SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 9-7 : VSFB SLC-4E : 15 October 2024 (08:21 UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Thread for the Starlink Group 9-7 launch.

Launch 15 October 2024, at 08:21:00 UTC (1:21 am PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1071-19.  The first stage successfully landed aboard Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 20 Starlink V2.0 Mini satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to a 53 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit 278 x 290 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


Interesting to see that for whatever reason, the Starlink Group 11-2 launch filed from Vandenberg didn't emerge...but another batch ends up on the air space closure notices.

A1899/24 NOTAMN
Q) SEFG/QXXLW/IV/NBO/AE/000/999/0010S01074W005
A) SEXX B) 2410150936 C) 2410212118
D) OCT 15 0936-1422, OCT 16 0913-1359, OCT 17 0849-1335, OCT 18
1933-2248, OCT 19 1852-2338, OCT 20 1829-2315, OCT 21 1933-2118
E) SPACEX STARLINK 9-7 STAGE 2 REENTRY AND SPLASHDOWN IN THE
UNASSIGNED FIR, SECT DELIMITED BY THE FOLLOWING COORD 1500S 10724W,
1500S 10441W, 0010S 11517W, 0522N 11857W, 0500N 12000W, 0316N 12000W,
0119S 11654W, 1500S 10724W. CTN
F) SFC G) UNL

R0261/24 NOTAMN
Q) SCIZ/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2415S09759W715
A) SCIZ B) 2410150936 C) 2410212118
D) OCT 15 BTN 0936-1422 / OCT 16 BTN 0913-1359 / OCT 17 BTN 0849-1335
OCT 18 BTN 1933-2248 / OCT 19 BTN 1852-2338 / OCT 20 BTN 1829-2315
OCT 21 BTN 1933-2118
E)
 ZONE ...D... SECT WEST PACIFIC DUE TO RE-ENTRY SPACEX STARLINK 9-7
STAGE 2 REENTRY ACTIVITY. THE AREA IS BOUNDED BY GEO COORD:
1500S 10724W
1500S 10441W
3122S 09024W
3420S 09024W
INSTRUCTIONS: SANTIAGO OCEANIC CONTROL 10024KHZ
 FANS 1A EQUIPPED
ACFT LOG ON SCEZ
INFO PROVIDED BY SPACE X OPS, USA
F) SFC G) UNL

A1281/24 NOTAMN
Q) NTTT/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/0325N12003W011
A) NTTT
B) 2410150936 C) 2410212118
D) 15 0936-1422, 16 0913-1359, 17 0849-1335, 18 1933-2248,
19 1852-2338, 20 1829-2315, 21 1933-2118
E) TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY SPACEX
 STARLINK 9-8 UPPER STAGE IN TAHITI FIR WITHIN AN AREA BOUNDED
 BY FOLLOWING POINTS : 
0330N 12000W - 0316N 12000W - 0330N 12010W - 0330N 12000W
THIS ACTIVITY IMPACTS KZAK, MMFO, SCIZ AND NO 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

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice. Expected launch window 08:03-12:03 UTC.

102119Z OCT 24
NAVAREA XII 812/24(21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS:
    A. 150803Z TO 151234Z, 160740Z TO 161211Z,
      170716Z TO 171147Z, 181800Z TO 182100Z,
      191719Z TO 192150Z, 201656Z TO 202127Z
      AND 211800Z TO 211930Z OCT
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      28-58.00N 116-22.00W, 29-18.00N 115-56.00W,
      29-42.00N 116-06.00W, 30-04.00N 116-28.00W,
      30-00.00N 116-50.00W, 29-50.00N 117-02.00W,
      29-32.00N 117-06.00W, 29-12.00N 116-48.00W.
   B. 150803Z TO 151228Z, 160740Z TO 161205Z,
     170716Z TO 171141Z, 181800Z TO 182054Z,
      191719Z TO 192144Z, 201656Z TO 202121Z
      AND 211800Z TO 211924Z OCT
      IN AREA BOUND BY
      30-48.00N 117-25.00W, 30-28.00N 116-56.00W
      29-57.00N 116-48.00W, 30-17.00N 117-19.00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA XII 811/24,
   MSG PROMULGATED IN ERROR.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 212030Z OCT 24.//

Three NGA Space Debris notices (the same notice for two different Navigational Areas). The two notices for HYDROPAC are duplicates.  NAVAREA XII 811/24 canceled in the above notice was a duplicate of NAVAREA XII 810/24 below. I suspect that one of the two HYDROPAC notices will be canceled, probably as part of some random notice that has nothing to do with rockets/spaceflight.

102052Z OCT 24
NAVAREA XII 810/24(21,22,83).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0849Z AND 2328Z DAILY 15 THRU 21 OCT
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   34-20.00S 090-24.00W, 31-22.00S 090-24.00W,
   00-10.00S 115-17.00W, 11-37.00N 123-13.00W,
   10-26.00N 124-56.00W, 01-19.00S 116-54.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 220028Z OCT 24.

