SpaceX F9 : Starlink 8-2 : VSFB SLC-4E : 9/10 May 2024 (04:30 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink Group 8-2 launch.

Launch 10 May 2024 at 04:30:00 UTC (9 May 9:30 pm PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1082-4.  The first stage successfully landed aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 20 Starlink V2.0 Mini satellites, 13 of which are Direct-to-Cell, to a 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-post:

More Starlinks from Vandy, NET March [7]
0179-EX-ST-2024  Mission 2103 Starlink Group 8-2
<snip>
ASDS       
North  29  52  50   West  116  45  3

Currently, launch is NET April.

Starlink 8-1 is currently scheduled to launch April 6 UTC.

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

We don't know if Starlink 8-2 or 7-19 has precedence over the other.

So, is this launch NET mid April, with maybe room for one more Starlink launch before an outside customer?

Edit April 11: Starlink 8-1 launched April 6 UTC, and USSF-62 launched April 11.

Edit April 12: WorldView Legion Flight 1 is next.

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight; updated April 22:
Launch 28 April 02:54 UTC = 27 April 7:54 pm PDT


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:
1061.20   Feb 23  (likely WorldView Legion Flight 1)
1063.18   Mar 11
1075.11   Mar 19
1071.16   Apr 2    (maybe)
1081.7     Apr 7
1082.4     Apr 11

Edit May 7: It's B1082.4, skipping over all the other available first stages: B1063.18, B1075.11, B1071.16, and B1081.7.

Edited

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Source of early April 28 UTC launch date:

A0603/24 NOTAMN
Q) SEFG/QXXLW/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/0000S00000W005
A) SEXX B) 2404280433 C) 2405040906
D) APR 28 AND 29 0433-0901, APR 30 0434-0902, MAY 01 0435-0903, MAY 02
0436-0904, MAY 03 0437-0905 AND MAY 04 0438-0906
E) SPACEX FALCON 9 STARLINK 8-2 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. CTN
F) SFC G) UNL

R0069/24 NOTAMN
Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2300S09700W715
A) SCIZ B) 2404280433 C) 2405040906
D) DLY BTN 0433-0906
E) ZONE ...D... SECT WEST PACIFIC DUE TO RE-ENTRY FALCON 9 STARLINK
8-2 STAGE 2 REENTRY ACTIVITY. THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:
1500S 10724W
1500S 10441W
3122S 09024W
3420S 09024W
1500S 10724W
INSTRUCTIONS: SANTIAGO OCEANIC CONTROL 10024 KHZ FANS 1A EQUIPPED
ACFT LOG ON SCEZ
INFO PROVIDED BY SPACE X OPS, USA
F) SFC G) UNL

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice and two S2 reentry Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas).

Note that the two S2 Space Debris notices run through May 17 (00:01 UTC on May 18) so they are apparently intended to be multi-launch notices.

230537Z APR 24
NAVAREA XII 271/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   280254Z TO 280725Z, 290254Z TO 290725Z, 
   300255Z TO 300726Z APR, 010256Z TO 010727Z, 
   020257Z TO 020728Z, 030258Z TO 030729Z 
   AND 040259Z TO 040730Z MAY
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   30-39.00N 117-24.00W, 30-41.00N 117-19.00W,
   30-04.00N 116-28.00W, 29-42.00N 116-06.00W,
   29-18.00N 115-56.00W, 28-58.00N 116-22.00W,
   29-12.00N 116-48.00W, 29-32.00N 117-06.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 040830Z MAY 24.//

230725Z APR 24
HYDROPAC 1326/24(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   280400Z APR TO 180001Z MAY
   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 180101Z MAY 24.//

230725Z APR 24
NAVAREA XII 272/24(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   280400Z APR TO 180001Z MAY
   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 180101Z MAY 24.//

[zubenelgenubi]

WorldView Legion Flight 1:

NOTAMs for today have been canceled, now NET [April 25]:

!CARF 04/280 ZLA AIRSPACE DCC SX DIGITAL GLOBE-1 24-15 AREA A STNR
ALT RESERVATION WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 343900N1204200W TO
343900N1203200W TO 343400N1203200W TO 334100N1205300W TO
320400N1214900W TO 321600N1220000W TO 334600N1210800W TO POINT OF
ORIGIN SFC-UNL 2404251830-2404251922

A day-for-day delay of this launch can be expected.

