SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 6-44 : KSC LC-39A : 15/16 March 2024 (00:21 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink 6-44 group launch.

Launch 16 March 2024, at 00:21:00 UTC (15 Mar. 8:21 pm EDT), from KSC LC-39A, on booster 1062-19.  The first stage successfully landed aboard A Shortfall Of Gravitas.

Payload 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to 43 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 285 x 294 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


Starlink 6-44 6-42?

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 5; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 10 at 7:03-11:03 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch on March. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on mid-March TBD, in the evening EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on late March.

But then, March 6 update, same source:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 10 at 7:03-11:03 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on mid-March TBD, in the evening EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on late March.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-posts:

More Starlinks from Cape, NET March [3]
0150-EX-ST-2024  Mission 1914 Starlink Group 6-44
<snip>
ASDS       
North  25  46  47   West  75  12  19 (6-44 and 6-46)

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 6; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 10 at 7:03-11:03 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on mid-March TBD, in the evening EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on late March.

Starlink 6-44 could launch from either Kennedy LC-39A or Canaveral SLC-40 (after SpX-30), and it could land aboard either Florida ASDS.  Launch is NET mid or late March.

[zubenelgenubi]

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; another March 6 update; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 10 at 7:03-11:03 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on mid-March. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on mid to late March, in the late afternoon or evening EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on late March.

[zubenelgenubi]

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; another March 6 update; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 10 at 7:03-11:03 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on mid-March. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on mid to late March, in the late afternoon or evening EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on late March.

[zubenelgenubi]

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated a third time March 6; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 10 at 7:03-11:03 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on mid-March at 7-11 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on late March, in the late afternoon EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on late March.

A further addition, same source:

A Falcon 9 will launch the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission from pad 40 on April 3 at 1:24 p.m. EDT.

[Thread split/merge]

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight, updated March 6:
Launch NET March 13, from KSC LC-39A

Same source, March 7:
Launch 13 March (NET?) 23:29 UTC

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 7; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 10 at 7:03-11:03 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 13 at 7-11 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on late March, in the late afternoon EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on late March. A Falcon 9 will launch the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission from pad 40 on April 3 at 1:24 p.m. EDT.

[Ken the Bin]

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

080104Z MAR 24
HYDROPAC 771/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 
   2256Z TO 0556Z DAILY 13 THRU 20 MAR
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   08-53.00S 092-28.00E, 07-46.00S 089-27.00E,
   40-45.00S 002-21.00W, 42-56.00S 002-24.00W,
   32-16.00S 063-10.00E, 30-12.00S 061-09.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 200656Z MAR 24.

080104Z MAR 24
HYDROLANT 475/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 
   2256Z TO 0556Z DAILY 13 THRU 20 MAR
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   08-53.00S 092-28.00E, 07-46.00S 089-27.00E,
   40-45.00S 002-21.00W, 42-56.00S 002-24.00W,
   32-16.00S 063-10.00E, 30-12.00S 061-09.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 200656Z MAR 24.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

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

080104Z MAR 24
HYDROPAC 771/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 
   2256Z TO 0556Z DAILY 13 THRU 20 MAR
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   08-53.00S 092-28.00E, 07-46.00S 089-27.00E,
   40-45.00S 002-21.00W, 42-56.00S 002-24.00W,
   32-16.00S 063-10.00E, 30-12.00S 061-09.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 200656Z MAR 24.

080104Z MAR 24
HYDROLANT 475/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 
   2256Z TO 0556Z DAILY 13 THRU 20 MAR
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   08-53.00S 092-28.00E, 07-46.00S 089-27.00E,
   40-45.00S 002-21.00W, 42-56.00S 002-24.00W,
   32-16.00S 063-10.00E, 30-12.00S 061-09.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 200656Z MAR 24.