102052Z OCT 24
HYDROPAC 3236/24(21,22,83).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07, DNC 13.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0849Z AND 2328Z DAILY 15 THRU 21 OCT
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   34-20.00S 090-24.00W, 31-22.00S 090-24.00W,
   00-10.00S 115-17.00W, 11-37.00N 123-13.00W,
   10-26.00N 124-56.00W, 01-19.00S 116-54.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 220028Z OCT 24.

102052Z OCT 24
HYDROPAC 3237/24(21,22,83).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07, DNC 13.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0849Z AND 2328Z DAILY 15 THRU 21 OCT
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   34-20.00S 090-24.00W, 31-22.00S 090-24.00W,
   00-10.00S 115-17.00W, 11-37.00N 123-13.00W,
   10-26.00N 124-56.00W, 01-19.00S 116-54.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 220028Z OCT 24.

Edit to Add: Oops, I forgot to mention: note in these three notices how there are two discrete times mentioned rather than a window of time. Really???

Edit #2: The duplicate HYDROPAC notice was canceled in a standalone cancellation notice, which is the correct way to do it if there's not a replacement notice.

102312Z OCT 24
HYDROPAC 3238/24(21,22,83).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07, DNC 13.
CANCEL HYDROPAC 3237/24 AND THIS MSG,
MSG PROMULGATED IN ERROR.

[Brigantine]

Is this mission still waiting for FAA return to flight after Crew-9 upper stage disposal over-burn?
(with Hera being a one-off, and Clippy liscenced by NASA)

Will return to flight come via sign-off of full investigation and remedial action, as opposed to Public-Safety-Determination?

Or is there already some news I missed?

[zubenelgenubi]

Or is there already some news I missed?

Not yet.  Ditto for Starlink 10-10 launch from SLC-40 NET October 14.

[raptorx2]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice. Expected launch window 08:03-12:03 UTC.

Edit to Add: Oops, I forgot to mention: note in these three notices how there are two discrete times mentioned rather than a window of time. Really???

Wouldn't this be expected?  As the shells fill, you almost need "instantaneous launch windows" to correctly place the payloads in the exact target open shell.  When you have a "wide open constellation".  Launch windows are also "wide open".. Hence, you can "time launches" much closer to times that will produce "Jelly Fish effects" for the fan base.  Like we saw this summer, where almost every West Coast launch was timed to produce that effect to some degree.   If you missed a launch window, the next open shell is only a matter of "an hour or so" away.  Now they are down to only about 7 open shells.  ''

9-7 appears to be scheduled to be launched to (Plane 4) Which perhaps helps to explain the "more or less instantaneous launch windows"

Here is my estimation of the current payload sequence.
Again I have arbitrarily assigned Plane 1 as Group 9-1 out of convenience.

Plane - Group

#1    -    9-1
#2    -    8-7
#3    -    9-2
#4    -    9-7 (to be launched Oct. 15th VSFB)
#5    -    8-5
#6    -    8-8
#7    -    8-11 
#8    -   Group 7-9 (6)
#9    -    9-6
#10    -   8-2
#11    -   9-5
#12    -   
#13    -   
#14    -   
#15    -   9-8
#16    -   
#17    -   
#18    -   8-3
#19    -   8-1 Apr. 7 (6)
#20    -   8-6
#21    -   8-10
#22    -   9-4
#23    -   9-17
#24    -   8-9

[Ken the Bin]

NGA Space Debris notice that is effectively a Rocket Launching notice. Expected launch window 08:03-12:03 UTC.

Edit to Add: Oops, I forgot to mention: note in these three notices how there are two discrete times mentioned rather than a window of time. Really???

Wouldn't this be expected?  As the shells fill, you almost need "instantaneous launch windows" to correctly place the payloads in the exact target open shell.  When you have a "wide open constellation".  Launch windows are also "wide open".. Hence, you can "time launches" much closer to times that will produce "Jelly Fish effects" for the fan base.  Like we saw this summer, where almost every West Coast launch was timed to produce that effect to some degree.   If you missed a launch window, the next open shell is only a matter of "an hour or so" away.  Now they are down to only about 7 open shells.  ''

9-7 appears to be scheduled to be launched to (Plane 4) Which perhaps helps to explain the "more or less instantaneous launch windows"

<snip>

It's not the launch windows that are instantaneous. The launch windows are four hours long (but SpaceX will presumably target certain discrete times within the windows, which will then be posted on CelesTrak).

It's the stage 2 reentry windows that are instantaneous. And they are the same for every day of the launch period even though the launch window moves earlier each day.

[OneSpeed]

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

Maps from the NGA notices. In a first for an ASDS recovery mission, the launch notice appears to have separate areas for booster (575km downrange) and fairing half (685km downrange).

[Ken the Bin]

Preliminary information from CelesTrak. Note the "Launch window" line, which is an indication that the information did not come from SpaceX even though it says that it was provided by SpaceX.

