SpaceX F9 : Starlink 8-7 : VSFB SLC-4E : 14 May 2024 (18:39 UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Thread for the Starlink Group 8-7 launch.

Launch 14 May 2024 at 18:39:00 UTC (11:39 am PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1063-18.  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

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Well 8-2 hasn't even launched yet and the next Starlink launch afterward from California - another without FCC license filed before SpaceX switched to using a multi-launch generic license - has already shown up on NOTAMs.

A0724/24 NOTAMN
Q) SEFG/QXXLW/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/0000S00000W005
A) SEXX B) 2405131831 C) 2405191247
D) MAY 13 1831-2259, MAY 14 1808-2236, MAY 15 1745-2213, MAY 16
1722-2150, MAY 17 0906-1334, MAY 18 0834-1311 AND MAY 19 0819-1247
E) SPACEX FALCON 9 STARLINK 8-7 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

R0089/24 NOTAMN
Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2332S09832W620
A) SCIZ B) 2405131831 C) 2405191247
D) MAY 13 1831-2259/14 1808-2236/15 1745-2213/16 1722-2150
17 0906-1334/18 0843-1311/19 0819-1247
E) ZONE ...D... SECT WEST PACIFIC DUE TO RE-ENTRY FALCON 9 STARLINK 8
-7 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

[zubenelgenubi]

Launch likely delayed to May 14.

Standing down from tonight's Falcon 9 launch of @Starlink satellites from California [Starlink 8-2], now targeting tomorrow, May 9 [May 10 UTC]. [May 9 UTC]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch likely delayed to May 14.

Standing down from tonight's Falcon 9 launch of @Starlink satellites from California [Starlink 8-2], now targeting tomorrow, May 9 [May 10 UTC]. [May 9 UTC]

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

SPACEX STARLINK 8-7 VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   05/14/24      1629Z-2100Z
BACKUP:   05/15/24      1606Z-2037Z
      05/16/24      1543Z-2014Z
      05/17/24      0727Z-1158Z
      05/18/24      0704Z-1135Z
      05/19/24      0640Z-1111Z

[zubenelgenubi]

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:
1063.18   Mar 11
1075.11   Mar 19
1071.16   Apr 2
1081.7     Apr 7

Edit May 13: It's B1063.18.


Why 8-7 now?  What about 8-3?  Is the 8-6 launch meant for Florida?

Five Starlinks from Florida using the new landing area...
<snip>
0295-EX-ST-2024  Mission 2109 Starlink Group 8-4/Exuma trajectory

0300-EX-ST-2024  Mission 2110 Starlink Group 8-5/Exuma trajectory

ASDS position:
North  24  29  51   West  76  25  36

and SpaceX being SpaceX...
<snip>
0306-EX-ST-2024  Mission 2109 Starlink Group 8-4/Northbound Trajectory

0308-EX-ST-2024  Mission 2110 Starlink Group 8-5/Northbound Trajectory

ASDS position:
North  32  29  0   West  76  0  28

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively Rocket Launching notice.

101853Z MAY 24
NAVAREA XII 327/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   141629Z TO 142100Z, 151606Z TO 152037Z, 
   161543Z TO 162014Z, 170727Z TO 171158Z,
   180704Z TO 181135Z, 190640Z TO191111Z, 
   AND 200617Z TO 201048Z MAY, 
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   30-04.00N 116-28.00W, 30-34.00N 117-10.00W,
   30-41.00N 117-23.00W, 30-36.00N 117-23.00W,
   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 201148Z MAY 24.

The two NGA Space Debris notices for 8-2 (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas) are not long enough to be typical multi-launch Space Debris notices, but they do run longer than the 8-2 Space Debris notice that was effectively a Rocket Launching notice. They will be in effect for most, but not all, of the hazard period of the notice given above.

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.

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.

[OneSpeed]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively Rocket Launching notice.

Maps from the NGA notices. ASDS 642km downrange, in an area similar but not identical to 8-1 and 8-2.

[realnouns]

Lindsay C + OCISLY departed PoLB on May 12 @ 8:56pm PT / 11:56pm ET

[realnouns]

Go Beyond departed PoLB on May 12 @ 11:27pm PT / May 13 @ 2:27am ET

[ApolloLee]

Launching in the day, how likely is this going to be visible beyond the California coast in Nevada, Utah and Arizona?

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1790071729819209793

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the @Starlink Group 8-7 launch from Vandenberg SFB on 2024-05-14 at 16:29:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g8-7. Deployment of 20 satellites at 17:30:14.660 UTC. Backups will provided, if they become available: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.

[Bean Kenobi]

20 sats : another time 7 regular starlinks + 13 DTC starlinks ? 

[zubenelgenubi]

20 sats : another time 7 regular starlinks + 13 DTC starlinks ? 

Maybe.  The SpaceX launch information will specify the types and quantity.

Edit: Yes, seven V2 Mini satellites + 13 V2 Mini DTC.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-8-7
B1063.18
Launch 16:29 to 20:29 UTC

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, May 14 for a Falcon 9 launch of 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 9:29 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 1:29 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Wednesday, May 15 starting at 9:06 a.m. PT.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This is the 18th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, SDA-0B, and 12 Starlink missions. 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.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1790128445000765783

Targeting Tuesday, May 14 for a Falcon 9 launch of 20 @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from California, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities → http://spacex.com/launches

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit and link to Twitter livestream.

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

[catdlr]

SpaceX Broadcast Link on Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1lDxLPrPMzMxm

Space Affairs YouTube (Re-broadcast):  https://youtube.com/watch?v=jxIvZI0z_kA

Replay supplied by The Space Dev's (15 min after the broadcast end):  https://youtube.com/@thespacedevs/videos

Summary Video provided by SciNews (15 min after the broadcast ends):  https://youtube.com/@SciNewsRo/videos

Landbase video of the launch:  https://www.youtube.com/@olivervision

[rsmath]

Launching in the day, how likely is this going to be visible beyond the California coast in Nevada, Utah and Arizona?

My experience in NM - not visible during the day.  My theory is the daytime sky is too bright to see it.

[Ken the Bin]

Now targeting 18:39 UTC with no mention of any additional launch opportunities for today even though the launch window runs to 20:29 UTC. (Note: It was apparently targeting 17:37 UTC earlier however I was at the grocery store and didn't actually see that.)

Edit: zubenelgenubi
Here it is.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-8-7

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, May 14 for a Falcon 9 launch of 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 10:37 a.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Wednesday, May 15 starting at 9:06 a.m. PT.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-8-7

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, May 14 for a Falcon 9 launch of 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 11:39 a.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Wednesday, May 15 starting at 9:06 a.m. PT.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1790430873256620283

UPDATE #1: @SpaceX is now targeting the @Starlink Group 8-7 launch from Vandenberg SFB on 2024-05-14 at 17:37:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g8-7. Deployment of 20 satellites at 18:38:14.660 UTC. Data for 1 backup launch opportunity also provided: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1790436535248252994

UPDATE #2: Apparently I haven't had enough coffee yet to fully wake up. @SpaceX is targeting the 1st backup at 1839 UTC. All data has been updated.

I guess I'm still recovering from getting up at 0300 to capture these lovely views of the Milky Way from my front yard.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1790443701447332058

Propellant load has begun for today’s launch of 20 @Starlink satellites from California