[Ken the Bin]

All of the NGA notices for this launch and also for WorldView Legion Flight 1 have been canceled TBD.

Here are the cancellations for this launch.

241905Z APR 24
NAVAREA XII 277/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
CANCEL NAVAREA XII 271/24 AND THIS MSG.

241912Z APR 24
HYDROPAC 1357/24(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
CANCEL HYDROPAC 1326/24 AND THIS MSG.

241912Z APR 24
NAVAREA XII 278/24(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
CANCEL NAVAREA XII 272/24 AND THIS MSG.

[GewoonLukas_]

Rescheduled for Star Wars Day (May 4th) according to this NOTAM:

R0071/24 NOTAMN
Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2300S09700W715
A) SCIZ B) 2405040438 C) 2405100855
D) MAY 04 0438-0906/ 05 0439-0907/ 06 0427-0855/07 0427-0855
MAY 08 0427-0855/ 09 0427-0855/ 10 0427-0855
E) ZONE ...D... SECT WEST PACIFIC DUE TO RE-ENTRY FALCON 9 STARLINK
8-2 STAGE 2 REENTRY ACTIVITY. THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:
1500S 10724W
1500S 10441W
3122S 09024W
3420S 09024W
1500S 10724W
INSTRUCTIONS: SANTIAGO OCEANIC CONTROL 10024 KHZ FANS 1A EQUIPPED
ACFT LOG ON SCEZ
INFO PROVIDED BY SPACE X OPS, USA
F) SFC G) UNL

A0618/24 NOTAMR A0603/24
Q) SEFG/QXXLW/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/0010S11654W005
A) SEXX B) 2405040438 C) 2405100855
D) MAY 04 0438-0906, MAY 05 0439-0907 AND MAY 06-10 0427-0855
E) SPACEX FALCON 9 STARLINK 8-2 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. CTN
F) SFC G) UNL

[OneSpeed]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice and two S2 reentry Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas).

Maps from the NGA notices. ASDS 642km downrange.

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight; updated April 25:
Launch 4 May 02:59 UTC = 3 May 7:59 pm PDT

[john57sharp]

If both launches happen on time, this turnaround will be under three days for SLC-4E, a new record I think.
John

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NextSpaceflight; updated April 25:
Launch 4 May 02:59 UTC = 3 May 7:59 pm PDT

B0328/24 NOTAMR B0327/24
Q) MMFR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) MMFR
B) 2405040259
C) 2405100719
D) 04 0259-0730, 05 0300-0731, 06 07 08 09 10 0248-0719
E) DANGEROUS AREA FOR REENTRY OF ROCKET STARLINK 8-2
   LATERAL LIMIT AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FLW POINTS:
   
   30 41N  117 28W
   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 45N  117 21W
   30 41N  117 28W
   MMFR
F) SFC
G) UNL

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Slipped all the way to May 8th UTC/7th PDT it seems:

A0686/24 NOTAMR A0618/24
Q) SEFG/QXXLW/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/0010S11654W005
A) SEXX B) 2405080427 C) 2405140914
D) MAY 08-10 0427-0855, MAY 11-12 0444-0912, MAY 13 0445-0913 AND MAY
14 0446-0914
E) SPACEX FALCON 9 STARLINK 8-2 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. CTN
F) SFC G) UNL

R0078/24 NOTAMN
Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2300S09700W715
A) SCIZ B) 2405080427 C) 2405140914
D) MAY 08 0427-0855/ 09 0427-0855/ 10 0427-0855
MAY 11 0444-0912/ 12 0444-0912/ 13 0445-0913 / 14 0446-0914
E) ZONE ...D... SECT WEST PACIFIC DUE TO RE-ENTRY FALCON 9 STARLINK
8-2 STAGE 2 REENTRY ACTIVITY. THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:
1500S 10724W
1500S 10441W
3122S 09024W
3420S 09024W TO BEGINNING
F) GND G) UNL