And corresponding NOTAM that confirms it as 6-44:

F0936/24 NOTAMN
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/1517S08308E720
A) YMMM
B) 2403140119 C) 2403200342
D) 2403140119 TO 2403140613
   2403150054 TO 2403150548
   2403160029 TO 2403160523
   2403170003 TO 2403170457
   2403172338 TO 2403180432
   2403182313 TO 2403190407
   2403192248 TO 2403200342
E) ROCKET LAUNCH WILL TAKE PLACE
FLW RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
HAZARDOUS OPS WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY AND
SPLASHDOWN OF LAUNCH VEHICLE FALCON-9 STARLINK 6-44 WI THE FOLLOWING
AREAS:
2033S 07500E
0746S 08927E
0853S 09228E
2422S 07500E TO BEGINNING
F) SFC G) UNL

[Ken the Bin]

New cancel-and-replace Space Debris notices already (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas.

No change to the hazard periods. The descriptive locations in the headers were changed and the order of the coordinate pairs was changed.

080421Z MAR 24
HYDROPAC 778/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2256Z TO 0556Z DAILY 13 THRU 20 MAR
   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 HYDROPAC 771/24.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 210656Z MAR 24.//

080421Z MAR 24
HYDROLANT 476/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2256Z TO 0556Z DAILY 13 THRU 20 MAR
   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 HYDROLANT 475/24.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 210656Z MAR 24.//

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

052321Z MAR 24
NAVAREA IV 263/24(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   132329Z TO 140400Z MAR, ALTERNATE
   142304Z TO 150335Z, 152239Z TO 160310Z,
   162213Z TO 170244Z AND 172148Z TO 180219Z MAR
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-39.00N 080-37.69W, 28-39.00N 080-28.00W,
      28-30.00N 080-10.00W, 28-22.00N 080-01.00W,
      28-20.00N 080-09.00W, 28-23.00N 080-19.00W,
      28-29.35N 080-32.49W.
   B. 26-15.00N 076-00.00W, 26-06.00N 074-58.00W,
      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,
      25-58.00N 075-59.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 180319Z MAR 24.

[zubenelgenubi]

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

Falcon 9 first stages are now apparently cleared for use up to twenty times for non-crewed launches, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon or Cygnus than these other payloads.

1064.6 and 1065.6 are the Falcon Heavy side boosters for Europa Clipper.  1072.1 and 1086.1 are assigned as the Falcon Heavy side boosters for GOES-U.

1073.14 and 1076.12 may undergo modifications to become Falcon Heavy side boosters for a future launch, but both are currently available for "single-stick" launches.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1080.6    Jan 18 (SpX-30?)
1062.19  Jan 28
1078.8    Feb 14 (SpX-30?)
1060.19  Feb 15
1067.18  Feb 20
1069.14  Feb 25 (maybe)

Edit March 13 UTC: It's B1062.19, skipping over B1080.6.

[OneSpeed]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

Maps from the combined notices. ASDS 620km downrange. The splashdown areas don't seem quite right.

Edit: used the updated splashdown area coordinates.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

Maps from the combined notices. ASDS 620km downrange. The splashdown areas don't seem quite right.

Did you use the coordinates from the updated Space Debris notice or from the original?

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1766928249374863642

A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship departing earlier with Doug for Starlink 6-44.

[realnouns]

Doug + ASOG departed PC on Mar 10 @ 1:41pm ET

[spacenuance]

TE has started to move down the ramp at 39A to pick up F9 in the hanger.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1767707355263963631

Targeting Wednesday, March 13 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida → spacex.com/launches

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-6-44

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, March 13 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 7:29 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 11:29 p.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Thursday, March 14 starting at 7:04 p.m. ET.

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

This is the 19th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8, and 11 Starlink missions. (=B1062-19) Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean./

[Ken the Bin]

This is weird. Even though the mission webpage says "Liftoff is targeted for 7:29 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 11:29 p.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Thursday, March 14 starting at 7:04 p.m. ET.", CelesTrak has only one Backup Launch Opportunity, and it's actually the Thursday launch opportunity. So Wednesday apparently has only one launch opportunity, at 23:29 UTC.

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1767734850784784596

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the @Starlink Group 6-44 launch from Cape Canaveral on 2024-03-13 at 23:29:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g6-44. Deployment of 23 satellites at 2024-03-14 at 00:34:29.300 UTC. Data for 1 backup opportunity also provided: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.

https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

Launch: 2024-03-13 23:29:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-14 00:34:29.300 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-14 23:04:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-15 00:09:29.300 UTC.  <<< Note the date!

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Webcast link on Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1djGXNZjWkjxZ

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.