SpaceX F9 : NROL-113 : VSFB SLC-4E : 5/6 September 2024 (03:20 UTC)

[GewoonLukas_]

Thread for the third Starshield launch, NROL-113.

Launch 6 September 2024, at 03:20 UTC (5 September 8:20 pm PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1063-20. The first stage successfully landed aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 21 Starshield satellites, to a 70 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit nnn x nnn km?

Please use the Starshield Discussion Thread for all general discussion on Starshield.


L2 SpaceX: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0

[GewoonLukas_]

Targeting August 29th:

VSFB-SpaceX Launch Information
Upcoming Launch Information

[...]

Falcon 9 NROL-113
August 29, 2024
Jalama Beach will not be evacuated.

[...]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

This seems to be the 2nd stage re-entry zone - same one as NROL-186.
Using the same launch time difference between start of de-orbit window and launch time for NROL-186 gives the launch window as August 30, 02:51 - 07:20 UTC (August 29, 7:51 pm - August 30, 12:20 am PDT).

R0200/24 NOTAMN
Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/4100S11910W715
A) SCIZ B) 2408300435 C) 2409050738
D) AUG 30 0435-0901 AUG 31 0421-0847
SEP 01 0408-0834 02 0354-0820 03 0340-0806 04 0326-0752 05 0312-0738
E) ZONE ...D... SECT HAZARDOUS AREA W PACIFIC DUE TO SPACEX STAGE 2
REENTRY ACT. THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:
3000S 12153W
3000S 12000W
2843S 12000W
5909S 09534W
5958S 09905W
5815S 10216W
3000S 12153W
INSTRUCTIONS: SANTIAGO OCEANIC CONTROL 10024KHZ FANS 1A EQUIPPED
ACFT LOG ON SCEZ
INFO PROVIDED BY SPACE X OPS, USA
F) SFC G) UNL

[Galactic Penguin SST]

This seems to be the 2nd stage re-entry zone - same one as NROL-186.
Using the same launch time difference between start of de-orbit window and launch time for NROL-186 gives the launch window as August 30, 02:51 - 07:20 UTC (August 29, 7:51 pm - August 30, 12:20 am PDT).

R0200/24 NOTAMN
Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/4100S11910W715
A) SCIZ B) 2408300435 C) 2409050738
D) AUG 30 0435-0901 AUG 31 0421-0847
SEP 01 0408-0834 02 0354-0820 03 0340-0806 04 0326-0752 05 0312-0738
E) ZONE ...D... SECT HAZARDOUS AREA W PACIFIC DUE TO SPACEX STAGE 2
REENTRY ACT. THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:
3000S 12153W
3000S 12000W
2843S 12000W
5909S 09534W
5958S 09905W
5815S 10216W
3000S 12153W
INSTRUCTIONS: SANTIAGO OCEANIC CONTROL 10024KHZ FANS 1A EQUIPPED
ACFT LOG ON SCEZ
INFO PROVIDED BY SPACE X OPS, USA
F) SFC G) UNL

And confirmed:

B0658/24 NOTAMN
Q) MMFR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) MMFR
B) 2408300251
C) 2409050558
D) AUG 30 0251-0721, 31 0237-0707, SEP 01 0224-0654, 2 0210-0640
   3 0156-0626, 4 0142-0612, 5 0128-0558
E) DANGEROUS AREA FOR REENTRY OF ROCKET NROL-113
   LATERAL LIMIT AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FLW POINTS:
   30 19N  117 56W
   30 21N  117 52W
   29 57N  117 29W
   29 17N  116 52W
   29 03N  116 56W
   28 47N  117 14W
   28 51N  117 38W
   29 52N  117 49W
   30 19N  117 56W
   MMFR
F) SFC
G) UNL

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice for stage 2 reentry.

240336Z AUG 24
HYDROPAC 2800/24(22,83).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   300435 TO 300901Z, 310421 TO 310847Z AUG,
   010408Z TO 010834Z, 020354Z TO 020820Z,
   030340Z TO 030806Z, 040326Z-040752Z
   AND 050312Z TO 050738Z SEP.
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   27-59.00S 122-44.00W, 27-09.00S 120-43.00W,
   28-43.00S 120-00.00W, 30-00.00S 120-00.00W,
   30-00.00S 121-53.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 050838Z SEP 24.

[OneSpeed]

This seems to be the 2nd stage re-entry zone - same one as NROL-186.

And confirmed:

NGA Space Debris notice for stage 2 reentry.

Maps from the combined notices. ASDS some 625km downrange.

[zubenelgenubi]

And the cycle continues to repeat...the August 24 [Starlink 9-5] notice is cancelled with a new one for August 25 to replace it:

Will this launch also be delayed one day to August 31 UTC?

[zubenelgenubi]

And the cycle continues to repeat...the August 24 [Starlink 9-5] notice is cancelled with a new one for August 25 to replace it:

Will this launch also be delayed one day to August 31 UTC?

And...another [Starlink 9-5] slip to August 26.

