Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 7-18 : VSFB SLC-4E : 1/2 April 2024 (02:30 UTC) (Read 26506 times)

zubenelgenubi · « **on:** 03/20/2024 02:56 pm »

Thread for the Starlink Group 7-18 launch.

Launch 2 April 2024, at 02:30:00 UTC (1 Apr 7:30 pm PDT), from Vandenberg SFB SLC-4E, on booster 1071-15. 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 287 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 · « **Reply #1 on:** 03/20/2024 02:58 pm »

Cross-posts:

Quote from: gongora on 03/08/2024 01:36 am

Starlink 7-18
[NET March 26]
[ASDS position North 29 52 50 West 116 45 3]

Quote from: Salo on 03/08/2024 10:22 pm

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7520
Quote
Starlink Group 7-18
Launch Time
NET April 2024
...
SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Starlink 7-16 launched March 19 UTC.

USSF-62 and WorldView Legion Flight 1 will launch in April.

If Starlink 8-1 is not the next Vandenberg Falcon 9 launch, then it should be Starlink 7-18.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #2 on:** 03/21/2024 02:42 am »

And…7-18 is next, NET early March 28 UTC.

R0055/24 NOTAMN Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/4100S11910W715 A) SCIZ B) 2403280409 C) 2404030837 D) DLY BTN 0409-0837 E) ZONE ...D... SECT WEST PACIFIC DUE TO RE-ENTRY FALCON 9 STARLINK 7-18 STAGE 2 REENTRY ACTIVITY. THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD: 1500S 10724W 1500S 10441W 3122S 09024W 3420S 09024W INSTRUCTIONS: SANTIAGO OCEANIC CONTROL 10024 KHZ FANS 1A EQUIPPED ACFT LOG ON SCEZ INFO PROVIDED BY SPACE X OPS, USA F) SFC G) UNL

A0406/24 NOTAMN Q) SEFG/QXXLW/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/0010S11654W005 A) SEXX B) 2403280409 C) 2404030837 D) DLY 0409-0837 E) FALCON 9 STARLINK 7-18 STAGE 2 REENTRY AND SPLASHDOWN IN THE UNASSIGNED FIR, SECT DELIMITED BY THE FOLLOWING COORD 0119S 11654W, 0010S 11517W, 1500S 10441W, 1500S 10724W, 0119S 11654W F) SFC G) UNL

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #3 on:** 03/22/2024 02:45 pm »

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:
1071.15 Feb 10
1082.3 Feb 15 (save for USSF-62?)
1061.20 Feb 23
1081.6 Mar 4

Edit March 28 UTC: It's B1071.15.

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #4 on:** 03/23/2024 02:39 am »

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

Quote from: NGA

191915Z MAR 24
NAVAREA XII 184/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 
   0230Z TO 0701Z DAILY 28 MAR THRU 03 APR
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   30-38.00N 117-19.00W, 30-23.00N 117-19.00W,
   29-32.00N 117-06.00W, 29-12.00N 116-48.00W,
   28-58.00N 116-22.00W, 29-18.00N 115-56.00W,
   29-42.00N 116-06.00W, 30-04.00N 116-28.00W,
   30-37.00N 117-12.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 030801Z APR 24.

OneSpeed · « **Reply #5 on:** 03/23/2024 09:44 am »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 03/21/2024 02:42 am

And…7-18 is next, NET early March 28 UTC.

Quote from: Ken the Bin on 03/23/2024 02:39 am

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

Maps from the combined notices. ASDS 642km downrange, identical to 7-17.

Martin_G · « **Reply #6 on:** 03/26/2024 10:41 pm »

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

SPACEX STARLINK 7-18, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   03/29/24   0230Z-0701Z
BACKUP:      03/30/24   0230Z-0710Z
      03/31/24   0230Z-0710Z

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #7 on:** 03/26/2024 11:38 pm »

Quote from: Martin_G on 03/26/2024 10:41 pm

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

SPACEX STARLINK 7-18, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   03/29/24   0230Z-0701Z
BACKUP:      03/30/24   0230Z-0710Z
      03/31/24   0230Z-0710Z

Yup, slipped to March 29 UTC:

