapped in standing water, and low-lying areas prone to flooding. 

[VLN]

The recovery ship Go Beyond/Go Crusader has made an unmistakable course change. It seems like a solid confirmation that there will be no launch anytime soon, as Tony has said.
Furthermore, we got crickets from SpaceX, just 22 hr from the first launch window.

[catdlr]

The recovery ship Go Beyond/Go Crusader has made an unmistakable course change. It seems like a solid confirmation that there will be no launch anytime soon, as Tony has said.
Furthermore, we got crickets from SpaceX, just 22 hr from the first launch window.

Thanks for the update.  I'm very surprised that they didn't head over to SanDiego for refuge,  Coming to LA is like heading to the eye of the storm.  Interesting.

[VLN]

Thanks for the update.  I'm very surprised that they didn't head over to SanDiego for refuge,  Coming to LA is like heading to the eye of the storm.  Interesting.

That ship started out later than Debra C with OCISLY, and is faster. They must have figured it's better to wait at home than in a "hotel" in San Diego.
I still haven't seen Debra C returning to any port. I haven't paid for access to satellite data, so Debra C is stuck at the last contact on 2/2/24 at 12:55 am PST. I expect it to reappear soon.