[Ken the Bin]

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

030049Z MAY 24
NAVAREA XII 302/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1 HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 0248Z TO 0601Z
   DAILY 08 THRU 10 MAY, 0305Z TO 0601Z DAILY
   11 THRU 14 MAY IN AREA BOUND BY
   30-04.00N 116-28.00W, 30-41.00N 117-19.00W,
   30-39.00N 117-24.00W, 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.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 140701Z MAY 24.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice.

Note that the Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice runs through May 14. This actual Space Debris notice runs through May 18. I don't know why the additional days. That's only long enough to be a multi-launch notice if 8-2 launches towards the beginning of its launch period.

Note also that this notice only has dates and no times. If I were a mariner I would interpret that to mean all day, however I don't know whether that's an official convention or whether this notice should be considered in error.

030128Z MAY 24
NAVAREA XII 303/24(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 08 TO 18 MAY
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   00-10.00S 115-17.00W, 01-19.00S 116-54.00W,
   34-20.00S 090-24.00W, 31-22.00S 090-24.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 180100Z MAY 24.

Edit - The same notice was issued for a different Navigational Area. (It's common for identical Space Debris notices to be issued for two different Navigational Areas, but they are usually issued at the same time.)

031439Z MAY 24
HYDROPAC 1482/24(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 08 TO 18 MAY
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   00-10.00S 115-17.00W, 01-19.00S 116-54.00W,
   34-20.00S 090-24.00W, 31-22.00S 090-24.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 180100Z MAY 24.

[realnouns]

Lindsay C + OCISLY departed PoLB on May 3 @ 7:27am PT / 10:27am ET

[VLN]

I've been following the boats since May 3, because we thought it would confirm that they really meant to launch a Starlink only a day and a half after launching Maxar-1 (WorldView Legion, Digital Globe 1). We know that didn't happen. Stalwart/Lindsay C returned to port within a few hours. The NGA and FAA have announced launch windows beginning May 8 03:05 UTC.

When GO Beyond left for Maxar-1, I noticed that it had a very nearby companion, the tug Kelly C. We didn't expect to have OCISLY for Maxar-1, so I suggested Kelly C had some other purpose than towing OCISLY.

As of today, both vessels are at sea, maybe together and maybe on the way to the Starlink recovery zone. My information is severely limited because I haven't paid for access to satellite data. But the interesting thing is that the scant peeks that I can see are several hundred miles west of the Starlink 8-2 recovery zone. Not clear that it's inconsistent with a May 7 20:05 PDT launch; rather that if they are the OCISLY companion and the fairing catcher for Starlink 8-2, they're going far out of their way to reach the zone.

[Ken the Bin]

<snip>
The NGA and FAA have announced launch windows beginning May 8 03:05 UTC.
<snip>
Not clear that it's inconsistent with a May 7 20:05 PDT launch; rather that if they are the OCISLY companion and the fairing catcher for Starlink 8-2, they're going far out of their way to reach the zone.

Just a point of clarification, because the line breaks in the NGA notice are in bad locations, actually the window starts at 02:48 UTC on May 8, 9, and 10, and starts at 03:05 on May 11, 12, 13, and 14.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

24 hours slip to NET May 9 UTC:

A0721/24 NOTAMR A0686/24
Q) SEFG/QXXLW/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/0010S11654W005
A) SEXX B) 2405090427 C) 2405140737
D) MAY 09-10 0427-0737, MAY 11-12 0444-0737, MAY 13 0445-0737 AND MAY
14 0446-0737
E) SPACEX FALCON 9 STARLINK 8-2 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. CTN
F) SFC G) UNL

[realnouns]

Lindsay C + OCISLY departed PoLB on May 7 @ 5:59am PT / 8:59am ET