SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 6-53 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 23 April 2024 (22:17 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the Starlink 6-53 group launch.

Launch 23 April 2024 at 22:17:00 UTC (6:17 pm EDT), from CCSFS SLC-40, on booster 1078-9.  The first stage successfully landed aboard Just Read the Instructions, the 300th successful landing.

Payload 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to 43 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 284 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.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

More Starlinks from Florida
<snip>
0552-EX-ST-2024  Mission 1948 Starlink Group 6-53
[Launch NET April 25]
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.

This launch could be before or after the Galileo pair launch.  The Starlink 6-51 and 6-52 launches were revealed an scheduled in quick succession, and this launch may follow them as soon as pad and ASDS turnarounds allow.

There are also Starlink Group 7 and Group 8 launches scheduled from Florida for sometime soon.

The earliest launch NET would be April 23 or 24, which is slightly before the quoted FCC application NET date.

[Alexphysics]

SpaceX requested to withdraw the FCC permit for this mission so I'm guessing this launch may not take place but we'll see what they choose to do. They have been posting weird FCC permits that would in theory allow a very generic Group 6 mission to happen if they wanted to.

Edit: Looks like SpaceX is indeed proceeding with Starlink 6-53 per NOTAMs for the mission. Quite weird they asked the FCC to withdraw the mission's STA if they really wanted to fly it.

[zubenelgenubi]

Edit: Looks like SpaceX is indeed proceeding with Starlink 6-53 per NOTAMs for the mission.

NextSpaceflight; updated April 15:
Launch NET April 22, 22:40 UTC
Kennedy LC-39A
ASDS landing

Projected ASDS availability would place JRTI as this launch's ASDS.

[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 Starlink 6-51
1080.7    Mar 21 Starlink 6-52
1060.20  Mar 24 Galileo-FOC Flight 12
1078.9    Mar 25
1076.13  Mar 30
1067.19  Mar 31

Edit April 22: It's B1078.9.

[zubenelgenubi]

Edit: Looks like SpaceX is indeed proceeding with Starlink 6-53 per NOTAMs for the mission.

Do we have NOTAMs for this launch?

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Edit: Looks like SpaceX is indeed proceeding with Starlink 6-53 per NOTAMs for the mission.

Do we have NOTAMs for this launch?

F1438/24 NOTAMN
Q) YMMM/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/1611S08231E647
A) YMMM
B) 2404230030 C) 2404290253
D) 2404230030 TO 2404230524
   2404240005 TO 2404240459
   2404242340 TO 2404250434
   2404252314 TO 2404260408
   2404262249 TO 2404270343
   2404272224 TO 2404280318
   2404282159 TO 2404290253
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 6-53 WI THE FOLLOWING
AREAS:
2033S 07500E
0746S 08927E
0853S 09228E
2422S 07500E TO BEGINNING
F) SFC G) UNL

A1303/24 NOTAMN
Q) FAJO/QWMLW/IV/BO/W/000/999/4142S02856E999
A) FAJO B) 2404230030 C) 2404290253
D) 23 APR 0030-0524, 24 APR 0005-0459, 24-25 APR 2340-0434, 25-26 APR
2314-0408, 26-27 APR 2249-0343, 27-28 APR 2224-0318, 28-29 APR
2159-0253
E) AREA BOUNDED BY (4256S 00224W, 4045S 00221W, 3210S 05700E, 3515S
05700E): SPACEX STARLINK 6-53 ROCKET RE-ENTRY OPS TAKING PLACE.
APPLICABLE AIRSPACE DOWNGRADED TO CLASS G.
F) SFC G) UNL

A0088/24 NOTAMN
Q) FIMM/QRALW/IV/NBO/W/000/999/2530S06515E999
A) FIMM
B) 2404230030 C) 2404290253
D) 23 0030-0524
24 0005-0459
24 2340-2359
25 0000-0434
25 2314-2359
26 0000-0408
26 2249-2359
27 0000-0343
27 2224-2359
28 0000-0318
28 2159-2359
29 0000-0253
E) STATIONARY ALTITUDE RESERVATION FOR HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS FROM SFC
TO UNL FOR ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY AND SPLASHDOWN OF LAUNCH VEHICLE
SPACEX STARLINK 6-53 STAGE 2 WI AN AREA BOUNDED BY FLW COORD:
3210S 05700E
3012S 06109E
2033S 07500E
2422S 07500E
3216S 06310E
3515S 05700E TO BEGINNING
PRIMARY RE-ENTRY BTN 0030 AND 0524 ON 23 APRIL 2024
BACK UP RE-ENTRY BTN 24 APRIL 2024 AND 29 APRIL 2024 AS PER FIELD D.
F) SFC G) UNL).