Will this launch slip another day to September 1 UTC?

[RudeDude]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/schedule/  Schedule page still shows generic Aug 31? I thought Aug 29 with time (3:21am eastern) was confirmed here?

[RudeDude]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/schedule/  Schedule page still shows generic Aug 31? I thought Aug 29 with time (3:21am eastern) was confirmed here?

ok I'm dumb that was the end of the window
https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/launch/falcon-9-block-5-nrol-113/

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/schedule/  Schedule page still shows generic Aug 31? I thought Aug 29 with time (3:21am eastern) was confirmed here?

ok I'm dumb that was the end of the window
https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/launch/falcon-9-block-5-nrol-113/

This date is no longer possible with the Starlink launch before it now moving to the 28th.

[Salo]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/schedule/

NROL-113

Falcon 9 Block 5 | SpaceX

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
SLC-4E

Sun, Sep 1, 2024, 11:59 PM GMT

[GewoonLukas_]

Rescheduled for September 3rd at 01:56 UTC according to this new NOTAM:

B0667/24 NOTAMR B0658/24
Q) MMFR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/
A) MMFR
B) 2409030156
C) 2409090503
D) 03 0156-0626, 04 0142-0612, 05 0128-0558, 06 0114-0544,
   07 0100-0530, 08 0046-0516, 09 0033-0503
E) DANGEROUS AREA FOR REENTRY OF ROCKET NROL-113
   LATERAL LIMIT AREA FORMED BY THE UNION OF THE FLW POINTS:
   30 19N  117 56W
   30 21N  117 52W
   29 57N  117 29W
   29 17N  116 52W
   29 03N  116 56W
   28 47N  117 14W
   28 51N  117 38W
   29 52N  117 49W
   30 19N  117 56W
   MMFR
F) SFC
G) UNL

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1828721626587996398

Standing down from our second @Starlink launch of the night [Starlink 9-5] to give the team time to review booster landing data from the previous launch [Starlink 8-6]. A new target launch date will be shared once available.

I expect a day-for-day delay of this launch in response.

[scr00chy]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1828721626587996398

Standing down from our second @Starlink launch of the night [Starlink 9-5] to give the team time to review booster landing data from the previous launch [Starlink 8-6]. A new target launch date will be shared once available.

I expect a day-for-day delay of this launch in response.

Unless NROL-113 takes precedence now and launches first.

[RudeDude]

NRO public page now says Sept 3.

https://www.nro.gov/Launches/launch-nrol-113/

SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH THE NROL-113 MISSION ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

[zubenelgenubi]

Will this launch continue to be delayed day-for-day following Starlink 9-5?  If so, launch is NET September 5.

Unless NROL-113 takes precedence now and launches first.

Which first stage will be used for this launch?  (semi-rhetorical question)

Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to forty 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:
1063.20   Jul 12
1071.18   Jul 28
1082.7      Aug 4
1061.23   Aug 12

Edit September 4: It's B1063.20.

Edited

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NRO public page now says Sept 3.

https://www.nro.gov/Launches/launch-nrol-113/

SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH THE NROL-113 MISSION ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

Note that the page has disappeared and https://www.nro.gov/Launches/ does not list this launch for the moment. This is not surprising since the minimum turn-around time for SLC-4E for now is ~4.5 days.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NRO public page now says Sept 3.

https://www.nro.gov/Launches/launch-nrol-113/

SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH THE NROL-113 MISSION ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

Note that the page has disappeared and https://www.nro.gov/Launches/ does not list this launch for the moment. This is not surprising since the minimum turn-around time for SLC-4E for now is ~4.5 days.

And as expected, NET September 5 UTC:

A1065/24 NOTAMN
Q) NTTT/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2843S12107W099
A) NTTT
B) 2409050312 C) 2409110615
D) 05 0312-0738, 06 0258-0724, 07 0244-0710, 08 0230-0656, 09
 0217-0643, 10 0203-0629, 11 0149-0615
E) TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY OF SPACEX
NROL-113 UPPER STAGE IN TAHITI FIR WITHIN AN AREA BOUNDED BY
FOLLOWING POINTS :
2759S12244W - 2709S12043W - 2843S12000W - 3000S12000W -
 3000S12153W - 2759S12244W

THIS ACTIVITY IMPACTS SCIZ FIR AS WELL.
AIRSPACE USERS ARE ADVISED OF THE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS NATURE
 OF THE ACTIVITY AND ARE STRONGLY INVITED TO AVOID THE AREA
 DURING THE ACTIVITY TIME SLOT.
OPERATORS ARE INVITED TO FILE THEIR FLIGHT PLAN WITH A TRAJECTORY
THAT ENSURES THAT THE AREA IS CIRCUMNAVIGATED
F) SFC G) UNL

[Martin_G]

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

SPACEX STARLINK NROL-113 VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, CA.
PRIMARY:   09/05/24   0128Z-0558Z
BACKUP:      09/06/24   0114Z-0544Z
      09/07/24   0100Z-0530Z