SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 6-46 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 25 March 2024 (23:42 UTC)

[Ken the Bin]

Thread for the Starlink 6-46 group launch.

NSF Threads for Starlink 6-46: Discussion

Launch 25 March 2024, at 23:42:00 UTC (7:42 pm EDT), from CCSFS SLC-40, on booster 1078-8.  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 293 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

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NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas).

Note: There is no mission name on NGA notices so I'm just assuming that they're for this launch.

Note: This is only three days after SpX-30 from SLC-40 and two days after Starlink Group 6-42 from LC-39A.

190914Z MAR 24
HYDROLANT 570/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2258Z TO 0327Z DAILY 24 MAR THRU 02 APR
   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 THIS MSG 030427Z APR 24.//

190914Z MAR 24
HYDROPAC 912/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2258Z TO 0327Z DAILY 24 MAR THRU 02 APR
   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 THIS MSG 030427Z APR 24.//

[GewoonLukas_]

NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas).

Note: There is no mission name on NGA notices so I'm just assuming that they're for this launch.

Note: This is only three days after SpX-30 from SLC-40 and two days after Starlink Group 6-42 from LC-39A.

This is for Starlink 6-46 according to this NOTAM:

F1100/24 NOTAMN
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/1532S08314E700
A) YMMM
B) 2403252250 C) 2404010344
D) 2403252250 TO 2403260344
   2403262250 TO 2403270344
   2403272250 TO 2403280344
   2403282250 TO 2403290344
   2403292250 TO 2403300344
   2403302250 TO 2403310344
   2403312250 TO 2404010344
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 6-46 WI THE FOLLOWING
AREAS:

20 33S 075 00E
07 46S 089 27E
08 53S 092 28E
24 22S 075 00E TO BEGINNING
F) SFC G) UNL

[Ken the Bin]

This is for Starlink 6-46 according to this NOTAM:

The NGA notice starts on March 24 and the NOTAM on March 25. Could they be for two different launches, one from SLC-40 and one from LC-39A? It would be a three-day turnaround on both pads. 😲

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 19; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on March 21 at 4:55 p.m. EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 22 at 7:55 p.m. or later EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 24 or 25 around 6-10 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on March 29 or 30. A Falcon 9 will launch the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission from pad 39A on April 3 at 1:24 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.

[crandles57]

Change from dragon to starlink in just 3 or 4 days?

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

This starts on March 25, matching the NOTAM and not matching the NGA Space Debris notices.

200921Z MAR 24
NAVAREA IV 309/24(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   252100Z TO 260131Z MAR, ALTERNATE
   2100Z TO 0131Z DAILY 26 THRU 31 MAR 
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-39.00N 080-37.69W, 28-39.00N 080-28.00W,
      28-30.00N 080-10.00W, 28-24.00N 080-09.00W,
      28-21.00N 080-11.00W, 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 010231Z APR 24.//

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-posts:

More Starlinks from Cape, NET March [10]
<snip>
0152-EX-ST-2024  Mission 1916 Starlink Group 6-46
ASDS
<snip>
North  25  46  47   West  75  12  19 [6-44, 6-46]

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 8; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 10 at 7:05-11:03 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 March 21 at 4:54 p.m. 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.

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 11:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 13 at 7-11 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 20 around 7-11 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on March 21 at 4:54 p.m. 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.

No statement (yet) of further Starlink launches after March 13 and March 20 EDT.

Edit/add:
Could this mean that this launch (and further Florida Starlink launches) are postponed until after Bandwagon-1?

Cross-posts:

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 16; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on March 21 at 4:55 p.m. EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 22 at 7:55 p.m. or later EDT. 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 39A on April 3 at 1:24 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.

The first bolded sentence apparently refers to Starlink 6-46?.  But, might there also be the Starlink 6-45 launch from LC-39A in the same time frame?

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 19; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on March 21 at 4:55 p.m. EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 22 at 7:55 p.m. or later EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 24 or 25 around 6-10 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on March 29 or 30. A Falcon 9 will launch the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission from pad 39A on April 3 at 1:24 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.

[zubenelgenubi]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

This starts on March 25, matching the NOTAM and not matching the NGA Space Debris notices.
<snip>

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated March 20; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the CRS-30 cargo Dragon resupply mission to the ISS from pad 40 on March 21 at 4:55 p.m. EDT. The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on March 22 at 7:55 p.m. or later EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on March 25 at 5:00-9:00 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch the Eutelsat 36D television satellite from pad 40 on March 29 or 30. A Falcon 9 will launch the Bandwagon-1 rideshare mission from pad 39A on April 3 at 1:24 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.

[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:
1078.8    Feb 14
1060.19  Feb 15  Starlink 6-42
1067.18  Feb 20
1069.14  Feb 25
1076.12  Feb 29
1083.2    Mar 4   (save for a crewed or ISS cargo mission?)
1073.14  Mar 4

Edit March 25: It's B1078.8.

[OneSpeed]

NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas). ...

This is for Starlink 6-46 according to this NOTAM: ...

NGA Rocket Launching notice. ...

Maps from the combined notices. ASDS 615km downrange. The splashdown area from the NOTAM is the blue area. The splashdown area from the NGA is the whole area.

[Martin_G]

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

SPACE X STARLINK 6-46 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL
PRIMARY:   03/25/24   2100Z-0131Z
BACKUP:      03/26-31/24   2100Z-0131Z

[Ken the Bin]

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

SPACE X STARLINK 6-46 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL
PRIMARY:   03/25/24   2100Z-0131Z
BACKUP:      03/26-31/24   2100Z-0131Z

Interesting that this says Kennedy Space Center, not Cape Canaveral SFS. I wonder if that's actually correct. That would be a 3-day turnaround from 6-42, as compared to a 4-day turnaround from SpX-30 on SLC-40.

Quite frankly I wouldn't give too much credence to it saying KSC. They may have just copied the 6-42 information and changed a few things but didn't change the launch location.

[spacenuance]

Payload headed to pad 40 this afternoon.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1771624108746289340

A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship is underway from Port Canaveral to support the Starlink 6-46 mission. Tug Signet Warhorse III is towing.

[realnouns]

Signet Warhorse III + ASOG departed PC on Mar 23 @ 11:02am ET

[Ken the Bin]

L-1 weather forecast. >95% 'Go' for March 25. 95% 'Go' for March 26. Booster Recovery Weather risk is Low-Moderate for both days. Solar Activity risk is Moderate for March 25 and Low-Moderate for March 26. All other Additional Risk Criteria are Low.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nstewwx/status/1771685503223431403

#SpaceX's Doug out here dominating the waves. I think @SpaceOffshore might like this one 😅

[crandles57]

4hrs 5 min to start of window and still no webpage at SpaceX?

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1772320601413451803

Targeting Monday, March 25 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-6-46

SpaceX is targeting Monday, March 25 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 5:52 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 9:00 p.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Tuesday, March 26 starting at 5:24 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 eighth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

B1078-8

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Launch time has moved back:

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-6-46

Liftoff is targeted for 7:42 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 9:00 p.m. ET.