CNS123W SEQUENCE CHECK FOR FIMPYNYX A --
  EXPECTED A0089/24 -- RECEIVED A0088/24
CNN038W DUPLICATE NOTAM
TRANSACTION ROLLED BACK, RETCODE = 14

[zubenelgenubi]

Starlink 6-52 launches at 22:40 UTC on its primary launch date, April 18, with 2nd stage re-entry beginning at the following 00:30 UTC.  This is the same form as seen above for Starlink 6-53.

Thus, the Starlink 6-53 NET launch time on April 22 UTC is also 22:40.

In fact a NOTAM for the 2nd stage re-entry zone fitting with this has been filed...and shows this is Group 6-52.

F1397/24 NOTAMN
<snip>
B) 2404190030 C) 2404250252
D) 2404190030 TO 2404190524
   2404200004 TO 2404200458
   2404202339 TO 2404210433
   2404212314 TO 2404220408
   2404222249 TO 2404230343
   2404232223 TO 2404240317
   2404242158 TO 2404250252
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 6-52 WI THE FOLLOWING
AREAS:
<snip>

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Rocket Launching notice.

170853Z APR 24
NAVAREA IV 434/24(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   222240Z TO 230311Z APR, ALTERNATE 
   232215Z TO 240246Z, 242150Z TO 250221Z, 
   252124Z TO 260155Z, 262059Z TO 270130Z, 
   272034Z TO 280105Z AND 282009Z TO 290040Z 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 290140Z APR 24.//

[OneSpeed]

 
F1438/24 NOTAMN ...

NGA Rocket Launching notice ...

Maps from the combined notices. ASDS 604km downrange.

[zubenelgenubi]

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated April 17 after Starlink 6-51 launch; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on April 18 at 6:40-10:40 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch on April 22 at 6:40-10:40 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch two Galileo navigation system satellites for Europe on April 28. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas). As with 6-51 and 6-52, these notices covered a larger period of days than does the Rocket Launching notice.

180556Z APR 24
HYDROLANT 829/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2204Z TO 0529Z DAILY 21 THRU 30 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 010629Z MAY 24.//

180556Z APR 24
HYDROPAC 1270/24(57,61,71).
EASTERN SOUTH ATLANTIC.
INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 01, DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   2204Z TO 0529Z DAILY 21 THRU 30 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 010629Z MAY 24.//

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide; updated April 17 after Starlink 6-51 launch; my bold:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on April 18 at 6:40-10:40 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch on April 22 at 6:40-10:40 p.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches. A Falcon 9 will launch two Galileo navigation system satellites for Europe on April 28. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.

Ben now lists this as going from SLC-40:

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on April 22 at 6:40-10:40 p.m. EDT.

[crandles57]

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp
has Worldview from VSFB on 24th but not this one on 22nd or 23rd. Guess there is still time to put it up on there if there was some uncertainty over which pad.

Edit: There now. That didn't take long.

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1781764723710525538

Gav Cornwell
@SpaceOffshore
JRTI departs for Starlink 6-53!  - A super rapid turnaround.

Not certain what the record is for the time between delivering a F9 and departing for the next but 8 hrs and 15 mins must be close!
 
 🎥 http://nsf.live/spacecoast

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1781826068329934937

Gav Cornwell
@SpaceOffshore
Departure! SpaceX's Bob is outbound to support Starlink 6-53. 📸 http://nsf.live/spacecoast

[Ken the Bin]

L-1 weather forecast. 30%->80% 'Go' for April 22. >95% 'Go' for April 23. All Additional Risk Criteria are Low.

[realnouns]

Signet Warhorse III + JRTI departed PC on Apr 20 @ 11:34am ET

[realnouns]

Bob departed PC on Apr 21 @ 7:21pm ET

https://twitter.com/SpaceOffshore/status/1781826068329934937

Gav Cornwell
@SpaceOffshore
Departure! SpaceX's Bob is outbound to support Starlink 6-53. 📸 http://nsf.live/spacecoast

[Ken the Bin]

Primary launch opportunity = 2024-04-22 23:10:00 UTC per CelesTrak. (Presumably delayed from 22:40 because of weather.)

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1782315792325071246

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the @Starlink Group 6-53 launch from Cape Canaveral on 2024-04-22 at 23:10:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g6-53. Deployment of 23 satellites 2024-04-23 at 00:15:06.340 UTC. Data for 6 backup opportunities also provided: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.

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

Launch: 2024-04-22 23:10:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-23 00:15:06.340 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-22 23:34:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-23 00:39:06.340 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-23 00:44:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-23 01:49:06.340 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-23 01:10:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-23 02:15:06.340 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-23 01:26:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-23 02:31:06.340 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-23 02:28:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-23 03:33:06.340 UTC.
Launch: 2024-04-23 02:40:00 UTC. Deploy: 2024-04-23 03:45:06.340 UTC.