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

Starlink G9-7 Pre-Launch
Derived from a pre-launch Starlink-G9-7 state vector, provided by SpaceX. SupGP data is provided for the entire stack, as well as one for a single satellite.
Launch: 2024-10-15 08:03:00 UTC.
Deploy: 2024-10-15 09:04:19.900 UTC.
Launch window: 2024-10-15 08:03:00 UTC to 2024-10-15 12:03:00 UTC.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1845638937655890137

CelesTrak has pre-launch SupGP data for the @Starlink Group 9-7 launch from Vandenberg SFB on 2024-10-15 at 08:07:00 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?FILE=starlink-g9-7. Deployment of 20 satellites is at 09:08:19.900 UTC. Data for 8 backup launch opportunities also provided: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.

[realnouns]

Lindsay C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Sep 23 @ 12:26pm PT / 3:26pm ET

Lindsay C + OCISLY returned to PoLB on Sep 26 @ 5:57am PT / 8:57am ET

Debra C + OCISLY departed PoLB on Oct 13 @ 7:38am PT / 10:38am ET

[realnouns]

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Sep 23 @ 1:51pm PT / 4:51pm ET

Go Beyond returned to PoLB on Sep 26 @ 5:15am PT / 8:15am ET

Go Beyond departed PoLB on Oct 13 @ 12:35pm PT / 3:35pm ET

[GewoonLukas_]

Booster B1071-19

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, October 15 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 1:07 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 5:03 a.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Wednesday, October 16 starting at 12:42 a.m. ET.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.

This is the 19th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, NROL-146, and 11 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://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-9-7

Twitter/X Webcast: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1RDGlyYBgPVJL

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1845916676388458872

Up next, teams are targeting back-to-back Falcon 9 launches of @Starlink satellites from Florida and California on Tuesday, October 15, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities → http://spacex.com/launches/

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.

[catdlr]

Here is a consolidated post of available video links for this launch:

SpaceX direct live broadcast on Twitter:  https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1RDGlyYBgPVJL

SpaceX on their company website:  https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-9-7

Space Affairs YouTube (SpaceX Re-broadcast):  https://youtube.com/watch?v=xu8J-ee8HNA

Replay supplied by The Space Devs (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

Launch Ground Video (from local resident in Santa Barbara - I'll post if available)

[catdlr]

Weather Update:  Clear, Cold, Fog, and Clouds.  Typical.

NWS Discussion:

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
248 PM PDT Mon Oct 14 2024

.SYNOPSIS...14/107 PM.

Little change in weather through Tuesday. An upper level low will
move over the western United States Wednesday through Thursday,
bringing widespread cooling and possible drizzle with moderate to
locally strong northwest to north winds. Weak to moderate north to
northeast winds will bring warming and drying focused over
coastal and valley areas Friday through the weekend.

&&

.SHORT TERM (TDY-THU)...14/227 PM.

Today and Tuesday will be very similar weather-wise thanks to a
ridge of high pressure hanging out over the region and little
change with onshore flow. High temperatures through Tuesday will
range between 78 and 88 across the mountains and interior valleys
(4 to 8 degrees above normal for this time of year), with coasts
and coastal valleys ranging in the 70s to 80s (3 to 8 degrees
below normal).

Marine layer clouds remained hugging the majority
of the coasts so far today However, a swift return of low clouds is expected
early this evening, and like last night, expected to expand across
the coastal valleys overnight.

Along the Central Coast, patchy fog and extremely light drizzle is not out of the question
overnight into early Tuesday, while the patchy fog will remain
limited to the foothill areas south of Point Conception.

Northwest to  north wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph will continue each afternoon
across the Antelope Valley and San Gabriel Mountains each
afternoon through Wednesday.

The upper level ridge will start to break down Tuesday night, and
a trough (associated with an upper level low pressure system
moving southeast from Alaska) will start to move across the area.
This trough will result in a drop of 500 mb heights by about 10
dam Tuesday night through Thursday. A frontal system associated
with this trough will move southward on Wednesday morning, moving
across SLO County and the Central Coast, fizzling out by the time
it reaches Point Conception. Only a slight chance of light rain
showers are expected across that area, with accumulations around a
couple hundredths of an inch at most.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Slight pushback of T-0:

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-9-7

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, October 15 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 1:21 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 5:03 a.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Wednesday, October 16 starting at 12:42 a.m. ET.

https://twitter.com/TSKelso/status/1846100523625435395

UPDATE #1: @SpaceX is now targeting the 7th backup launch opportunity for the @Starlink Group 9-7 launch at 08:21:00 UTC with deployment at 09:22:19.900 UTC: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1846095229817892877

Propellant load is underway for tonight’s launch of 20 @Starlink satellites from pad 4E in California, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities → spacex.com/launches/missi…

[catdlr]

Foggy

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1846102654990336462

Watch Falcon 9 launch 20 @Starlink satellites to orbit from California, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities

[FutureSpaceTourist]

T-2