SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 6-51 : KSC LC-39A : 17 April 2024 (21:26 UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Thread for the Starlink 6-51 group launch.

NSF Threads for Starlink 6-51: Discussion

Launch 17 April 2024, at NET 21:26:00 UTC (5:26 pm EDT), from KSC LC-39A, on booster 1077-12.  The first stage will land aboard Just Read the Instructions.

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

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NET late April 17 UTC per these NOTAMs:

A1244/24 NOTAMN
Q) FAJO/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/4142S02856E999
A) FAJO B) 2404172314 C) 2404240137
D) 17-18 APR 2314-0408, 18-19 APR 2249-0343, 19-20 APR 2224-0318,
20-21 APR 2158-0252, 21-22 APR 2133-0227, 22-23 APR 2108-0202, 23-24
APR 2043-0137
E) AREA BOUNDED BY (4256S 00224W, 4045S 00221W, 3210S 05700E, 3515S
05700E): SPACEX STARLINK 6-51 ROCKET RE-ENTRY OPS TAKING PLACE.
APPLICABLE AIRSPACE DOWNGRADED TO CLASS G.
F) SFC G) UNL

F1372/24 NOTAMN
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/1611S08231E800
A) YMMM
B) 2404172314 C) 2404240137
D) 2404172314 TO 2404180408
   2404182249 TO 2404190343
   2404192224 TO 2404200318
   2404202158 TO 2404210252
   2404212133 TO 2404220227
   2404222108 TO 2404230202
   2404232043 TO 2404240137
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 6-51 WI THE FLW AREAS:
2033S07500E, 0746S08927E, 0853S09228E, 2422S07500E TO BEGINNING
F) SFC G) UNL

[Salo]

https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

April 17 Falcon 9 • Starlink 6-51
Launch time: Window opens at 5:24 p.m. EDT (2124 UTC)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of second-generation Starlink V2 Mini internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will return to a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean about 8.5 minutes after liftoff.

https://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.html

UPDATED APRIL 9, 2024
...
FALCON 9

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on April 13 at 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on April 17 at 5:24-9:24 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch two Galileo navigation system satellites for Europe on late April. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

More Starlinks from Florida
0550-EX-ST-2024  Mission 1946 Starlink Group 6-51
[Launch NET April 15]
<snip>
ASDS       
North  25  51  24   West  75  20  18

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated April 11; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on April 12 very earliest at 9:22 p.m. to 12:48 a.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 39A on April 17 at 5:24-9:24 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch two Galileo navigation system satellites for Europe on late April. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

120928Z APR 24
NAVAREA IV 415/24(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
BAHAMAS.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   172124Z TO 180155Z APR, ALTERNATE
   182059Z TO 190130Z, 192034Z TO 200105Z,
   202008Z TO 210039Z, 211943Z TO 220014Z,
   221918Z TO 222349Z AND 
   231853Z TO 232324Z APR 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 240024Z APR 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.

1073.15 and 1076.13 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:
1077.12  Mar 10
1080.7    Mar 21
1060.20  Mar 24
1078.9    Mar 25
1076.13  Mar 30 (maybe)
1067.19  Mar 31 (maybe)

Edit April 16: It's B1077.12.

[Ken the Bin]

Here are two pairs of NGA Space Debris notices (each pair has the same notice for two different Navigational Areas). Neither one exactly matches this launch.

The NGA Rocket Launching notice is for April 17 to April 23, as are the S2 NOTAMs posted by Galactic Penguin SST.

One pair of the Space Debris notices is for April 16 to April 24; the other pair is for April 17 to April 26.

121914Z APR 24
HYDROLANT 777/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2048Z TO 0413Z DAILY 16 THRU 24 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 250513Z APR 24.

121914Z APR 24
HYDROPAC 1201/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2048Z TO 0413Z DAILY 16 THRU 24 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 250513Z APR 24.

121937Z APR 24
HYDROLANT 778/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2203Z TO 0529Z DAILY 17 THRU 26 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 270629Z APR 24.

121937Z APR 24
HYDROPAC 1202/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2203Z TO 0529Z DAILY 17 THRU 26 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 270629Z APR 24.

[OneSpeed]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

Maps from the NGA notices. ASDS 604km downrange.

[zubenelgenubi]

Possibility B1060.20?
Edit April 16: No, not Starlink 6-51.

Another F9 (either 1060 or 1061) will fly for the 20th time next week.
https://twitter.com/edwards345/status/1779004912720081170

May there be many boosters hitting 20 or 30 or 50, with an unbroken success streak. Kudos to the team!

Another one next week!

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1779566612590350833

Gav Cornwell
@SpaceOffshore
Departure! SpaceX's Bob support ship and Just Read the Instructions droneship head to sea to support Starlink 6-51! 📸 http://nsf.live/spacecoast

[realnouns]

Bob + JRTI departed PC on Apr 14 @ 1:42pm ET

[Ken the Bin]

L-1 weather forecast. 90% 'Go' for both April 17 and April 18. All Additional Risk Criteria are Low.

[zubenelgenubi]

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

SPACEX STARLINK 6-51, KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL
PRIMARY:       04/17/24   2124Z-0155Z
BACKUP(S):   04/18/24   2059Z-0130Z
      04/19/24   2034Z-0105Z
      04/20/24   2008Z-0039Z
      04/21/24   1943Z-0014Z
      04/22/24   1918Z-2349Z
      04/23/24   1853Z-2324Z

[GewoonLukas_]

Targeting NET 21:26 UTC
Booster B1077-12

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, April 17 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 5:26 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 9:24 p.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Thursday, April 18 starting at 5:05 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 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, and five Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-6-51

Twitter/X Webcast: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1djxXNdmNBLGZ

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1780327198190432330

Targeting Wednesday, April 17 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Florida → http://spacex.com/launches

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.

[zubenelgenubi]

NSF Launch Roundup: SpaceX to reach its 40th Falcon 9 flight of 2024, April 15, by Martin Smith

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1779985718690893850

Upcoming launches, including SpaceX set to pass 40 launches in 2024 milestone...in April.

Overview by Martin Smith.

[Ken the Bin]

Primary launch opportunity = 2024-04-17 21:26:00 UTC per CelesTrak.

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1780397690050027812

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the @Starlink Group 6-51 launch from Cape Canaveral on 2024-04-17 at 21:26:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g6-51. Deployment of 23 satellites at 22:31:22.740 UTC. Data for 10 backup launch opportunities is also provided: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.

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

Launch: 2024-04-17 21:26:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-17 22:31:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-17 21:34:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-17 22:39:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-17 22:16:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-17 23:21:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-17 22:36:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-17 23:41:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-17 23:10:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-18 00:15:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-17 23:20:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-18 00:25:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-17 23:40:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-18 00:45:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-18 00:10:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-18 01:15:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-18 00:32:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-18 01:37:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-18 01:14:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-18 02:19:22.740 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-18 01:24:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-18 02:29:22.740 UTC.

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/RoughRidersShow/status/1780580790029463596

Rough Riders Show
@RoughRidersShow
Falcon 9 rolled out to LC-39A this morning ahead of Starlink 6-51! Here's a little time-lapse
@NASASpaceflight
 http://nsf.live/spacecoast

[edkyle99]

SpaceX feed cut off after staging.  Hmmm.

 - Ed Kyle

[Comga]

Landing confirmed (tentatively)


Ed: Don't Hmm at us.  Both first and second stage video cut out after separation.  It is unlikely something happened to them rather than the video being interrupted after being broadcast.