B0253/24 NOTAMN Q) MMFR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/ A) MMFR B) 2403290230 C) 2404030701 D) DLY 0230-0701 E) DANGEROUS AREA FOR REENTRY OF ROCKET STARLINK 7-18 LATERAL LIMIT AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FLW POINTS: 30 43N 117 24W 30 19N 117 20W 29 32N 117 06W 29 12N 116 48W 28 58N 116 22W 29 18N 115 56W 29 42N 116 06W 30 04N 116 28W 30 43N 117 19W 30 43N 117 24W MMFR F) SFC G) UNL

A0419/24 NOTAMR A0406/24 Q) SEFG/QXXLW/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/0000S00000W005 A) SEXX B) 2403290409 C) 2404030837 D) DLY 0409-0837 E) FALCON 9 STARLINK 7-18 STAGE 2 REENTRY AND SPLASHDOWN IN THE UNASSIGNED FIR, SECT DELIMITED BY THE FOLLOWING COORD 0119S 11654W, 0010S 11517W, 1500S 10441W, 1500S 10724W, 0119S 11654W F) SFC G) UNL

rsmath · « **Reply #8 on:** 03/27/2024 03:05 am »

If SpaceX can execute the first launch opportunity, this might be another crowd-pleaser launch for the southwestern U.S.

realnouns · « **Reply #9 on:** 03/27/2024 04:08 pm »

Lindsay C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Mar 26 @ 6:06pm PT / 9:06pm ET

realnouns · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/27/2024 04:10 pm »

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Mar 27 @ 9:33am PT / 12:33pm ET

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #11 on:** 03/27/2024 10:34 pm »

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1773126185121116513

Quote

Targeting Thursday, March 28 for Falcon 9 to launch 22 @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from California → spacex.com/launches

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-18

Quote

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, March 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 7:30 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:24 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Friday, March 29 starting at 7:30 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 15th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and eight Starlink missions. (=B1071-15) 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.

rsmath · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/28/2024 01:44 am »

7:30 PM PDT is about 20 mins after sunset so it should not take the launcher and contrail too long to find sunshine.

Hopefully it goes on its first attempt.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/28/2024 10:51 am »

PDF of online press kit and link to Twitter livestream.

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

aero · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/28/2024 03:30 pm »

Quote from: rsmath on 03/28/2024 01:44 am

7:30 PM PDT is about 20 mins after sunset so it should not take the launcher and contrail too long to find sunshine.

Hopefully it goes on its first attempt.

Rough calculation gives sunlight at about 5 miles up. To reach that altitude won't take long at all.

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #15 on:** 03/28/2024 03:48 pm »

Primary launch time = 2024-03-29 02:30:00 UTC per CelesTrak.

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1773383899898576944

Quote from: T.S. Kelso

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the @Starlink Group 7-18 launch from Vandenberg SFB on 2024-03-29 at 02:30:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g7-18. Deployment of 22 satellites at 03:32:22.460 UTC. Data for 10 backup launch opportunities also provided: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.

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

Launch: 2024-03-29 02:30:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 03:32:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 03:10:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 04:12:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 03:32:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 04:34:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 03:40:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 04:42:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 03:54:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 04:56:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 04:40:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 05:42:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 05:10:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 06:12:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 05:20:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 06:22:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 05:34:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 06:36:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 06:16:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 07:18:22.460 UTC.
Launch: 2024-03-29 06:24:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-03-29 07:26:22.460 UTC.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #16 on:** 03/28/2024 11:21 pm »

Slipped to 8:32 pm PDT = 03:32 UTC.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-18

Quote

...Liftoff is targeted for 8:32 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:24 p.m. PT.

Backup opportunity #2 on TS Kelso's listing.

catdlr · « **Reply #17 on:** 03/29/2024 01:38 am »

dito

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1773537828145705351

Quote

UPDATE #1:
@SpaceX is now targeting the 2nd backup launch opportunity for the @Starlink
Group 7-18 launch on 2024-03-29 at 03:32:00 UTC with deployment at 04:34:22.460 UTC.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #18 on:** 03/29/2024 01:53 am »

T-38 minutes. The SpaceX launch director should be verifying go to start propellant loading.

catdlr · « **Reply #19 on:** 03/29/2024 01:54 am »

Livestream Coverage

SpaceX: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1kvJpvQLaMkKE

Re-Broadcast alternative: https://youtube.com/watch?v=PNjFElHB0UE

After Mission Replay: The SpaceDevs on YT: https://youtube.com/@thespacedevs